SPINAL IMPLANT AND SURGICAL METHOD

1 . A spinal implant comprising:

a substantially U-shaped body portion having first, second, and third walls, a first end of each of the second and third walls joined to the first wall at opposing ends of the first wall such that the second and third walls define legs of the substantially U-shaped body portion, the substantially U-shaped body portion configured and dimensioned to be positioned between first and second vertebral bodies;

a plate portion having a main portion and a flange portion, the main portion having first and second surfaces and at least one first screw hole oriented towards the first vertebral body at an oblique angle relative to a horizontal axis of the substantially U-shaped body portion, the flange portion having a second screw hole oriented towards the first vertebral body with the second screw hole oriented substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of the substantially U-shaped body portion, the flange portion coupled to the main portion such that the flange portion extends past the first surface of the main portion.

2 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of bone screws, each bone screw insertable through a corresponding screw hole of the plate and attachable to bone.

3 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , wherein the plate portion further comprises at least one locking mechanism, such that when a bone screw is inserted through a screw hole, the locking mechanism maintains the bone screw within the screw hole.

4 . The spinal implant according to claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking ring positionable in the screw hole for retaining the bone screw.

5 . The spinal implant according to claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a lip formed in each screw hole, with the plate portion made of a first material and the screws made of a second, harder material such that the screw locks to the lip upon engagement of the screw with the lip.

6 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , wherein the main portion of the plate portion has a pair of first screw holes and a cut-out defined about each of the first screw holes on each end thereof.

7 . The spinal implant according to claim 6 , wherein the cut-outs oriented towards the first vertebral body at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal axis of the substantially U-shaped body portion.

8 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , wherein the substantially U-shaped body portion and the plate portion are unitarily formed with one another.

9 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , wherein the substantially U-shaped body portion is configured and dimensioned so that when the substantially U-shaped body portion is inserted between the first and second vertebral bodies the first surface of the body walls contacts the first vertebral body and the second surface of the walls contacts the second vertebral body.

10 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second surfaces of the substantially U-shaped body portion are substantially coplanar with first and second surfaces of the main portion of the plate portion.

11 . The spinal implant according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one first bone screw insertable through the at least one first screw hole into the first vertebral body at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal axis of the substantially U-shaped body portion, and a second bone screw insertable through the second screw hole into the first vertebral body in substantially parallel orientation relative to the horizontal axis of the substantially U-shaped body portion.

12 . A method of performing surgery, comprising:

providing a surgical implant, including:

a body portion; and

a plate portion having a main portion and a flange portion, the main portion having at least one first screw hole oriented at an oblique angle relative to a horizontal axis of the body portion, the flange portion having a second screw hole oriented substantially parallel to the horizontal axis of the substantially U-shaped body portion;

preparing an intervertebral space between first and second vertebral bodies to receive the body portion of the surgical implant;

inserting the body portion of the surgical implant into the prepared intervertebral space;

inserting at least one first screw through the at least one first screw hole of the main portion of the plate portion and into the first vertebral body; and

inserting a second screw through the second screw hole of the flange portion of the plate portion and into the first vertebral body.

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the body portion is a substantially U-shaped body portion and wherein the step of inserting the body portion further includes packing the body portion with material.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein at least one of the steps of inserting the at least one first screw and inserting the second screw includes locking the screw within the plate portion using a screw locking mechanism.

15 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one first screw is inserted through the at least one screw hole of the main portion of the plate portion at an oblique angle relative to the horizontal axis of the body portion and into the first vertebral body.

16 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein the second screw is inserted through the second screw hole of the flange portion of the plate portion in substantially parallel orientation relative to the horizontal axis of the body portion and into the first vertebral body.