Integrated implant

Abstract

An implant having an integrated cutting broach and/or cutting burr. The integrated implant may be inserted without requiring separate steps for drilling and broaching bone. The integrated implant assembly may include an integrated implant, a flexible sheath, a delivery rod, and a delivery pin. The implant may have a core which may have any of a variety of cross-sectional geometries. A method for fusing bone may involve inserting the implant laterally through the ilium, through the sacral-iliac joint, and into the sacrum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for fusing bone, comprising:
 delivering an implant with a linear, non-rotational force through an ilium, transversely across a sacro-iliac joint, and into a sacrum such that the implant extends from the ilium, across the sacro-iliac joint, and into the sacrum,
 wherein the implant includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis and an outer profile, in a cross-section transverse to the central axis, with a configuration that that is adapted to resist rotation once implanted; and 
   a plurality of cutting edges extending distally from and integral with the elongate body.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cutting edges are a plurality of tapered cutting edges extending distally and integral with the elongate body. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outer profile of the elongate body has a star-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outer profile of the elongate body has rectilinear configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outer profile of the elongate body has square configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 driving a guide pin through the ilium;   driving the guide pin transversely across the sacro-iliac joint;   driving the guide pin into the sacrum; and   where the delivering step comprises delivering the implant over the guide pin.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 delivering a second implant through the ilium, transversely across the sacro-iliac joint, and   into the sacrum.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method does not include a step of drilling or broaching a cavity in the bone with a separate broch to receive the implant.