| 摘要 |
<p>A middle expanded, removable disk implant for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae. The implant is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional shape with a minimal height and a width greater than the height. The implant is detachably mounted to an applicator for insertion into the space between two adjacent vertebrae from which a portion of the intervertebral disk has been removed. Once inserted, the implant is positioned by anterior-posterior movement in the disk space to the position in which both the expanded, larger width middle portion and the smaller end portions engage the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae and the implant is then rotated to bring the sides of the rectangularly-shaped implant defining the width of the implant, with its larger dimension, into engagement with the bodies of the vertebrae. A locking piece is then inserted into the disk space adjacent the rotated implant. The locking piece includes a surface for bearing against the bodies of the adjacent vertebrae to resist rotation of the locking piece along the longitudinal axis thereof and an implant bearing surface for engaging one of the sides of the implant defining the width of the implant to resist rotation of the implant relative to the locking piece. Both implant and locking piece are comprised of bone, the locking piece being preferably comprised of both cortical and cancellous bone, or the implant is comprised of metal, bio-compatible polymer, or other suitable material. The implant may also include a flared end for maintaining proper spinal curvature of the patient.</p> |
