Intervertebral implant facilitating unilateral placement, instruments and methods

摘要

Implants, tools and methods for performing unilateral posterior lumbar interbody fusion are provided. An interbody implant includes a body having a top and bottom surface extending along a length thereof; and first and second side surfaces extending between the top and bottom surfaces on opposite sides of the body. The height of the first side surface is greater than the height of the second side surface.

主权项

1. An interbody implant comprising:
an implant including a body having a top and bottom surface extending along a length of said body defined along a longitudinal axis of said body, and also defining a width of said body, said body configured and adapted such that, wherein said body is inserted into a disk space between two adjacent vertebrae one of the vertebrae being superiorly positioned relative to a second of the vertebrae, said top surface faces an inferior surface of the superiorly positioned vertebra and said bottom surface faces a superior surface of the second of the vertebrae; and first and second side surfaces aligned with said longitudinal axis so as to be parallel therewith, and extending between said top and bottom surfaces on opposite sides of said body, said first side surface defining a first height and said second side surface defining a second height; wherein said first height is greater than said second height; wherein said top and bottom surfaces are tapered in a direction extending from a midline along the longitudinal axis toward said second side surface, and relatively untapered in a direction extending from said midline toward said first side surface; in combination with an instrument for driving said implant, said instrument comprising: a rigid elongated shaft having proximal and distal end portions; a handle formed at said proximal end portion; and a working end formed at a distal end of said instrument and extending from said distal end portion, said working end including a first member and a second member, said first member being longer than said second member, said first member forming a first angle with a longitudinal axis of said instrument and said second member forming a second angle with said longitudinal axis.