Bi-directional fixating/locking transvertebral body screw/intervertebral cage stand-alone constructs

Abstract

A bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus is provided. The BDFT apparatus includes an intervertebral cage including a plurality of internal angled screw guides, a plurality of screw members, and a cage indentation adjacent to the screw guides that independently or supplemented by other screw locking mechanisms prevents the screw members from pulling out of the internal angled screw guides. The internal angled screw guides orient a first screw member superiorly and a second screw member inferiorly. The intervertebral cage is adapted for posterior lumbar intervertebral placement, anterior lumbar intervertebral placement, anterio-lateral thoracic intervertebral placement, or anterior cervical intervertebral placement.

1 . A universal, intervertebral combination bone fusion spacer and self-drilling screw apparatus for insertion into a disc space between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body and fusion of the first vertebral body to the second vertebral body via biological bone fusion and screw fusion, the apparatus comprising:
 an intervertebral cage including:
 a first integral screw guide having a first predetermined angle; and 
 a second integral screw guide having a second predetermined angle; 
   a first screw member disposed in the first integral screw guide at the first predetermined angle and at least partially within the intervertebral cage;   a second screw member disposed in the second integral screw guide at the second predetermined angle and at least partially within the intervertebral cage; and   a screw locking mechanism that secures at least one of the first screw member and the second screw member in one of the first internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide,   wherein each of the first internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide is angled to orient the first screw member and the second screw bi-directionally in opposite directions,   wherein the first screw member includes a screw head and a threaded body,   wherein the second screw member includes a screw head and a threaded body, and p 1  wherein at least one of the threaded body of the first screw member, the screw head of the first screw member, the threaded body of the second screw member, and the screw head of the second screw member engages the screw locking mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screw locking mechanism secures the first screw member in the first internal screw guide and the second screw member in the second internal screw guide. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first screw member includes a screw head, a tapered end, and a threaded body;
 wherein the second screw member includes a screw head, a tapered end, and a threaded body.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first screw member includes a screw head and a threaded body;
 wherein the second screw member includes a screw head and a threaded body, and   wherein the screw locking mechanism is disposed between the intervertebral cage and at least one of an underside of the screw head of the first screw member and an underside of the screw head of the second screw member.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the screw locking mechanism is disposed between the intervertebral cage and the at least one of the underside of the screw head of the first screw member and the underside of the screw head of the second screw member when the screw locking mechanism is in a locked state. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the screw locking mechanism is disposed between the intervertebral cage and the at least one of the underside of the screw head of the first screw member and the underside of the screw head of the second screw member when the screw locking mechanism is in an un-locked state. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first screw member includes a screw head and a threaded body;
 wherein the second screw member includes a screw head and a threaded body, and   wherein the threaded body of the first screw member and the second screw member engages the screw locking mechanism.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the threaded body of the first screw member and the threaded body of the second screw member mechanically indents the screw locking mechanism when the screw locking mechanism is in a locked state. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the threaded body of the first screw member and the threaded body of the second screw member mechanically indents the screw locking mechanism when the screw locking mechanism is in a locked state. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screw locking mechanism is reusable for a limited number of cycles. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the intervertebral cage includes a surface having a first opening of the first internal screw guide and a second opening of the second internal screw guide,
 wherein the surface of the intervertebral cage includes a third opening formed between the first opening of the first internal screw guide and the second opening of the second internal screw guide, and   wherein the screw locking mechanism includes a projection that is received in the opening of the intervertebral cage when the screw locking mechanism is secured to the intervertebral cage.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the screw locking mechanism comprises:
 a first curved portion that engages the threaded body of the first screw member;   a second curved portion that engages the threaded body of the second screw member; and   a central portion that connects the first curved portion to the second curved portion.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the intervertebral cage includes a surface having a first opening of the first internal screw guide and a second opening of the second internal screw guide,
 wherein the surface of the intervertebral cage includes a third opening formed between the first opening of the first internal screw guide and the second opening of the second internal screw guide,   wherein the screw locking mechanism includes a projection extending from an underside of the central portion, and wherein the projection is received in the opening of the intervertebral cage when the screw locking mechanism is secured to the intervertebral cage.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first curved portion is curved in a direction opposite to the second curved portion. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screw locking mechanism is press-fit into a surface of the intervertebral cage. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the intervertebral cage includes a securing portion that secures the screw locking mechanism to the intervertebral cage. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the securing portion includes one of an indentation and a perforation that receives and secures a portion of the screw locking mechanism to the intervertebral cage. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the screw locking mechanism is press-fit into the one of the indentation and the perforation. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the screw locking mechanism is press-fit into at least one of the first internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide to secure the first locking mechanism to the intervertebral cage. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide has a  25  degree angulation. 
     
     
         21 .- 87 . (canceled)