Abstract: A method for testing the pulsatile endurance of a vascular implant 3 comprises placing a resilient insert 4 into the implant and repeatedly expanding and contracting the insert, thereby expanding and contracting the implant. The insert preferably has a cavity therein and is repeatedly expanded and contracted by repeatedly increasing and decreasing the pressure in the cavity.

Abstract: A surgical implant (2) for fusing adjacent vertebrae (V) together comprises a body portion (4) with spaced arms (10). The body portion (4) has passages (16a and 16b) to receive surgical fixing screws (100) engaged in holes drilled in the vertebrae (V) for securing the body portion (4) to the anterior faces of the vertebrae (V) to be fused. The arms (10) extend into a prepared space between the vertebrae to be fused. Graft material is packed between the arms (10). Each surgical fixing screw (100) has an externally screw-threaded shank (101) divided into wings which can be outwardly deformed to anchor the shank (101) in the hole. Each surgical fixing screw (100) also had a head (102) which can be transformed between a laterally expanded condition and a laterally contracted condition to permit the head to be interlocked with the implant (2).