Artificial spinal fusion implant with asymmetrical leading end

1. An artificial interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion at least in part into an implantation space formed across the height of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, the vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and a posterior aspect and a depth therebetween, and a width, said implant comprising:

a leading end for insertion first into the disc space and a trailing end opposite said leading end, said implant having a length from said leading end to said trailing end and a mid-longitudinal axis along the length;

opposed upper and lower portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed at least in part within and across the height of the disc space to contact and support the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions defining a height of said implant, said upper and lower portions being non-arcuate along at least a portion of the length of said implant;

opposite sides between said upper portion and said lower portion, and between said leading and trailing ends, said opposite sides defining a width of said implant, said implant having a maximum width between said opposite sides being less than one-half of the width of the adjacent vertebral bodies into which said implant is adapted to be inserted, each of said opposite sides. being at least in part straight in a direction from said leading end to said trailing end along at least a portion of the length of said implant; and

a hollow interior between said upper and lower portions, at least one of said opposite sides including an opening in communication with said hollow interior, said opening having a dimension greater than one-half the length of said implant, said leading end being asymmetrical and curved across the mid-longitudinal axis from one of said opposite sides to another one of said opposite sides;

said implant being manufactured from a material other than bone, said upper and lower portions of said implant including at least one opening in communication with one another for permitting for the growth of bone from vertebral body to vertebral body through said implant.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant is adapted to be inserted side by side with a second implant into the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies, said second implant having a leading end configured in the shape of approximately one quarter of a circle from side to side, the circle having a radius generally equal to the width of said second implant.

3. The implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said leading end has a reduced height to facilitate insertion of said implant between the two adjacent vertebral bodies.

4. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said leading end is curved from side to side.

5. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said trailing end is curved from side to side.

6. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said leading and trailing ends are each curved from side to side.

7. The implant of claim 6 , wherein the radius of curvature of said trailing end is greater than the radius of curvature of the leading end of said implant.

8. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening is between said opposite sides of said implant.

9. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening is between said leading and trailing ends of said implant.

10. The implant of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said opposite sides is at least in part oriented generally parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis of said implant.

11. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said opposite sides are at least in part generally parallel one another.

12. The implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said upper and lower portions are in an angular relationship to each other from trailing end to leading end for allowing angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to each other.

13. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant has a maximum length less than and approximating the posterior to anterior depth of the vertebral bodies.

14. The implant of claim 1 , further comprising a bone engaging surface formed on the exterior of at least said upper and lower portions for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies, said bone engaging surface including at least one of a protrusion, a ratchet, a spike, a spline, surface roughenings, and knurling.

15. The implant of claim 1 , in combination with a bone growth promoting material.

16. The implant of claim 15 , wherein said bone growth promoting material is selected from one of bone, bone derived products, demineralized bone matrix, mineralizing proteins, ossifying proteins, bone morphogenetic protein, hydroxyapatite, and genes coding for the production of bone.

17. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant is treated with a bone growth promoting substance.

18. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said implant is at least in part resorbable.

19. The implant of claim 1 , in combination with a chemical substance adapted to inhibit scar formation.

20. The implant of claim 1 , in combination with an antimicrobial material.

21. The implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said implant is treated to promote bone ingrowth between said implant and said adjacent vertebral bodies.

22. The implant of claim 1 , in combination with at least one spinal fixation implant.

23. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said trailing end is adapted to receive at least one bone screw adapted to engage at least one vertebral body when inserted through said implant.

24. The implant of claim 23 , further comprising a lock for locking at least one bone screw to said implant.

25. The implant of claim 1 , wherein each of said upper and lower surfaces of said implant include a plurality of said openings.

26. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said opening of said at least one of said sides is generally oval-shaped.

27. The Implant of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said sides includes a straight portion along the length of said implant.

28. The implant of claim 27 , wherein said opening of said at least one of said sides has a length longer than said straight portion.

29. The implant of claim 1 , wherein said opening of said at least one of said sides has a dimension larger than the maximum dimension of any of said at least one openings of said upper and lower portions.