Anchoring device and system for an intervertebral implant, intervertebral implant and implantation instrument

1. A system for treatment of a spine comprising:

an intervertebral implant comprising

a first contact surface adapted and configured to contact a first vertebral endplate,

a second contact surface adapted and configured to contact a second vertebral endplate,

a peripheral surface extending between at least a part of the first contact surface and at least a part of the second contact surface,

a first passage having an opening on the peripheral surface, the first passage extending from the opening toward the first contact surface and being adapted and configured for transit of a front end of an elongated, curved anchor from the peripheral surface to project from the first contact surface,

a first insertion stop surface proximate to the first passage configured to abut a corresponding second insertion stop surface of an anchor, and

a first withdrawal stop surface proximate to the first passage configured to abut a corresponding second withdrawal stop surface of an anchor; and

an anchor having a front end, a rear edge, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear edge, the anchor comprising

at least one plate that is elongated and curved along the longitudinal axis of the anchor and that has a width transverse to the longitudinal axis of the anchor,

at least one slot oriented generally along the longitudinal axis of the anchor and separating the rear edge and at least a rearward portion of the plate into a first branch and a second branch, with the first branch being resiliently movable with respect to the second branch,

a second insertion stop surface oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis of the anchor that is adapted and configured to abut the first insertion stop surface and hold the implant against the first vertebral endplate, and

a second withdrawal stop surface disposed on one of the branches and oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis of the anchor, the second withdrawal stop surface being adapted and configured to abut the first withdrawal stop surface and inhibit withdrawal of the anchor from the implant.

2. The system of claim 1 , in which the slot separates the plate in the width of the plate.

3. The system of claim 2 , in which the slot extends generally perpendicular to the width of the plate.

4. The system of claim 2 , in which the anchor has a thickness transverse to the longitudinal axis of the anchor and to the width of the plate, and the slot extends diagonally through the thickness.

5. The system of claim 4 , in which the rear edge of the first branch and the rear edge of the second branch are offset along the thickness.

6. The system of claim 1 , in which the anchor has a thickness transverse to the longitudinal axis of the anchor and to the width of the plate, and the slot separates the plate in its thickness.

7. The system of claim 6 , in which the second withdrawal stop surface extends from one of the branches in the thickness.

8. The system of claim 6 , in which the slot also separates the plate in the width of the plate.

9. The system of claim 1 , in which the slot is wider at the rear edge.

10. The system of claim 9 , in which the slot has a stress-relief portion opposite the rear edge.

11. The system of claim 1 , in which the slot has a beveled first edge along the first branch and a beveled second edge along the second branch, with the beveled first edge generally facing the beveled second edge.

12. The system of claim 1 , in which the slot is curved along the longitudinal axis of the anchor.

13. The system of claim 1 , in which the second withdrawal stop surface faces toward the rear edge and the anchor comprises a beveled surface disposed on the same branch as the second withdrawal stop surface with the beveled surface being oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the anchor and facing away from the rear edge.

14. The system of claim 1 , in which

the second withdrawal stop surface is disposed on the first branch;

the implant comprises a third withdrawal stop surface; and

the anchor comprises a fourth withdrawal stop surface disposed on the second branch and oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis of the anchor, the fourth withdrawal stop surface being adapted and configured to abut the third withdrawal stop surface and inhibit withdrawal of the anchor from the implant.

15. The system of claim 1 , in which the second insertion stop surface is formed by a thickening at the rear edge.

16. The system of claim 1 , in which the second insertion stop surface is formed by a lug extending along the width of the plate.

17. The system of claim 1 , in which the first branch has a curvature greater than the curvature of the second branch.

18. A system for treatment of a spine comprising:

an intervertebral implant comprising

a first vertebral contact surface,

a second vertebral contact surface,

a peripheral surface extending between at least a part of the first contact surface and at least a part of the second contact surface,

a first passage having an opening on the peripheral surface, the first passage extending from the opening toward the first contact surface,

a first insertion stop surface proximate to the first passage, and

a first withdrawal stop surface proximate to the first passage; and

an anchor having a front end, a rear end, a rear edge disposed along the rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end, the anchor comprising

a plate that is elongated and curved along the longitudinal axis of the anchor,

a slot oriented generally along the longitudinal axis of the anchor and separating the rear edge and at least a rearward portion of the plate into a first branch and a second branch, with the first branch being resiliently movable with respect to the second branch,

a second insertion stop surface oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis of the anchor,

a second withdrawal stop surface disposed on one of the branches and oriented angularly to the longitudinal axis of the anchor,

the anchor having an inserted position in which at least a portion of the plate is disposed in the first passage, the second insertion stop surface abuts the first insertion stop surface, the second withdrawal stop surface abuts the first withdrawal stop surface and inhibits withdrawal of the plate from the passage, and the front end of the anchor extends out of the passage and away from the first vertebral contact surface.

19. A spinal treatment device comprising:

an intervertebral implant comprising a passage having an opening on a peripheral surface of the intervertebral implant and an opening oriented toward a vertebral contact surface of the intervertebral implant, the passage having opposing lateral walls; and

an anchor having a front end, a rear end, a rear edge disposed along the rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front end and the rear end, the anchor comprising a plate that is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the anchor and a slot oriented generally along the longitudinal axis of the anchor and separating the rear edge and at least a rearward portion of the plate into a first branch and a second branch, with the first branch being resiliently movable with respect to the second branch, with

the anchor having an inserted position in which first branch and the second branch are separated by a first distance, and the front end of the anchor extends out of the passage and away from the vertebral contact surface,

an insertion position in which the anchor is partially disposed in the passage with the first branch and the second branch moved together by contact with the opposing lateral walls of the passage and separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance.