Spinal implant and integration plate for optimizing vertebral endplate contact load-bearing edges

1. An interbody spinal implant, comprising:

a body that is generally oval-shaped in transverse cross section, and comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a posterior portion, an anterior portion comprising a solid rear wall extending substantially the entire width and height of the body, 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, is recessed and comprises a plurality of vertical holes along the periphery of the vertical aperture, and wherein the recessed portion of the top surface of the body has an anterior section corresponding the anterior portion of the body and a posterior section corresponding to the posterior portion of the body;

a first 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 vertical posts, 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,

wherein the entire bottom surface of the first integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the top surface of the body and the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, thereby affixing the first integration plate to the body; 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 vertical posts, 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,

wherein if the second integration plate is present, a portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed and comprises a plurality of vertical holes along the periphery of the vertical aperture, the non-recessed portion of the bottom surface comprises a blunt and radiused portion, wherein the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body has an anterior section corresponding the anterior portion of the body and a posterior section corresponding to the posterior portion of the body,

and wherein the entire bottom surface of the second integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body and the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, thereby affixing the second integration plate to the body.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. The interbody spinal implant of claim 3 , wherein the non-metal polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyetherether-ketone, hedrocel, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

5. 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.

6. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein at least the anterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the first integration plate, and if the bottom surface of the body is recessed, at least the anterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the second integration plate.

7. The interbody spinal implant of claim 6 , wherein the posterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the first integration plate, and if the bottom surface of the body is recessed, the posterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the second integration plate.

8. The interbody spinal implant of claim 7 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the first integration plate, and if a second integration plate is present, the posterior portion of the second integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the second integration plate.

9. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the anterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a first depth and the posterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a second depth that is less than the first depth, and if the bottom surface of the body is recessed, the anterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a first depth and the posterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a second depth that is less than the first depth.

10. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate comprises 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, the posterior portion of the second integration plate comprises an anti-expulsion edge to resist pullout of the implant from the spine of a patient into which the implant has been implanted.

11. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate protrudes above the plane of a non-recessed portion of the top surface of the body, and if a second integration plate is present, the posterior portion of the second integration plate protrudes above the plane of a non-recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body.

12. The interbody spinal implant of claim 11 , wherein a second integration plate is present and the implant comprises a lordotic angle adapted to facilitate alignment of the spine.

13. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , further comprising bone graft material disposed in the substantially hollow center of the body and adapted to facilitate the formation of a solid fusion column within the spine.

14. The interbody spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the first integration plate, and if a second integration plate is present, the posterior portion of the second integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the second integration plate.

15. An interbody spinal implant, comprising:

a body that is generally box-shaped in transverse cross section, and comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, a posterior portion, an anterior portion comprising a solid rear wall extending substantially the entire width and height of the body, 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, is recessed and comprises a plurality of vertical holes along the periphery of the vertical aperture, and wherein the recessed portion of the top surface of the body has an anterior section corresponding the anterior portion of the body and a posterior section corresponding to the posterior portion of the body;

a first 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 vertical posts, 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,

wherein the entire bottom surface of the first integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the top surface of the body and the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, thereby affixing the first integration plate to the body; 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 vertical posts, 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,

wherein if the second integration plate is present, a portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed and comprises a plurality of vertical holes along the periphery of the vertical aperture, the non-recessed portion of the bottom surface comprises a blunt and radiused portion, wherein the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body has an anterior section corresponding the anterior portion of the body and a posterior section corresponding to the posterior portion of the body,

and wherein the entire bottom surface of the second integration plate is inserted into the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body and the plurality of posts are inserted into the plurality of holes, thereby affixing the second integration plate to the body.

16. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , 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.

17. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , 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.

18. The interbody spinal implant of claim 17 , wherein the non-metal polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyetherether-ketone, hedrocel, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

19. The interbody spinal implant of claim 17 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the first integration plate, and if a second integration plate is present, the posterior portion of the second integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the second integration plate.

20. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , 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.

21. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , wherein at least the anterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the first integration plate, and if the bottom surface of the body is recessed, at least the anterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the second integration plate.

22. The interbody spinal implant of claim 21 , wherein the posterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the first integration plate, and if the bottom surface of the body is recessed, the posterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the second integration plate.

23. The interbody spinal implant of claim 22 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the first integration plate, and if a second integration plate is present, the posterior portion of the second integration plate has a greater thickness than the thickness of the anterior portion of the second integration plate.

24. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , wherein the anterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a first depth and the posterior section of the recessed portion of the top surface of the body is recessed to a second depth that is less than the first depth, and if the bottom surface of the body is recessed, the anterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a first depth and the posterior section of the recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body is recessed to a second depth that is less than the first depth.

25. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate comprises 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, the posterior portion of the second integration plate comprises an anti-expulsion edge to resist pullout of the implant from the spine of a patient into which the implant has been implanted.

26. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , wherein the posterior portion of the first integration plate protrudes above the plane of a non-recessed portion of the top surface of the body, and if a second integration plate is present, the posterior portion of the second integration plate protrudes above the plane of a non-recessed portion of the bottom surface of the body.

27. The interbody spinal implant of claim 26 , wherein a second integration plate is present and the implant comprises a lordotic angle adapted to facilitate alignment of the spine.

28. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , further comprising bone graft material disposed in the substantially hollow center of the body and adapted to facilitate the formation of a solid fusion column within the spine.

29. The interbody spinal implant of claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a D-shaped box in transverse cross-section, wherein the anterior portion is curved and the posterior portion is substantially flat, thereby forming the D-shaped box.