| CPC A61F 2/4455 (2013.01) [A61F 2/30771 (2013.01); A61F 2/442 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30011 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30289 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30772 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30774 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3092 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3093 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30957 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30985 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

|
1. An implant, comprising:
a body comprised of a peripheral structure, a first support beam and a second support beam;
a plurality of bone contacting elements attached to the body;
wherein the peripheral structure is further comprised of a first lateral portion, a second lateral portion, an anterior portion and a posterior portion;
wherein the first lateral portion and the anterior portion are joined at a first corner portion of the peripheral structure and wherein the second lateral portion and the posterior portion are joined at a second corner portion of the peripheral structure; and
wherein the first support beam has a first end attached to the first corner portion of the peripheral structure and wherein the first support beam has a second end attached to the second corner portion of the peripheral structure;
wherein at least one of the bone contacting elements bridges across a gap between the second support beam and the peripheral structure;
wherein each support beam is in contact with an end of at least one of the plurality of bone contacting elements; and
wherein at least one of the first support beam and the second support beam is a tapered support beam having a longitudinal axis and a cross-sectional area that is tapered along the longitudinal axis.
|