Intevertebral implant with reduced contact area and method

1. An implant for intervertebral fusion between opposing vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an implant body having a first end and a second end spaced along a longitudinal axis of the body, said first end having a first diameter and said second end having a second diameter wherein the, second diameter is larger than the first diameter; and

said implant body comprising first and second load bearing surfaces extending between the first and second ends of the implant body and being spaced apart by a central support member, the central support member having a width narrower than a width of the first and second load bearing surfaces, wherein the width of the first and second load bearing surfaces extends between the first and second ends of the implant body, wherein the central support member is coextensive with a midline of the implant body extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein said body is substantially “I” shaped in cross-section.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces are non-continuous.

3. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said body is tapered at least at said first end.

4. The implant of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first and second load bearing surfaces varies along the longitudinal axis.

5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the second end is greater than a diameter of the implant at least one other point along the longitudinal axis.

6. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces taper toward one another from said second end to said first end.

7. The implant of claim 6 , wherein said body tapers at an angle of 80°.

8. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces include portions of a helical thread pattern.

9. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces include a pattern for anchoring to a vertebral body.

10. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said central support member extends from said first end to said second end of said implant.

11. The implant of claim 10 , wherein said central support member includes at least one opening therethrough.

12. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said central support member comprises a plurality of columns.

13. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said central support member passes through a single plane between diametrically opposed regions of said first and second load bearing surfaces.

14. An implant for intervertebral fusion between opposing vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an implant body having a first end and a second end, said body having first and second load bearing surfaces extending along a longitudinal axis of the body from the first end to the second end, the first acid second load bearing surfaces having a width extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said first and second load bearing surfaces having a midline extending along the longitudinal axis, said first and second load bearing surfaces being spaced apart by a first height at the first end and a second height at the second end, wherein the first height is less than the second height; and

said implant body comprising a plurality of columns connecting the first and second load bearing surfaces along their midlines, the columns having a width narrower than the width of the first and second load bearing surfaces, wherein the columns of the plurality of columns are aligned one behind another at the longitudinal axis.

15. The implant of claim 6 , wherein the implant body has a continuous taper from the second end to the first end.

16. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces form open channels on each side of the central support member, extending from the first end of the implant body to the second end of the implant body.

17. The implant of claim 14 , wherein, said first and second load bearing surfaces include portions of a helical thread pattern.

18. The implant of claim 17 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces are threaded from the first end of the body to the second end of the body.

19. An implant for intervertebral fusion between opposing vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an implant body having a first end and a second end spaced along a longitudinal axis of the body, said first end having a first diameter and said second end having a second diameter wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter; and

said implant body comprising first and second load bearing surfaces extending between the first and second ends of the implant body and being spaced apart by a central support member, wherein the first and second load bearing surfaces taper toward one another from said second end to said first end;

said central support member having a width narrower than a width of the first and second load bearing surfaces, wherein the width of the first and second load bearing surfaces extends between the first and second ends of the implant body;

said central support member being coextensive with a midline of the implant body extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein said body is substantially “I” shaped in cross-section, wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces form open channels on each side of the central support member, extending from the first end of the implant body to the second end of the implant body.

20. An implant for intervertebral fusion between opposing vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an implant body having a first end and a second end, said body having first and second load bearing surfaces extending along a longitudinal axis of the body from the first end to the second end, the first and second load bearing surfaces having a width extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said first and second load bearing surfaces having a midline extending along the longitudinal axis, said first and second load bearing surfaces being spaced apart by a first height at the first end and a second height at the second end, wherein the first height is less than the second height, wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces taper toward one another from said second end to said first end, said first and second load bearing surfaces including portions of a helical thread pattern;

said implant body comprising a central support member connecting the first and second load bearing surfaces along their midlines, the central support member having a width narrower than the width of the first and second load bearing surfaces; and

said first and second load bearing surfaces having opposing inner surfaces forming open channels on each side of the central support member, extending from the first end of the implant body to the second end of the implant body.

21. An implant for intervertebral fusion between opposing vertebrae, said implant comprising:

an implant body having a first end and a second end, said body having first and second load bearing surfaces extending along a longitudinal axis of the body from the first end to the second end, the first aid second load bearing surfaces having a width extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said first and second load bearing surfaces having a midline extending along the longitudinal axis; and

said implant body comprising a plurality of columns connecting the first and second load bearing surfaces along their midlines, the columns having a width narrower than the width of the first and second load bearing surfaces, wherein the columns of the plurality of columns are aligned one behind another at the longitudinal axis.

22. The implant of claim 21 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces have at least two openings.

23. The implant of claim 21 , wherein said first and second load bearing surfaces have opposing inner surfaces forming open channels on each side of the columns.