| abstract |
An intervertebral implant having a composite wedge/dowel configuration is provided. The intervertebral implant includes a central body portion and a pair of radially extending wings. The radially extending wings can be tapered from a first end of the implant to the second end of the implant along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the central body portion. Alternately, the radially extending wings can be tapered along an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body portion or along any other axis between parallel and transverse to the longitudinal axis. A throughbore or plurality of throughbores extend from a top surface of the implant through the implant to a bottom surface of the implant. The implant may be formed from a cortical ring cut from the diaphysis of a long bone by milling the top and bottom surfaces of the cortical ring to form the substantially central body portion and the tapered radially extending wings. The cortical ring is milled such that the intramedullary canal of the cortical ring defines a throughbore in the central body portion of the implant. The sidewalls of the implant may be machined to form a substantially rectangular shape or the implant can be left to have a substantially circular configuration. Alternately, the implant may be formed of any biocompatible material having the requisite strength requirements via any known process, i.e., molding. |