AXIAL SPINAL IMPLANT AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING AN AXIAL SPINAL IMPLANT WITHIN THE VERTEBRAE OF THE SPINE

摘要

Axial implants (58, 102, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800) for fusing and/or stabilizing spinal vertebrae and apparatus for implanting one or more of such axial spinal implants axially within one or more axial bore within vertebral bodies in alignment with a visualized, trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion (TASIF) line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner. Attachment mechanisms are provided that affix or force the preformed axial spinal implants to or against the vertebral bone along the full length of a TASIF axial bore or bores (22) or pilot holes or at the cephalad end and/or caudal end of the TASIF axial bore or bores or pilot holes. The engagement of the vertebral body is either an active engagement upon implantation of the spinal implant into the TASIF bore or a passive engagement of the external surface configuration with the vertebral bone caused by bone growth about the external surface configuration.