Systems and techniques for restoring and maintaining intervertebral anatomy

1. A spinal implant for insertion between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, the spinal implant comprising:

a trailing end surface,

a leading end portion terminating in a nose portion having a terminal end surface,

a length between the trailing end surface and the terminal end surface,

a mid-longitudinal axis extending along the length through the trailing end surface and the terminal end surface of the nose portion,

an upper surface extending from adjacent the trailing end surface to the leading end portion, the upper surface being orientable toward an end plate of the upper vertebral body when the spinal implant is inserted between the upper and lower vertebral bodies, and

a lower surface extending from adjacent the trailing end surface to the leading end portion, the lower surface being orientable toward an end plate of the lower vertebral body when the spinal implant is inserted between the upper and lower vertebral bodies,

wherein a first plane extends through the trailing end surface, the leading end portion, the upper surface, the lower surface, and the mid-longitudinal axis, and along the length, the nose portion being substantially arcuate in the first plane,

wherein the leading end portion extends from a second plane to the terminal end surface, the second plane being perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis and the first plane, extending through the upper surface and the lower surface, and being disposed between the trailing end surface and the terminal end surface,

wherein the leading end portion includes a first surface extending from the upper surface to the nose portion, and a second surface extending from the lower surface to the nose portion, and

wherein the terminal end surface extends between a third plane and a fourth plane, the third plane and the fourth plane being parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane, the distance between the third plane and the fourth plane at the intersection with the second plane being less than a third of a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the second plane.

2. The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein the nose portion is substantially semi-circular in the first plane.

3. The spinal implant of claim 2 , wherein the first surface provides a smooth and gradual transition from the upper surface to the terminal end surface, and the second surface provides a smooth and gradual transition from the lower surface to the terminal end surface.

4. The spinal implant of claim 3 , wherein a distance between the trailing end surface and the second plane is approximately two-thirds of the length of the spinal implant.

5. The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein

a fifth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the second plane and the terminal end surface,

a sixth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the second plane and the fifth plane,

a seventh plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the fifth plane and the terminal end surface,

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the second plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the sixth plane,

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the sixth plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the fifth plane, and

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the fifth plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the seventh plane.

6. The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein a fifth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis extends through the upper surface, the lower surface, and the midpoint between the trailing end surface and the terminal end surface, and a trailing end portion of the spinal implant extends from a sixth plane to the trailing end surface, the sixth plane being perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis and extending through the upper surface and the lower surface, a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the fifth plane being substantially equal to a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the sixth plane.

7. The spinal implant of claim 6 , wherein

a seventh plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends through the mid-longitudinal axis and along the length, the seventh plane intersecting the terminal end surface and the sixth plane,

an eighth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane along the upper surface, the eighth plane intersecting the sixth plane,

a ninth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane along the lower surface, the eighth plane intersecting the sixth plane,

a tenth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane and eighth plane halfway therebetween, the tenth plane intersecting the sixth plane and the first surface,

an eleventh plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane and the ninth plane halfway therebetween, the eleventh plane intersecting the sixth plane and the second surface,

a distance between the first surface and the sixth plane in the tenth plane being less than a distance between the terminal end surface and the sixth plane in the seventh plane, and

a distance between the second surface and the sixth plane in the eleventh plane being less than the distance between the terminal end surface and the sixth plane in the seventh plane.

8. The spinal implant of claim 7 , wherein a distance between the trailing end surface and the second plane is approximately two-thirds of the length of the spinal implant, and at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface is roughened.

9. The spinal implant of claim 1 , wherein a first curved surface transitions the upper surface to the trailing end surface, and a second curved surface transitions the lower surface to the trailing end surface, the radii of curvature of the first curved surface and the second curved surface in the first plane being greater than the radius of curvature of the terminal end surface in the first plane.

10. The spinal implant of claim 9 , wherein a distance between the trailing end surface and the second plane is approximately two-thirds of the length of the spinal implant, and at least one of the upper surface and the lower surface is roughened.

11. A spinal implant for insertion between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, the spinal implant comprising:

a leading end portion terminating in a nose portion having a terminal end surface,

a mid-longitudinal axis extending through the terminal end surface of the nose portion,

an upper surface being orientable toward an end plate of the upper vertebral body when the spinal implant is inserted between the upper and lower vertebral bodies, and

a lower surface being orientable toward an end plate of the lower vertebral body when the spinal implant is inserted between the upper and lower vertebral bodies,

wherein a first plane extends through the leading end portion, the upper surface, and the lower surface, and along the mid-longitudinal axis, the nose portion being substantially semi-circular in the first plane,

wherein the leading end portion extends from a second plane to the terminal end surface, the second plane being perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis and the first plane, extending through the upper surface and the lower surface,

wherein the leading end portion includes a first surface extending from the upper surface to the nose portion, and a second surface extending from the lower surface to the nose portion, and

wherein the terminal end surface extends between a third plane and a fourth plane, the third plane and the fourth plane being parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane, the distance between the third plane and the fourth plane at the intersection with the second plane being less than a third of a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the second plane.

12. The spinal implant of claim 11 , wherein the first surface provides a smooth and gradual transition from the upper surface to the terminal end surface, and the second surface provides a smooth and gradual transition from the lower surface to the terminal end surface.

13. The spinal implant of claim 11 , wherein

a fifth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the second plane and the terminal end surface,

a sixth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the second plane and the fifth plane,

a seventh plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the fifth plane and the terminal end surface,

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the second plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the sixth plane,

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the sixth plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the fifth plane, and

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the fifth plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the seventh plane.

14. The spinal implant of claim 11 , wherein a fifth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis extends through the upper surface, the lower surface, and the midpoint between a trailing end surface of the spinal implant and the terminal end surface, and a trailing end portion of the spinal implant extends from a sixth plane to the trailing end surface, the sixth plane being perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis and extending through the upper surface and the lower surface, a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the fifth plane being substantially equal to a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the sixth plane.

15. The spinal implant of claim 14 , wherein

a seventh plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends along the mid-longitudinal axis, the seventh plane intersecting the terminal end surface and the sixth plane,

an eighth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane along at least a portion of the upper surface, the eighth plane intersecting the sixth plane,

a ninth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane along at least a portion of the lower surface, the eighth plane intersecting the sixth plane,

a tenth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane and eighth plane halfway therebetween, the tenth plane intersecting the sixth plane and the first surface,

an eleventh plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane and the ninth plane halfway therebetween, the eleventh plane intersecting the sixth plane and the second surface,

a distance between the first surface and the sixth plane in the tenth plane being less than a distance between the terminal end surface and the sixth plane in the seventh plane, and

a distance between the second surface and the sixth plane in the eleventh plane being less than the distance between the terminal end surface and the sixth plane in the seventh plane.

16. A spinal implant for insertion between an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, the spinal implant comprising:

a proximal end and an opposite distal end;

a trailing end portion extending from the proximal end toward the distal end;

a leading end portion extending from the distal end toward the proximal end, the leading end portion including a nose portion terminating at a terminal end surface provided at and adjacent the distal end,

a mid-longitudinal axis extending through the terminal end surface of the nose portion, and

an upper surface and a lower surface each having portions opposite from one another,

wherein a first plane extends through the leading end portion, the upper surface, and the lower surface, and along the mid-longitudinal axis, the terminal end surface being substantially semi-circular in the first plane,

wherein the leading end portion extends from a second plane to the terminal end surface, the second plane being perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis and the first plane, extending through the upper surface and the lower surface,

wherein the leading end portion includes a first surface extending from the upper surface to the nose portion, and a second surface extending from the lower surface to the nose portion, and

wherein the terminal end surface extends between a third plane and a fourth plane, the third plane and the fourth plane being parallel to the mid-longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane, the distance between the third plane and the fourth plane at the intersection with the second plane being less than a third of a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the second plane.

17. The spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein the first surface provides a smooth and gradual transition from the upper surface to the terminal end surface, and the second surface provides a smooth and gradual transition from the lower surface to the terminal end surface.

18. The spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein

a fifth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the second plane and the terminal end surface,

a sixth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the second plane and the fifth plane,

a seventh plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis intersects the mid-longitudinal axis halfway between the fifth plane and the terminal end surface,

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the second plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the sixth plane,

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the sixth plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the fifth plane, and

a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the fifth plane being greater than a distance between the first surface and the second surface in the seventh plane.

19. The spinal implant of claim 16 , wherein a fifth plane perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis extends through the upper surface, the lower surface, and the midpoint between a trailing end surface of the spinal implant and the terminal end surface, and a trailing end portion of the spinal implant extends from a sixth plane to the trailing end surface, the sixth plane being perpendicular to the mid-longitudinal axis and extending through the upper surface and the lower surface, a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the fifth plane being substantially equal to a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface in the sixth plane.

20. The spinal implant of claim 19 , wherein

a seventh plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends along the mid-longitudinal axis, the seventh plane intersecting the terminal end surface and the sixth plane,

an eighth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane along at least a portion of the upper surface, the eighth plane intersecting the sixth plane,

a ninth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane along at least a portion of the lower surface, the eighth plane intersecting the sixth plane,

a tenth plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane and eighth plane halfway therebetween, the tenth plane intersecting the sixth plane and the first surface,

an eleventh plane perpendicular to the first plane and the second plane extends parallel to the seventh plane and the ninth plane halfway therebetween, the eleventh plane intersecting the sixth plane and the second surface,

a distance between the first surface and the sixth plane in the tenth plane being less than a distance between the terminal end surface and the sixth plane in the seventh plane, and

a distance between the second surface and the sixth plane in the eleventh plane being less than the distance between the terminal end surface and the sixth plane in the seventh plane.