Implantable cages and plates having alignment markings and related methods of using the same

1 . An implantable construct for stabilizing a first bone structure and a second bone structure of a patient, the implantable construct comprising:

a cage configured for positioning between the first bone structure and the second bone structure, the cage comprising one or more cage alignment markings disposed on an exterior surface of the cage, where the one or more cage alignment markings comprises a cage alignment marking extending in a direction of a width of the cage between a medial side edge and a lateral side edge of the cage, and a cage alignment marking extending in a direction of a height of the cage between an upper side edge and a lower side edge of the cage; and

a plate configured for positioning over the cage and being secured to each of the first bone structure and the second bone structure, the plate comprising one or more plate alignment markings disposed on an exterior surface of the plate, where the one or more plate alignment markings comprise a plate alignment marking extending in a direction of a width of the plate between a medial side edge and a lateral side edge of the plate, and a plate alignment marking extending between an upper side edge and a lower side edge of the plate, wherein the one or more plate alignment markings of the plate are configured for being aligned with the one or more cage alignment markings such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

2 . The implantable construct of claim 1 , wherein the width of the cage extends perpendicular to the height of the cage, wherein the one or more cage alignment markings comprises one or more cage alignment lines extending in the direction of the height of the cage,

wherein the width of the plate extends perpendicular to a length of the plate, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings comprises one or more plate alignment lines extending in the direction of the length of the plate extend between the upper side edge and the lower side edge of the plate,

wherein the one or more plate alignment lines are configured for being aligned with the one or more cage alignment lines in the direction of the height of the cage such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

3 . The implantable construct of claim 2 , wherein the one or more cage alignment lines comprises a first cage alignment line and a second cage alignment line, and wherein the one or more plate alignment lines comprises a first plate alignment line and a second plate alignment line.

4 . The implantable construct of claim 3 , wherein the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line are aligned with one another in the direction of the height of the cage, and wherein the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line are aligned with one another in the direction of the length of the plate.

5 . The implantable construct of claim 4 , wherein the cage comprises a cage opening defined in the exterior surface of the cage and disposed between the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line in the direction of the height of the cage, and wherein the plate comprises a plate opening defined in the exterior surface of the plate and disposed between the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line in the direction of the length of the plate.

6 . The implantable construct of claim 3 , wherein the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the width of the cage, and wherein the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line are spaced apart from one another in the direction of the width of the plate.

7 . The implantable construct of claim 1 , wherein the width of the cage extends perpendicular to the height of the cage,

wherein the one or more cage alignment markings comprises one or more cage alignment lines extending in the direction of the width of the cage,

wherein the width of the plate extends perpendicular to a length of the plate, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings comprises one or more plate alignment lines extending in the direction of the width of the plate.

8 . The implantable construct of claim 7 , wherein the one or more cage alignment lines comprises a first cage alignment line and a second cage alignment line, and wherein the one or more plate alignment lines comprises a first plate alignment line and a second plate alignment line,

wherein the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line are aligned with one another in the direction of the width of the cage, and wherein the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line are aligned with one another in the direction of the width of the plate.

9 . The implantable construct of claim 8 , wherein the cage comprises a cage opening defined in the exterior surface of the cage and disposed between the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line in the direction of the width of the cage, and wherein the plate comprises a plate opening defined in the exterior surface of the plate and disposed between the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line in the direction of the width of the plate.

10 . A method of using an implantable construct for stabilizing a first bone structure and a second bone structure of a patient, the method comprising:

positioning a cage of the implantable construct between the first bone structure and the second bone structure, the cage comprising one or more cage alignment markings disposed on an exterior surface of the cage, where the one or more cage alignment markings comprises a cage alignment marking extending in a direction of a width of the cage between a medial side edge and a lateral side edge of the cage, and a cage alignment marking extending in a direction of a height of the cage between an upper side edge and a lower side edge of the cage;

positioning a plate of the implantable construct over the cage, the plate comprising one or more plate alignment markings disposed on an exterior surface of the plate, where the one or more plate alignment markings comprise a plate alignment marking extending in a direction of a width of the plate between a medial side edge and a lateral side edge of the plate, and a plate alignment marking extending between an upper side edge and a lower side edge of the plate;

aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings such that the plate is aligned with the cage; and

securing the plate to each of the first bone structure and the second bone structure.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the width of the cage extends perpendicular to the height of the cage, wherein the one or more cage alignment markings comprises one or more cage alignment lines extending in the direction of the height of the cage,

wherein the width of the plate extends perpendicular to a length of the plate, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings comprises one or more plate alignment lines extending in a direction of the length of the plate extending between the upper side edge and the lower side edge of the plate.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings comprises aligning the one or more plate alignment lines with the one or more cage alignment lines in the direction of the height of the cage such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more cage alignment lines comprises a first cage alignment line and a second cage alignment line, and wherein the one or more plate alignment lines comprises a first plate alignment line and a second plate alignment line,

wherein the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line are aligned with one another in the direction of the height of the cage, and wherein the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line are aligned with one another in the direction of the length of the plate.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line are centered on the exterior surface of the cage in a direction of the width of the cage, and wherein the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line are centered on the exterior surface of the plate in a direction of the width of the plate.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the cage comprises a cage opening defined in the exterior surface of the cage and disposed between the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line in the direction of the height of the cage, and wherein the plate comprises a plate opening defined in the exterior surface of the plate and disposed between the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line in the direction of the length of the plate.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the first cage alignment line and the second cage alignment line are spaced apart from one another in a direction of the width of the cage, and wherein the first plate alignment line and the second plate alignment line are spaced apart from one another in a direction of the width of the plate.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the width of the cage extends perpendicular to the height of the cage, wherein the one or more cage alignment markings comprises one or more cage alignment lines extending in the direction of the width of the cage,

wherein the width of the plate extends perpendicular to a length of the plate, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings comprises one or more plate alignment lines extending in the direction of the width of the plate,

wherein aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings comprises aligning the one or more plate alignment lines with the one or more cage alignment lines in the direction of the width of the cage such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the width of the cage extends perpendicular to the height of the cage, wherein the one or more cage alignment markings comprises a first cage alignment line extending in the direction of the height of the cage and a second cage alignment line extending in the direction of the width of the cage,

wherein the width of the plate extends perpendicular to a length of the plate, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings comprises a first plate alignment line extending in a direction of the length of the cage and a second plate alignment line extending in the direction of the width of the plate.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings comprises:

aligning the first plate alignment line with the first cage alignment line in the direction of the height of the cage such that the plate is aligned with the cage, and

aligning the second plate alignment line with the second cage alignment line in the direction of the width of the cage such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first cage alignment line is centered on the exterior surface of the cage in the direction of the width of the cage, wherein the second cage alignment line is centered on the exterior surface of the cage in the direction of the width of the cage, wherein the first plate alignment line is centered on the exterior surface of the plate in the direction of the width of the plate, and wherein the second plate alignment line is centered on the exterior surface of the plate in the direction of the length of the plate.

21 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the width of the cage extends perpendicular to the height of the cage, wherein the one or more cage alignment markings comprises a first cage alignment line extending in a first direction transverse to each of the height and the width of the cage,

wherein the width of the plate extends perpendicular to a length of the plate, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings comprises a first plate alignment line extending in a second direction transverse to each of the length and the width of the plate,

wherein aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings comprises aligning the first plate alignment line with the first cage alignment line in the first direction such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the one or more cage alignment markings further comprises a second cage alignment line extending in a third direction transverse to each of the height and the width of the cage and transverse to the first direction, and

wherein the one or more plate alignment markings further comprises a second plate alignment line extending in a fourth direction transverse to each of the length and the width of the plate and transverse to the second direction,

wherein aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings comprises aligning the second plate alignment line with the second cage alignment line in the third direction such that the plate is aligned with the cage.

23 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the one or more cage alignment markings further comprises a third cage alignment line extending in a fifth direction transverse to each of the height and the width of the cage, transverse to the third direction, and parallel to the first direction, and a fourth cage alignment line extending in a sixth direction transverse to each of the height and the width of the cage, transverse to the first direction, and parallel to the third direction, and wherein the one or more plate alignment markings further comprises a third plate alignment line extending in a seventh direction transverse to each of the length and the width of the plate, transverse to the fourth direction, and parallel to the second direction, and a fourth plate alignment line extending in an eight direction transverse to each of the length and the width of the plate, transverse to the second direction, and parallel to the fourth direction,

wherein aligning the one or more plate alignment markings with the one or more cage alignment markings comprises:

aligning the third plate alignment line with the third cage alignment line in the fifth direction such that the plate is aligned with the cage; and

aligning the fourth plate alignment line with the fourth cage alignment line in the sixth direction such that the plate is aligned with the cage.