Intervertebral spinal implant systems

Abstract

An apparatus and method for joining members together using a self-drilling screw apparatus or stapling apparatus are disclosed. The screw apparatus includes a worm drive screw, a spur gear and superior and inferior screws which turn simultaneously in a bi-directional manner. A rotating mechanism drives the first and second screw members in opposite directions and causes the screw members to embed themselves in the members to be joined. The screw apparatus can be used to join members such as bones, portions of the spinal column, vertebral bodies, wood, building materials, metals, masonry, or plastics. A device employing two screws (two-in-one) can be combined with a capping horizontal mini-plate. A device employing three screws can be combined in enclosures (three-in-one). The stapling apparatus includes grip handles, transmission linkages, a drive rod a fulcrum and a cylinder. The staple has superior and inferior segments with serrated interfaces, a teethed unidirectional locking mechanism and four facet piercing elements. The staples can be also be used to join members such as bones, portions of the spinal column, or vertebral bodies.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An intervertebral implant system, the system comprising:
 an implant body having:
 a first vertebral body-facing surface; 
 a second vertebral body-facing surface, the first vertebral body-facing surface and the second vertebral body-facing surface configured to engage first and second vertebral bodies when implanted into a spine between the first and second vertebral bodies; 
 a top surface; 
 a bottom surface; 
 a first side surface; and 
 a second side surface, wherein the top surface, the bottom surface, the first side surface, and the second side surface each extend between the first and second vertebral body-facing surfaces, the bottom surface facing in a direction opposite of the top surface, and the first side surface facing in a direction opposite of the second side surface, wherein the first vertebral body-facing surface defines a first anchor opening and wherein the second vertebral body-facing surface defines a second anchor opening; 
   a first bone-piercing anchor extendable from the implant body in a first direction through the first anchor opening so as to be configured to pierce and engage with the first vertebral body when implanted into the spine; and   a second bone-piercing anchor extendable from the implant body in a second direction through the second anchor opening so as to be configured to pierce and engage with the second vertebral body when implanted into the spine.   
     
     
         22 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 21 , the implant body configured to act to reduce subsidence of a disc space between first and second vertebral bodies when implanted into the disc space. 
     
     
         23 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 21 , the first vertebral body-facing surface having a first set of ridges and the second vertebral body-facing surface having a second set of ridges configured for engaging the first and second vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         24 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one cavity extending through the implant body for bone fusion material. 
     
     
         25 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 21 , the first bone-piercing anchor having first shaft portion sized and configured to extend through the first anchor opening and a first vertebral body engagement portion extending laterally outward from the first shaft portion in multiple directions to engage the first vertebral body when the implant system is positioned in the spine; and
 the second bone-piercing anchor having a second shaft portion sized and configured to extend through the first anchor opening and a second vertebral body engagement portion extending laterally outward from the second shaft portion in multiple directions to engage the second vertebral body when the implant system is positioned in the spine.   
     
     
         26 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 25 , wherein the first vertebral body engagement portion is angled with respect to the first vertebral body-facing surface and the second vertebral body engagement portion is angled with respect to the second vertebral body-facing surface. 
     
     
         27 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 25 , wherein the first vertebral body engagement portion extends laterally outward from the first shaft portion in multiple directions, and the second vertebral body engagement portion extends laterally outward from the second shaft portion in multiple directions. 
     
     
         28 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 27 , wherein the first bone-piercing anchor extends in a generally superior direction when implanted into the spine, and the second bone-piercing anchor extends in a generally inferior direction when implanted into the spine. 
     
     
         29 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 28 , wherein the first bone-piercing anchor is sized and configured to extend through the first anchor opening from a position that is internal to the implant body to a position that is external to the implant body, and the second bone-piercing anchor is sized and configured to extend through the second anchor opening from a position that is internal to the implant body to a position that is external to the implant body. 
     
     
         30 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second bone-piercing anchors have pointed tips. 
     
     
         31 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second vertebral body engagement portions of the first and second bone-piercing anchors comprise planes. 
     
     
         32 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 21 , the implant body configured to be positioned in a cervical spine. 
     
     
         33 . The intervertebral implant system of  claim 21 , and further comprising: means for driving the first and second bone-piercing anchor from the implant body. 
     
     
         34 . An implant system, the system comprising:
 an implant body having:
 a first vertebral body-facing surface and a second vertebral body-facing surface, the first vertebral body-facing surface and the second vertebral body-facing surface configured to engage first and second vertebral bodies when implanted into a spine between the first and second vertebral bodies; and 
 a body perimeter extending around the implant body between the first and second vertebral body-facing surfaces, the body perimeter formed by a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the bottom surface facing in a direction opposite of the top surface, and the first side surface facing in a direction opposite of the second side surface, the top surface; 
   wherein the first vertebral body-facing surface defines a first anchor opening and wherein the second vertebral body-facing surface defines a second anchor opening;   a first anchor extendable from the implant body in a first direction through the first anchor opening; and   a second anchor extendable from the implant body in a second direction through the second anchor opening,
 wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are each configured to pierce and engage with one of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body when implanted into the spine. 
   
     
     
         35 . The implant system of  claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of the body perimeter is curved such that a first edge of the first vertebral body-facing surface and a second edge of the second vertebral body-facing surface is curved. 
     
     
         36 . The implant system of  claim 35 , wherein the first vertebral body-facing surface and the second vertebral body-facing surface are kidney-shaped. 
     
     
         37 . The implant system of  claim 34 , the first vertebral body-facing surface having a first set of serrations and the opposing second vertebral body-facing surface having a second set of serrations configured for engaging the first and second vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         38 . The implant system of  claim 37 , wherein the first anchor extends laterally outward from the first vertebral body-facing surface in multiple directions, and the second anchor extends laterally outward from the second vertebral body-facing surface in multiple directions. 
     
     
         39 . The implant system of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second anchors have pointed tips. 
     
     
         40 . The implant system of  claim 34 , further comprising at least one cavity extending through the implant body for bone fusion material.