SPINAL FUSION IMPLANT
A horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screw (HTCN) including a body portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is opposed to the second end; and a head at the first end of the body portion, wherein the body portion has a predetermined curvilinear shape and includes a pointed tip at the second end of the body portion, and a method of surgically implanting universal horizontal-transvertebral curvilinear nail-screws (HTCN) into a plurality of adjacent vertebrae.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A spinal fusion implant, comprising:
a first spinal fixation device adapted to penetrate and implant into vertebral material, the first spinal fixation device having a curved geometry with a first body portion ending in a first pointed tip at a first end of the first spinal fixation device, the first pointed tip being configured to penetrate into vertebral material with a first point;
a second spinal fixation device adapted to penetrate and implant into vertebral material, the second spinal fixation device having a curved geometry with a second body portion ending in a second pointed tip at a distal end of the second spinal fixation device, the second pointed tip being configured to penetrate into vertebral material with a second point; and
a connecting support structure having a curved outer surface that is curved at multiple portions of the connecting support structure, wherein the connecting support structure is adapted to hold the first spinal fixation device with respect to the second spinal fixation device, the connecting support structure defining a first opening through which the first spinal fixation device is configured to extend, such that material of the connecting support structure surrounds a first surrounded portion of the first spinal fixation device when the first spinal fixation device extends through the first opening.
3 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , wherein the first spinal fixation device comprises a plurality of predetermined curved angles.
4 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , wherein the first spinal fixation device is arcuate such that the first spinal fixation device is continuously curved throughout the first body portion to the first pointed tip.
5 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , wherein:
the first pointed tip of the first spinal fixation device comprises a first tapered surface extending from part of the first pointed tip proximal the first body portion to a most distal end of the first pointed tip; and
the second pointed tip of the second spinal fixation device comprises a second tapered surface extending from part of the second pointed tip proximal the second body portion to a most distal end of the second pointed tip.
6 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , further comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the first spinal fixation device and the second spinal fixation device in a deployed configuration.
7 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , wherein the first spinal fixation device is coupled to the connecting support structure by a threaded screw.
8 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 7 , wherein the threaded screw is configured to deploy the first pointed tip of the first spinal fixation device into a first vertebrae.
9 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 8 , wherein the first opening of the connecting support structure is adapted to orient the first spinal fixation device to penetrate and implant into the first vertebrae.
10 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , wherein the first pointed tip of the first spinal fixation device and the second pointed tip of the second spinal fixation device are configured to be implanted into adjacent vertebrae.
11 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 10 , wherein the first spinal fixation device is configured to be deployed into vertebral material by screw driver tool.
12 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , wherein the first spinal fixation device comprises a single-piece construct of a biocompatible material.
13 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 2 , the connecting support structure defining a second opening through which the second spinal fixation device is configured to extend, such that material of the connecting support structure surrounds a second surrounded portion of the second spinal fixation device when the second spinal fixation device extends through the second opening.
14 . The spinal fusion implant of claim 13 , wherein the first opening is spaced apart from the second opening.
15 . A spinal fusion implant assembly comprising:
a first spinal fixation device comprising a first curved body and a first pointed tip, the first spinal fixation device rigidly coupled to a second spinal fixation device comprising a second curved body and a second pointed tip, the first pointed tip of the first spinal fixation device configured to be deployed into a first vertebral body while the second pointed tip of the second spinal fixation device is configured to be deployed into a second vertebral body;
a third spinal fixation device comprising a third curved body and a third pointed tip, the third spinal fixation device rigidly coupled to a fourth spinal fixation device comprising a fourth curved body and a fourth pointed tip, the third pointed tip of the third spinal fixation device configured to be deployed into the first vertebral body while the fourth pointed tip of the fourth spinal fixation device is configured to be deployed into the second vertebral body; and
at least one locking mechanism for locking at least one of the spinal fixation devices in a deployed configuration;
wherein the first pointed tip of the first spinal fixation device is configured to be oriented opposite to the third pointed tip of the third spinal fixation device when the first pointed tip and the third pointed tip are deployed in the first vertebral body; and
wherein the second pointed tip of the second spinal fixation device is configured to be oriented opposite to the fourth pointed tip of the fourth spinal fixation device when the second pointed tip and the fourth pointed tip are deployed in the second vertebral body.
16 . The spinal fusion implant assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first curved body comprises a first shape and the second curved body comprises a second shape, wherein the first shape and the second shape are the same.
17 . The spinal fusion implant assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first spinal fixation device, second spinal fixation device, third spinal fixation device and fourth spinal fixation device comprise a biocompatible material.
18 . The spinal fusion implant assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first spinal fixation device and the second spinal fixation device are coupled to a first a connecting support structure having a curved outer surface that is curved at multiple portions of the first connecting support structure.
19 . The spinal fusion implant assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first spinal fixation device and the second spinal fixation device are coupled to a threaded connecting bar.
20 . The spinal fusion implant assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a threaded screw configured to couple the first spinal fixation device to the first connecting support structure.
21 . The spinal fusion implant assembly of claim 20 , further comprising a spinal fixation device insertion tool configured to deploy the first pointed tip of the first spinal fixation device into the first vertebral body, the spinal fixation device insertion tool including a threaded portion for engaging with the threaded screw coupling the first spinal fixation device to the first interconnecting support structure.