Abstract: An apparatus is provided for preparing a spinal implant surgical site for receiving a spinal fusion implant. The apparatus includes a drive shaft, a handle, and a hollow, cylindrical cutting body. The handle is carried by the drive shaft, the hollow, cylindrical cutting body is provided at a leading end of the drive shaft. The cylindrical cutting body has an open leading end, a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart cutting teeth provided on the open leading end, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart gullets each provided between an adjacent pair of the cutting teeth. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A bone joining implant has a rigid, implantable base body having an outer surface with at least one bone bed engaging portion configured for engaging between a pair of bone bodies to be joined. At least one spline is provided by the bone bed engaging portion, the spline being constructed and arranged to extend outwardly of the body and having an undercut portion. Upon implantation, the undercut portion of the implant is configured to engage with a bone bed provided in the bone bodies to be joined so as to provide instantaneous fixation there between. In one embodiment, the implant is a vertebral interbody fusing device. The base body is cylindrical and the spline is an undercut thread helically configured about the body. In another embodiment, the base body forms a bridging portion for encircling a vertebra to be removed, and splines in the form of strips of material extend outwardly of top-most and bottom-most portions of the body.

Abstract: A bone joining implant has a rigid, implantable base body having an outer surface with at least one bone bed engaging portion configured for engaging between a pair of bone bodies to be joined. At least one spline is provided by the bone bed engaging portion, the spline being constructed and arranged to extend outwardly of the body and having an undercut portion. Upon implantation, the undercut portion of the implant is configured to engage with a bone bed provided in the bone bodies to be joined so as to provide instantaneous fixation there between. In one embodiment, the implant is a vertebral interbody fusing device. The base body is cylindrical and the spline is an undercut thread helically configured about the body. In another embodiment, the base body forms a bridging portion for encircling a vertebra to be removed, and splines in the form of strips of material extend outwardly of top-most and bottom-most portions of the body.

Abstract: A bone joining implant has a rigid, implantable base body having an outer surface with at least one bone bed engaging portion configured for engaging between a pair of bone bodies to be joined. At least one spline is provided by the bone bed engaging portion, the spline being constructed and arranged to extend outwardly of the body and having an undercut portion. Upon implantation, the undercut portion of the implant is configured to engage with a bone bed provided in the bone bodies to be joined so as to provide instantaneous fixation there between. In one embodiment, the implant is a vertebral interbody fusing device. The base body is cylindrical and the spline is an undercut thread helically configured about the body. In another embodiment, the base body forms a bridging portion for encircling a vertebra to be removed, and splines in the form of strips of material extend outwardly of top-most and bottom-most portions of the body.