Anatomic vertebral cage
View Patent ↗A spinal fusion system includes a cage with a fillable volume and removable locking gate, thereby enabling the fillable volume to be packed with graft, biologic or other materials prior to the gate being closed and locked. In the preferred embodiment, the locking gate is positioned anteriorally, though lateral, posterior, and combinations thereof are also possible. The cage is preferably radiolucent, being composed of a carbon fiber, but with one or more radiopaque markers to provide a certain degree of visualization. Some or all of the walls of the cage may include superior and/or inferior surface features to enhance positioning and/or minimize back-out, and the posterior wall may be indented to prevent neurocompression. The sidewalls of the cage may further include a recessed face with nipple indents and locking fasteners. According to a system aspect of the invention, multiple cages are provided, each being shaped differently for use at different spinal levels. For example, the cage may be larger and more trapezoidally-pronounced for the L5-S1 levels, or smaller and less trapezoidally pronounced for the T and L2 levels. The system may further including an implant introducer instrument geometrically matched to the cage, and the matched implant introducer instruments and cages may be color-coded to expedite the procedure.
1. A spinal fusion system, comprising:
a cage structure including a posterior wall and opposing lateral sidewalk defining a fillable volume;
the cage structure having a convex, dome-shaped superior surface and a substantially flat interior surface when viewed from the side;
a removable locking anterior gate, enabling the fillable volume to be packed with graft, biologic or other materials after the cage structure is inserted within an intervertebral space prior to the gate being closed and locked;
the system including a plurality of the cage structures, each with an anterior height, a posterior height, and a locking gate;
including cages wherein the anterior height is greater than the posterior height, resulting in structures that are trapezoidally shaped when viewed from the side; and
including cages which are larger and more trapezoidally-pronounced as compared to other of the cages for L5-S1 spinal levels.
2. A spinal fusion system, comprising:
a cage structure including a posterior wall and opposing lateral sidewalls defining a fillable volume;
the cage structure haying a convex, dome-shaped superior surface and a substantially flat interior surface when viewed from the side;
a removable locking anterior gate, enabling the fillable volume to be packed with graft, biologic or other materials after the cage structure is inserted within an intervertebral space prior to the gate being closed and locked;
the system including a plurality of the cage structures, each with an anterior height, a posterior height, and a locking gate;
including cages wherein the anterior height is greater than the posterior height, resulting in structures that are trapezoidally shaped when viewed from the side; and
including cages which are smaller and less trapezoidally pronounced as compared to other of the cages for the T and L2 spinal levels.