1. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising a body having an insertion end, a trailing end, a length between said ends, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies, the outer locus of said thread forming a substantially frusto-conical configuration along at least a portion of the length of said implant nearer said trailing end than said insertion end.
2. The implant of claim 1 in which said body has a substantially frusto-conical configuration along a sufficient portion of said implant that is adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted in the spine so as to maintain an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another.
3. The implant of claim 1 in which said body has a substantially cylindrical configuration.
4. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
5. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
6. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
7. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
8. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
9. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
10. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along the length of said implant.
11. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
12. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread beyond said insertion end has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along the length of said implant.
13. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body comprises a porous material.
14. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has an internal chamber and a means for accessing said internal chamber.
15. The spinal fusion implant of claim 14 in which said internal chamber is capable of containing fusion promoting material.
16. The spinal fusion implant of claim 14 in which said body includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
17. The spinal fusion implant of claim 16 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
18. The spinal fusion implant of claim 14 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
19. The spinal fusion implant of claim 15 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
20. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
21. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
22. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
23. The spinal fusion implant of claim 22 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said truncated side.
24. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising a body having a substantially frusto-conical configuration along a sufficient portion of said body that is adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted in the spine so as to maintain an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another, said body having an insertion end, a trailing end, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, the locus of said thread forming a substantially cylindrical configuration.
25. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
26. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
27. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
28. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
29. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
30. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
31. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread beyond said insertion end has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout the length of said implant.
32. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along at least a portion of said implant.
33. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
34. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along at least a portion of said implant.
35. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body comprises a porous material.
36. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has an internal chamber and means for accessing said internal chamber.
37. The spinal fusion implant of claim 36 in which said internal chamber is capable of containing fusion promoting material.
38. The spinal fusion implant of claim 36 in which said body includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
39. The spinal fusion implant of claim 38 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
40. The spinal fusion implant of claim 36 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
41. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which one of said ends includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
42. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
43. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
44. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
45. The spinal fusion implant of claim 44 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said truncated side.
46. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising a body having a substantially cylindrical configuration, a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis, said body having an insertion end, a trailing end, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, the locus of said thread forming a substantially cylindrical configuration.
47. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
48. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
49. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
50. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 having a plurality of openings capable retaining fusion promoting material.
51. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform for at least a portion of said implant.
52. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along at least a portion of said implant.
53. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along at least a portion of said implant.
54. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along the length of said implant.
55. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 body comprises a porous material.
56. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has an internal chamber and means for accessing said internal chamber.
57. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said internal chamber is capable of containing fusion promoting material.
58. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
59. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
60. The spinal fusion implant of claim 56 in which said implant has means for closing said accessing means.
61. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which one of said ends includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
62. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
63. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
64. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
65. The spinal fusion implant of claim 64 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at at least one of said truncated sides.
66. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies, said implant comprising a body having a substantially frusto-conical configuration along a sufficient portion of said body that is adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies when implanted in the spine so as to maintain an angulation of the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another, said body having, an insertion end, a trailing end, and an outer surface including a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, said implant being made of a material appropriate for human implantation.
67. The implant of claim 66 in which the outer locus of said thread forms a substantially cylindrical configuration.
68. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
69. The spinal fusion implant of claim 68 in which said insertion end comprises a tapered leading portion.
70. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
71. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant comprises a bone ingrowth material.
72. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant comprises a fusion promoting material.
73. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant is at least in part bioabsorbable.
74. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
75. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout the length of said implant.
76. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along the length of said implant.
77. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
78. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is substantially constant along the length of said implant.
79. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body comprises a porous material.
80. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has an internal chamber and an access opening for accessing said internal chamber.
81. The spinal fusion implant of claim 80 in which said internal chamber is capable of retaining fusion promoting material.
82. The spinal fusion implant of claim 80 in which said body includes a wall surrounding said internal chamber.
83. The spinal fusion implant of claim 82 in which said wall has a plurality of openings passing therethrough in communication with said internal chamber.
84. The spinal fusion implant of claim 80 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
85. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which one of said ends includes an engagement means for engaging instrumentation for the insertion of said implant.
86. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
87. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
88. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
89. The spinal fusion implant of claim 88 in which said thread has a thread height which when measured from said body is at its greatest on said truncated side.
90. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said truncated side.
91. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant has an upper and lower portion for engaging the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of macroscopic openings.
92. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant has an upper and lower portion for engaging the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of macroscopic openings.
93. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant has an upper and lower portion for engaging the bone of the adjacent vertebral bodies, said upper and lower portions comprising a plurality of macroscopic openings.
94. The spinal fusion implant of claim 22 in which said thread is continuous over at least a portion of said truncated side.
95. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a height measured from said body that is larger at said trailing end than at said insertion end.
96. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
97. The spinal fusion implant of claim 22 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
98. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said thread has a height measured from said body that is larger at said trailing end than at said insertion end.
99. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
100. The spinal fusion implant of claim 44 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
101. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
102. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said thread has a height measured from said body that is larger at said trailing end than at said insertion end.
103. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
104. The spinal fusion implant of claim 88 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
105. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion across a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising:
a body having an outer surface, an insertion end, a trailing end, and a length between said insertion end and said trailing end, said body having transversely opposed arcuate portions oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, said arcuate portions being in a diverging relationship to one another along a sufficient portion of the length of said body adapted to contact the adjacent vertebral bodies sufficient to maintain angulation of the vertebral bodies relative to one another, said outer surface comprising a thread for engaging said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine.
106. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said trailing end is larger than said insertion end.
107. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said insertion end is larger than said trailing end.
108. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has a plurality of openings for retaining fusion promoting material.
109. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout at least a portion of said implant.
110. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being variable along the length of said implant.
111. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said thread has a thread height measured from said body which is variable along the length of said implant.
112. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has an internal chamber and means for accessing said internal chamber.
113. The spinal fusion implant of claim 112 in which said body has means for closing said accessing means.
114. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which at least a portion of said outer surface comprises wells having at least partial walls.
115. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said implant is configured to be placed in close proximity in a side by side alignment to a second spinal fusion implant, said first and second implants when placed together having a combined overall width that is less than the sum of the individual maximum diameters of each of said first and second implants.
116. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has a longitudinal central axis and at least one truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis.
117. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said arcuate portions are along the entire length of said body.
118. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which the outer locus of the thread forms a substantially cylindrical configuration.
119. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which the outer locus of the thread forms a substantially frusto-conical configuration.
120. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
121. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
122. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
123. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
124. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said implant is made of a material that is stronger than bone.
125. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
126. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
127. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
128. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 in which said body has a length in the range of 10-32 mm.
129. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said length is in the range of 10-32 mm.
130. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
131. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
132. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
133. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
134. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 having a diameter at said insertion end in the range of 8-22 mm.
135. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
136. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
137. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
138. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
139. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 having a diameter at said trailing end in the range of 10-24 mm.
140. A fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
an elongated body having a length, a first diameter at a first end and a larger second diameter at a second end opposite said first end, said first and second diameters sized to be greater than the space between the adjacent vertebrae;
said body having an outer surface that is substantially continuously tapered from said first end to said second end with external threads defined on said outer surface and extending substantially entirely along said length of said body.
141. The fusion device according to claim 140, wherein said body is formed of a porous biocompatible material to permit bone tissue ingrowth into the device.
142. The spinal fusion implant of claim 116 in which said body has a second truncated side forming a planar surface parallel to said central axis and opposite to said one truncated side.
143. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105 in which said body has a plurality of openings passing therethrough so as to allow bone to grow from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body and through said implant.
144. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1 in which said thread has a thread radius measured from the longitudinal central axis of said implant, said thread radius being substantially uniform throughout at least a portion of said implant.
145. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has a substantially frusto-conical configuration.
146. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24 in which said body has at least in part a cylindrical configuration.
147. The spinal fusion implant of claim 1, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
148. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
149. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
150. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
151. The spinal fusion implant of claim 147, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
152. The spinal fusion implant of claim 24, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
153. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
154. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
155. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
156. The spinal fusion implant of claim 152, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
157. The spinal fusion implant of claim 46, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
158. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
159. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
160. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
161. The spinal fusion implant of claim 157, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
162. The spinal fusion implant of claim 66, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
163. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substances is bone morphogenetic protein.
164. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
165. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
166. The spinal fusion implant of claim 162, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
167. The spinal fusion implant of claim 105, further in combination with a fusion promoting substance.
168. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone morphogenetic protein.
169. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite.
170. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance includes hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate.
171. The spinal fusion implant of claim 167, wherein said fusion promoting substance is bone.
172. A fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
an elongated body having a length and an outer surface extending along said length, said outer surface including a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate portions and a pair of substantially flat portions extending between said pair of arcuate portions, said pair of arcuate portions defining external threads extending substantially entirely along said length of said body, said pair of substantially flat portions extending along a substantial portion of said length of said body, said pair of substantially flat portions terminating adjacent a first end of said elongated body, said external threads defining at least one circumferentially continuous thread extending along a majority of the length of said elongated body.
173. The fusion device according to claim 172, wherein said pair of opposite arcuate portions defines an outer dimension adjacent a first end of said elongated body, said outer dimension being adapted for engagement within a lesser dimension of the disc space.
174. The fusion device according to claim 172, wherein said elongated body defines a hollow interior.
175. A fusion device for facilitating arthrodesis in the disc space between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
an elongated body having a length and an outer surface extending along said length, said outer surface including a pair of oppositely disposed arcuate portions and a pair of substantially flat portions extending between said pair of arcuate portions, said pair of arcuate portions defining an external thread extending substantially entirely along said length of said body, said pair of substantially flat portions extending along a substantial portion of said length of said body, said substantially flat portions being interrupted by said thread, said elongated body defining a hollow interior, said pair of arcuate portions each defining at least one opening extending therethrough in communication with said hollow interior.
176. The fusion device according to claim 175, further comprising a bone growth inducing material disposed within said hollow interior.
177. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said pair of substantially flat portions are disposed generally opposite one another.
178. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said pair of substantially flat portions are substantially parallel to one another.
179. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said openings defined by said pair of arcuate portions are disposed generally opposite one another.
180. The fusion device according to claim 175, wherein said pair of arcuate portions are tapered along a substantial portion of said length of said elongated body.
181. The fusion device according to claim 175, further comprising an insertion instrument adapted to implant the fusion device within the disc space between the adjacent vertebrae.
182. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion within an implantation space formed across the height of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising:
a body having a leading end for insertion first into the disc space, a trailing end opposite said leading end, a central longitudinal axis therebetween, and a length along the central longitudinal axis, said body having opposed arcuate portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed within the implantation space oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, said opposed arcuate portions having at least one opening therethrough, said openings being in communication with one another to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant, said body having at least one truncated side along at least a portion of the central longitudinal axis between said opposed arcuate portions and between said leading and trailing ends; and
a thread along at least a portion of the length of said body adapted to engage said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies, said thread having a thread height measured from said body which is greatest at said at least one truncated side, said at least one truncated side having a truncated portion between said thread and said leading end.
183. An interbody spinal fusion implant for insertion within an implantation space formed across the height of a disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine, said implant comprising:
a body having a leading end for insertion first into the disc space, a trailing end opposite said leading end, a mid-longitudinal axis through said leading and trailing ends, and opposed arcuate portions between said leading and trailing ends adapted to be placed within the implantation space oriented toward the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, said opposed arcuate portions having at least one opening therethrough, said openings being in communication with one another to permit for the growth of bone from adjacent vertebral body to adjacent vertebral body through said implant; and
a thread adapted to engage said implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies, said thread having a thread height measured from said body, said thread height being variable along more than one turn of said thread about the mid-longitudinal axis of said body.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-11. (canceled)
12. A moving blade system for a moving blade sequence in a continuous flow machine, the moving blade sequence defining a rotation axis, the moving blade system comprising:
at least two moving blade segments, each of which moving blade segment includes
a radially interior shroud band,
a radially exterior shroud band, and
at least two moving blades, each of which moving blade is disposed, in reference to the rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, is coupled between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, and has a radial equilibrium axis and a base inclination;
wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments include contact surfaces that correspond to one another; and
wherein the radial equilibrium axes of the end-most moving blades on the adjacent ends of adjacent moving blade segments are tilted axially at angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b, respectively, relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b have opposite signs in regard to the base inclination.
13. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b are equal in magnitude.
14. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the moving blades of at least one moving blade segment are formed integrally with at least one of the interior shroud band and the exterior shroud band.
15. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the moving blades are cast as part of at least one of the interior shroud band and the exterior shroud band.
16. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the contact surfaces of the radially exterior shroud bands are implemented as mechanical linkage.
17. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 10\xb0.
18. A moving blade system according to claim 17, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 5\xb0.
19. A moving blade system according to claim 18, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 2\xb0.
20. A moving blade system according to claim 12, wherein the continuous-flow machine is a thermal gas turbine.
21. A continuous-flow machine comprising:
a moving blade sequence defining a rotation axis and including a moving blade assembly;
the moving blade assembly having
at least two moving blade segments, each of which moving blade segment includes
a radially interior shroud band,
a radially exterior shroud band, and
at least two moving blades, each of which moving blade is disposed, in reference to the rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, is coupled between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, and has a radial equilibrium axis and a base inclination;
wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments include contact surfaces that correspond to one another; and
wherein the radial equilibrium axes of the end-most moving blades on the adjacent ends of adjacent moving blade segments are tilted axially at angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b, respectively, relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b have opposite signs in regard to the base inclination.
22. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 21, wherein the continuous-flow machine is a thermal gas turbine.
23. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 22, wherein the moving blades sequence is disposed in a turbine area of the continuous-flow machine.
24. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 23, wherein the moving blades sequence is disposed in a low-pressure turbine area of the continuous-flow machine.
25. A continuous-flow machine according to claim 21, wherein the magnitude of the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b is between 0.1\xb0 and 10\xb0.
26. A method for the mounting of a moving blade sequence for a continuous-flow machine, the method comprising the following steps:
providing a moving blade assembly including at least two moving blade segments, each of which moving blade segment includes
a radially interior shroud band,
a radially exterior shroud band, and
at least two moving blades, each of which moving blade is disposed, in reference to the rotation axis of the moving blade sequence, at least primarily radially between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, is coupled between the radially interior shroud band and the radially exterior shroud band, and has a radial equilibrium axis and a base inclination;
wherein at least the radially exterior shroud bands of the two moving blade segments include contact surfaces that correspond to one another; and
wherein the radial equilibrium axes of the end-most moving blades on the adjacent ends of adjacent moving blade segments are tilted axially at angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b, respectively, relative to their respective base inclination, wherein the angles \u03b1a, \u03b1b have opposite signs in regard to the base inclination; and
rotating the moving blade assembly until centrifugal forces arise to cause revolution-dependent contact forces between the contact surfaces of the radially exterior shroud bands of at least two moving blade segments, which forces are directed towards one another so as to couple the respective moving blade segments.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the moving blade segments are coupled with one another in a deformation-free manner.
28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the continuous-flow machine is a thermal gas turbine.