Interbody fusion implants and instrumentation

Patent Number: 6610065, issued on 2003/08/26    
Applied on 2000/10/27
Inventor(s): Charles L Branch, Mingyan Liu, Lawrence M Boyd, Loic Josse
Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.

Abstract: This invention relates to implants formed from donor bone for use in lumbar interbody fusion procedures and instruments for performing such procedures. The implants are formed to include a concave surface formed from a portion of the medullary canal of a long bone. The concaved surface defines a recess in the implant that serves as a depot for osteogenic material. Specific instruments for inserting the implants prepared according to this invention and for preparing the intervertebral space to receive the implants are also provided.