Endplate-preserving spinal implant with an integration plate having durable connectors

1. An interbody spinal implant, comprising

a body comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and having varying width and maximum width at its center, wherein a portion of the top surface of the body, and optionally the bottom surface of the body, is recessed and comprises a plurality of holes around the perimeter of the vertical aperture, the holes having one or more tongue structures for engaging complementary grooves on a post of an integration plate, and wherein the non-recessed portion of the top surface and, if the bottom surface is recessed, the non-recessed portion of the bottom surface comprises a blunt and radiused portion; and

a first integration plate, and optionally a second integration plate, comprising a top surface having a roughened surface topography adapted to grip bone and inhibit migration of the implant, a bottom surface having a plurality of posts having one or more grooves, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a single vertical aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the integration plate, aligning with the single vertical aperture of the body, and defining a transverse rim with a varying width,

wherein the entire bottom surface of the first integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the top surface of the body, the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, and the tongue structures are inserted into the one or more grooves, thereby affixing the first integration plate to the body, and if a second integration plate is present, the entire bottom surface of the second integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body, the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, and the tongue structures are inserted into the one or more grooves, thereby affixing the second integration plate to the body.

2. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes further comprises one or more grooves and the plurality of posts further comprises one or more tongue structures inserted into the one or more grooves of the holes.

3. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tongue structures and the one or more grooves are oriented in a substantially horizontal plane.

4. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the one or more tongue structures and the one or more grooves are oriented in a substantially vertical plane.

5. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive located on the one or more tongue structures or in the one or more grooves.

6. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are each comprised of a metal, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is comprised of a metal.

7. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a non-metal polymer and the first integration plate is comprised of a metal, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is comprised of a metal.

8. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of a composite of a metal and a non-metal polymer selected from the group consisting of polyetherether-ketone, hedrocel, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

9. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are generally oval-shaped in transverse cross-section, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is generally oval-shaped in transverse cross-section.

10. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are generally rectangular-shaped in transverse cross-section, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is generally rectangular-shaped in transverse cross-section.

11. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are generally curved-shaped in transverse cross-section, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is generally curved-shaped in transverse cross-section.

12. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , further comprising bone graft material disposed in the substantially hollow center of the body.

13. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the interbody spinal implant comprises a lordotic angle adapted to facilitate alignment of the spine.

14. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the anterior and posterior portions of the first integration plate comprise an anti-expulsion edge to resist pullout of the implant from the spine of a patient into which the implant has been implanted, and if a second integration plate is present, at least one of the anterior and posterior portions of the second integration plate comprise an anti-expulsion edge to resist pullout of the implant from the spine of a patient into which the implant has been implanted.

15. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises a transverse aperture.

16. An interbody spinal implant, comprising

a body comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and having varying width and maximum width at its center, wherein a portion of the top surface of the body, and optionally the bottom surface of the body, is recessed and comprises a plurality of holes around the perimeter of the vertical aperture, the holes having one or more grooves for engaging complementary tongue structures on a post of an integration plate, and wherein the non-recessed portion of the top surface and, if the bottom surface is recessed, the non-recessed portion of the bottom surface comprises a blunt and radiused portion; and,

a first integration plate, and optionally a second integration plate, comprising a top surface having a roughened surface topography adapted to grip bone and inhibit migration of the implant, a bottom surface having a plurality of posts having one or more tongue structures, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a single vertical aperture extending from the top surface to the bottom surface of the integration plate, aligning with the single vertical aperture of the body, and defining a transverse rim with a varying width,

wherein the entire bottom surface of the first integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the top surface of the body, the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, and the tongue structures are inserted into the one or more grooves, thereby affixing the first integration plate to the body, and if a second integration plate is present, the entire bottom surface of the second integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body, the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, and the tongue structures are inserted into the one or more grooves, thereby affixing the second integration plate to the body.

17. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the one or more tongue structures and the one or more grooves are oriented in a substantially horizontal plane.

18. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 wherein the one or more tongue structures and the one or more grooves are oriented in a substantially vertical plane.

19. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , further comprising an adhesive located on the one or more tongue structures or in the one or more grooves.

20. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are each comprised of a metal, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is comprised of a metal.

21. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the body is comprised of a non-metal polymer and the first integration plate is comprised of a metal, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is comprised of a metal.

22. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the body is comprised of a composite of a metal and a non-metal polymer selected from the group consisting of polyetherether-ketone, hedrocel, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

23. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are generally oval-shaped in transverse cross-section, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is generally oval-shaped in transverse cross-section.

24. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the body and the first integration plate are generally curved-shaped in transverse cross-section, and if a second integration plate is present, the second integration plate is generally curved-shaped in transverse cross-section.

25. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , further comprising bone graft material disposed in the substantially hollow center of the body.

26. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the interbody spinal implant comprises a lordotic angle adapted to facilitate alignment of the spine.

27. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the anterior and posterior portions of the first integration plate comprise an anti-expulsion edge to resist pullout of the implant from the spine of a patient into which the implant has been implanted, and if a second integration plate is present, at least one of the anterior and posterior portions of the second integration plate comprise an anti-expulsion edge to resist pullout of the implant from the spine of a patient into which the implant has been implanted.

28. The interbody spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the body further comprises a transverse aperture.