Patent Application

App. No. 12/455,719

Abstract

Claims (22)

1 . A modular spinal implant system for use between adjacent vertebrae near vascular anatomy, comprising:

an implant configured to fit between adjacent vertebrae, the implant having annular side walls with upper and lower surfaces configured to enclose a hollow interior; and

an attachment plate rotatably coupled to the implant and configured to rotate to variable orientations relative to the implant to avoid the vascular anatomy, the attachment plate having a superior portion that is narrower than an inferior portion, the attachment plate having at least one vertebra attachment hole configured for attaching to at least one adjacent vertebrae using one or more bone screws.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment plate is selected from a variety of attachment plates configured to avoid the vascular anatomy proximate the vertebrae.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the inferior portion includes one or more vertebra attachment holes.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the superior portion includes one vertebra attachment hole and the inferior portion includes two vertebra attachment holes.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the implant material is selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium, carbon, PEEK (polyethylketone), graphite, woven carbon, Kevlar, and other suitable synthetic material.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the implant is made of a non metal synthetic material.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the implant further includes one or more metal plates integrally formed within an anterior portion of the annular side wall.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the attachment plate is made from titanium, stainless steel, or cobalt-chromium.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein mating surfaces between the attachment plate and implant include an interlock configuration.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bone autograft, allograft or a bone graft substitute positioned within the hollow interior of the implant.

11 . A method of installing a modular spinal implant system between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:

inserting the modular spinal implant system between adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:

an implant configured to fit between adjacent vertebrae, the implant having annular side walls with upper and lower surfaces configured to enclose a hollow interior; and

an attachment plate rotatably coupled to the implant before, during, or after implantation and configured to rotate to variable orientations relative to the implant to avoid the vascular anatomy, the attachment plate having a superior portion that is narrower than an inferior portion, the attachment plate having at least one vertebra attachment hole configured for attaching to at least one adjacent vertebrae using one or more bone screws;

rotating the attachment plate to avoid the vascular anatomy; and

attaching the attachment plate to at least one adjacent vertebra using one or more bone screws.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the attachment plate is selected from a variety of attachment plates configured to avoid the vascular anatomy proximate the vertebrae.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein prior to inserting the system, the method further includes retracting a portion of the vascular anatomy.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the implant material is selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, cobalt-chromium, carbon, PEEK (polyethylketone), graphite, woven carbon, Kevlar, and other suitable synthetic material.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising filling the hollow interior with bone autograft, allograft or a bone graft substitute.

Assignments (11)