Occipital plate and system for spinal stabilization

• US 20020120268A1
• Filed: 02/21/2001
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Synthes USA LLC (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Berger, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 6,902,565 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7011 Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8047 wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole A61B17/8052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence

Abstract

An occipitocervical fixation system includes a plate for securing to the occiput and at least one pre-bent rod. The plate includes holes for receiving bone fasteners, and at least one clamping assembly for retaining a portion of a rod. The clamping assembly is selectively pivotable and lockable in place to fix the position of the rod.

Claims

1. An occipital plate comprising:

a Y-shaped plate portion having a front side and a back side, a central portion, two leg portions, and a plurality of bone screw holes in the central portion, the holes being configured and dimensioned to receive a bushing;

at least one clamping portion disposed on the front side proximate a free end of at least one of the leg portions;

wherein the plate is bendable to conform to an occiput.

2. The occipital plate of claim 1, wherein the central portion includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a grooved portion therebetween, the upper portion having one bone screw hole.

3. The occipital plate of claim 2, wherein the grooved portion is flexible to permit the upper portion to be disposed at an angle with respect to the lower portion.

4. The occipital plate of claim 2, wherein the leg portions and at least a portion of the central portion are disposed in nonparallel planes.

5. The occipital plate of claim 4, wherein the planes intersect at an angle of between about 160°

and about 175°

.

6. The occipital plate of claim 5, wherein the planes intersect at an angle of about 170°

.

7. The occipital plate of claim 2, wherein the clamping portion comprises a pivot member and a clamp plate, the clamp plate being pivotable about the pivot member.

8. The occipital plate of claim 7, wherein the clamp plate further comprises a hole, the pivot member being received in the hole.

9. The occipital plate of claim 8, wherein the pivot member further comprises a tapered portion with serrations, and the leg portion further comprises a tapered hole with serrations, wherein the serrations of the tapered portion positively engage the serrations of the tapered hole.

10. The occipital plate of claim 9, wherein the diameter of the tapered hole increases from the back side to the front side.

11. The occipital plate of claim 10, wherein the clamp plate is secured to the pivot member with a fastener.

12. The occipital plate of claim 7, wherein the leg portion additionally comprises a rod-receiving first recess and the clamping plate additionally comprises a rod-receiving second recess, the first and second recesses generally opposing each other.

13. The occipital plate of claim 12, wherein the second recess is serrated.

14. The occipital plate of claim 2, wherein the bone screw holes in the lower portion are disposed in a rectangular array.

15. The occipital plate of claim 14, wherein at least one group of bone screw holes in the array is disposed along a central axis of the plate extending between the leg portions.

16. The occipital plate of claim 15, wherein the bone screw hole in the upper portion is disposed on the central axis.

17. The occipital plate of claim 2, wherein at least two bone screw holes are disposed coaxially.

18. The occipital plate of claim 2, wherein the bushings permit polyaxial angulation.

19. The occipital plate of claim 18, wherein the plate is bendable along at least two generally parallel axes.

20. The occipital plate of claim 18, wherein the plate is bendable along at least two generally perpendicular axes.

21. An occipitocervical fixation system comprising:

an occipital plate comprising at least one rod clamp portion and a plate portion with at least one hole for receiving a bone screw, the rod clamp portion having a post, a clamp plate with a hole for receiving the post, and a fastener for tightening the clamp to the post;

at least one bone screw; and

at least one rod,

wherein the rod is retained between the plate portion and the clamp plate and is pivotable about the post.

22. A pre-bent rod for attachment to an occipital plate comprising a straight section, a bent section, and a serrated clamping section, wherein the straight section and the serrated clamping section are disposed substantially perpendicular to each other, and the serrated clamping section and the bent section are disposed at an angle of about 45°

with respect to each other.

23. The pre-bent rod of claim 22, wherein the serrated clamping section is generally cylindrical and comprises circumferential serrations about an angular range of between about 90°

and 180°

.