MODULAR OCCIPITAL PLATE

• US 20080177313A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bergeron, Brian J., Lemoine, Jeremy J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,246,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7044 also having plates, staples or washers bearing on the vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8023 Variable length plates adjustable in both directions

Abstract

A system and associated method are provided for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine. A plate is provided to contact a region of a skull and be secured thereto. A spinal rod is configured to extend from a location adjacent the plate to a location adjacent at least one vertebra. An adjustable housing is provided to secure the rod to the plate, and has a first position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate can be adjusted and a second position wherein the relative position of the rod to the plate is secured.

Claims

1. A system for fixing a region of the skull to a portion of the spine, the system comprising:

a plate configured to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto, the plate having a top surface and at least one elongated slot defined therein, the at least one elongated slot having a transverse dimension and a perimeter edge, the plate having a first interlocking surface disposed proximate the perimeter edge; and

an adjustable housing having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion having a channel defined therein to receive a spinal rod, the base portion having a first cross dimension, the adjustable housing further including a flange extending outwardly from the base portion, the flange having a second cross dimension and a second interlocking surface;

the adjustable housing configured to be received by the elongated slot, the first cross dimension of the base portion being less than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot and the second cross dimension of the flange being greater than the transverse dimension; and

the adjustable housing having a first position within the elongated slot with the second interlocking surface spaced from the first interlocking surface to permit at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing relative to the plate and a second position with the second interlocking surface engaging the first interlocking surface to secure the at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plate further includes a keyed opening in communication with the elongated slot, the keyed opening having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot for receipt of the adjustable housing therein.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plate further includes a lip between the keyed opening and the elongated slot.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the elongated slot extends to an edge of the plate for forming an opening for receipt of the adjustable housing.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the top surface of the plate includes a lip proximate the opening.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a recessed surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot opposite the top surface, the first interlocking surface disposed within the recessed surface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the plate further includes a bottom wall to enclose at least a portion of the recessed surface and define a cavity within which the flange is captured when the adjustable housing is received within the elongated slot.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface include a series of extending projections configured for mating engagement when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface are configured to form a cold weld when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plate further includes a lip extending from the top surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a threaded securing device, the body portion of the adjustable housing having a threaded surface to receive the securing device and secure a spinal rod within the channel, and further wherein the adjustable housing is drawn from the first position to the second position upon securing of the securing device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the plate further includes at least one aperture to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the plate to a skull.

13. A system for fixing a region of the skull to a portion of the spine, the system comprising:

a spinal rod;

a plate configured to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto, the plate having a top surface and at least one elongated slot defined therein, the at least one elongated slot having a transverse dimension and a perimeter edge, the plate having a first interlocking surface disposed proximate the perimeter edge;

an adjustable housing having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion having a channel defined therein to receive a spinal rod, the base portion having a first cross dimension, the adjustable housing further including a flange extending outwardly from the base portion, the flange having a second cross dimension and a second interlocking surface;

the adjustable housing configured to be received by the elongated slot, the first cross dimension of the base portion being less than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot and the second cross dimension of the flange being greater than the transverse dimension;

the adjustable housing having a first position within the elongated slot with the second interlocking surface spaced from the first interlocking surface to permit translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing relative to the plate and a second position with the second interlocking surface engaging the first interlocking surface to secure translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing; and

a threaded securing device, the body portion of the adjustable housing having a threaded surface to receive the securing device and secure the spinal rod within the channel, the adjustable housing being drawn from the first position to the second position upon securing of the securing device with the spinal rod in the channel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the plate further includes a keyed opening in communication with the elongated slot, the keyed opening having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot for receipt of the adjustable housing therein.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plate further includes a lip between the keyed opening and the elongated slot.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the top surface of the plate includes a lip proximate the opening.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the plate includes a recessed surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot opposite the top surface, the first interlocking surface disposed within the recessed surface.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the plate further includes a bottom wall to enclose at least a portion of the recessed surface and define a cavity within which the flange is captured when the adjustable housing is received within the elongated slot.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface include a series of extending projections configured for mating engagement when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface are configured to form a cold weld when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the plate further includes a lip extending from the top surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the plate further includes at least one aperture to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the plate to a skull.

23. A method of fixing a region of the skull to a portion of the spine, the method comprising:

providing a plate configured to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto, the plate having a top surface and at least one elongated slot defined therein, the at least one elongated slot having a transverse dimension and a perimeter edge, the plate having a first interlocking surface disposed proximate the perimeter edge;

inserting an adjustable housing into the elongated slot, the adjustable housing having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion having a channel defined therein to receive a spinal rod, the base portion having a first cross dimension, the adjustable housing further including a flange extending outwardly from the base portion, the flange having a second cross dimension and a second interlocking surface, the first cross dimension of the base portion being less than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot and the second cross dimension of the flange being greater than the transverse dimension;

positioning a spinal rod in the channel of the adjustable housing, the adjustable housing in a first position within the elongated slot with the second interlocking surface spaced from the first interlocking surface to permit at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing relative to the plate;

securing the position of the spinal rod in the channel of the adjustable housing with a securing device, the adjustable housing being drawn from the first position to a second position with the second interlocking surface engaging the first interlocking surface to secure the at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the plate further includes a keyed opening in communication with the elongated slot, the keyed opening having a transverse dimension greater than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot for receipt of the adjustable housing therein.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the plate further includes a lip between the keyed opening and the elongated slot.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the elongated slot extends to an edge of the plate for forming an opening for receipt of the adjustable housing.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the top surface of the plate includes a lip proximate the opening.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the plate includes a recessed surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot opposite the top surface, the first interlocking surface disposed within the recessed surface.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the plate further includes a bottom wall to enclose at least a portion of the recessed surface and define a cavity within which the flange is captured when the adjustable housing is received within the elongated slot.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface include a series of extending projections configured for mating engagement when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

31. The system of claim 23, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface are configured to form a cold weld when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the plate further includes a lip extending from the top surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot.

33. The system of claim 23 further comprising the body portion of the adjustable housing having a threaded surface to receive the securing device and secure a spinal rod within the channel, and further wherein the adjustable housing is drawn from the first position to the second position upon securing of the securing device.

34. The system of claim 23, wherein the plate further includes at least one aperture to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the plate to a skull.

35. A system for fixing a region of the skull to a portion of the spine, the system comprising:

a plate configured to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto, the plate having a top surface and at least one elongated slot defined therein, the at least one elongated slot having a transverse dimension and a perimeter edge having an opening defined therein;

the adjustable housing having a body portion and a base portion, the body portion having a channel defined therein to receive a spinal rod, the base portion having a first cross dimension, the adjustable housing further including a flange extending outwardly from the base portion, the flange having a second cross dimension;

the adjustable housing configured to be received by the elongated slot through the opening defined in the perimeter edge thereof, the first cross dimension of the base portion being less than the transverse dimension of the elongated slot and the second cross dimension of the flange being greater than the transverse dimension; and

the adjustable housing having a first position within the elongated slot to permit at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing relative to the plate and a second position to secure the at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the top surface of the plate includes a lip proximate the opening.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the plate includes a recessed surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot opposite the top surface, the first interlocking surface disposed within the recessed surface.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the plate further includes a bottom wall to enclose at least a portion of the recessed surface and define a cavity within which the flange is captured when the adjustable housing is received within the elongated slot.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the plate further includes a first interlocking surface disposed proximate the perimeter edge, and the flange includes a second interlocking surface.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface include a series of extending projections configured for mating engagement when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the first interlocking surface and the second interlocking surface are configured to form a cold weld when the adjustable housing is in the second position.

42. The system of claim 35, wherein the plate further includes a lip extending from the top surface along at least a portion of the elongated slot.

43. The system of claim 35 further comprising a threaded securing device, the body portion of the adjustable housing having a threaded surface to receive the securing device and secure a spinal rod within the channel, and further wherein the adjustable housing is drawn from the first position to the second position upon securing of the securing device.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein the plate further includes at least one aperture to receive a fastener therethrough to secure the plate to a skull.

45. The system of claim 35, wherein the opening is defined by an aperture in the plate, the aperture having a dimension greater than the second cross dimension of the flange.