Flexible interbody implant
A lumbar interbody fusion device includes a first wing, a second wing, and a bridge. The bridge has an arcuate resting shape and include a first end connected to the first wing, a second end connected to the second wing, and at least one aperture extending through the bridge in a radial direction relative to the arcuate resting shape of the bridge. The bridge is elastically deformable such that a distance between the first wing and the second wing may vary according to elastic deformation of the bridge.
1. A lumbar interbody fusion device, comprising:
a first wing and a second wing separated by a seam; and
a bridge monolithically formed with the first and second wings extending along a path from the first wing to the second wing, wherein the bridge includes a coil defining a cavity therein, the cavity extending circumferentially along the path of the bridge, and
wherein a cavity extends through the bridge along the path from the first wing to the second wing.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the coil is defined by a spiral slot extending circumferentially along the bridge.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein a first end of the spiral slot ends in a first circular node on an outer surface of the bridge and a second end of the spiral slot ends in a second circular node on the outer surface of the bridge.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first node and the second node have a diameter greater than a width of the slot.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second wings define a first opening between a superior end of the device and the coil, and the first and second wings define a second opening between an inferior end of the device and the coil.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wing includes a first port extending from an interior surface of the first wing to a first hole, and the second wing includes a second port extending from an interior surface of the second wing to a second hole.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first wing includes a threaded bore extending distally from a concavity defined in a proximal end of the device, wherein the threaded bore is configured to connect to a delivery tool.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the bridge has an arcuate resting shape centered on an axis extending perpendicular to a radial direction of the arcuate resting shape, the axis extending from an inferior direction to a superior direction, and the wings being radially inward of the bridge in the radial direction.
9. A lumbar interbody fusion device, comprising:
a first wing and a second wing entirely separated by a seam, wherein the seam is formed from a recess of the first wing that is concave in a direction towards the second wing, and a projection of the second wing is convex in a direction towards the first wing, wherein the recess is configured to receive the projection; and
a bridge extending along a path from the first wing to the second wing.
10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the recess and projection are both “V” shaped.
11. The device of claims 10 , wherein the projection extends into the recess to define a chevron shape of the seam.
12. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first wing includes a first port extending from an interior surface of the first wing to a first hole, and the second wing includes a second port extending from an interior surface of the second wing to a second hole.
13. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first wing includes a threaded bore extending distally from a concavity defined in a proximal end of the device, wherein the threaded bore is configured to connect to a delivery tool.
14. The device of claim 9 , wherein the bridge has an arcuate resting shape centered on an axis extending perpendicular to a radial direction of the arcuate resting shape, the axis extending from an inferior direction to a superior direction, and the wings being radially inward of the bridge in the radial direction.
15. The device of claim 9 , wherein a cavity extends through the bridge along the path from the first wing to the second wing.
16. The device of claim 9 , wherein the bridge is monolithically formed with the first and second wings.
17. A method of manufacturing the fusion device of claim 9 , comprising:
additively manufacturing the device by stacking layers in a vertical orientation.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the layers are layers of titanium.