System and method for stabilizing the human spine with a bone plate
DCFirst Claim
1. A bone plate system comprising:
- a plate configured to stabilize a bone structure;
a hole passing through the plate;
a ring positionable within the hole, the ring comprising a deflectable portion;
a fastener positionable through the ring such that a head of the fastener engages the ring, the fastener configured to couple the plate to a bone; and
wherein the deflectable portion of the ring is configured to deflect outwards when the head is initially positioned in the ring and wherein the deflectable portion is configured to deflect inwards after passage of a portion of the head into the ring to couple the fastener to the ring so that removal of the fastener from the plate is inhibited.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A spinal plate system and method for fixation of the human spine is provided. In an embodiment, the spinal fixation system includes a plate, a coupling member, a locking system for substantially locking the coupling member in a desired position, and an anchoring system to secure the coupling member in the locking system. The plate may have a hole that allows the coupling member to couple the plate with a bone. At least a portion of the coupling member may swivel in the hole so that a bottom end of the member may extend at a plurality of angles substantially oblique to the plate. The locking system may lock the coupling member in desired positions relative to the plate. The anchoring system may secure the coupling member in the locking system to inhibit the coupling system from detaching from the locking system when stressed. An assembly tool may be used to engage and disengage the anchoring system during the installation or removal of the spinal fixation system.
799 Citations
130 Claims
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1. A bone plate system comprising:
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a plate configured to stabilize a bone structure;
a hole passing through the plate;
a ring positionable within the hole, the ring comprising a deflectable portion;
a fastener positionable through the ring such that a head of the fastener engages the ring, the fastener configured to couple the plate to a bone; and
wherein the deflectable portion of the ring is configured to deflect outwards when the head is initially positioned in the ring and wherein the deflectable portion is configured to deflect inwards after passage of a portion of the head into the ring to couple the fastener to the ring so that removal of the fastener from the plate is inhibited. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A bone plate system comprising:
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a plate;
a hole through the plate, the hole extending from a top surface of the plate to a bottom surface of the plate, wherein a portion of the plate forms a wall of the hole;
a fastener configured to couple the plate to a bone, the fastener comprising a head and a shank; and
a ring positionable between the plate and the fastener within the hole, the ring comprising;
a base;
a projection extending upwards from the base; and
a finger extending from the projection substantially parallel to the base, the finger configured to secure the head in the ring during use. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
an additional hole in the plate;
an additional fastener comprising a head and a shank for coupling the plate to the bone; and
an additional ring for coupling the additional fastener to the plate.
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28. The system of claim 27, wherein the fastener shank extends from a bottom of the plate at a first oblique angle relative to the plate, and wherein the additional fastener shank extends from a bottom of the plate at a second oblique angle relative to the plate.
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29. The system of claim 28, wherein the fastener shank extends from the bottom of the plate in a diverging direction relative to the additional fastener shank during use.
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30. The system of claim 28, wherein the fastener shank extends from the bottom of the plate in a converging direction relative to the additional fastener shank during use.
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31. The system of claim 5, wherein the fastener comprises a bone screw.
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32. A bone plate system, comprising:
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a plate;
a hole through the plate, the hole extending from a top surface of the plate to a bottom surface of the plate, and wherein a portion of the plate forms a wall of the hole;
a fastener for coupling the plate to a bone, the fastener comprising a head and a shank, wherein a first portion of the head has a first diameter and a second portion of the head has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter;
a ring configured to inhibit removal of a fastener from the plate when the ring is positioned in the hole and the fastener is positioned through the ring, the ring comprising an outer surface, an inner surface and a ridge on a portion of the inner surface; and
wherein the ridge is expanded outwards when the first portion of the head passes into the ring, and wherein the ridge moves inward until the ridge contacts the head when the second portion of the head is positioned next to the ridge during use. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
a shaft;
a handle at a first end of the shaft; and
a driver head at a second end of the shaft, the driver head configured to mate with an opening in the head.
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55. The system of claim 54, further comprising an extraction tool comprising:
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a hollow shaft, said insertion tool configured to be rotatable within said hollow shaft to allow the handle of the insertion tool to be rotated to cause the removal of the fastener from the bone;
a handle at a first end of the hollow shaft; and
an extraction head comprising a tip at a second end of the shaft;
wherein the driver head of the insertion tool extends past the extraction head into the opening of the fastener, and the extraction head tip pushes the ridge of the ring off of the fastener to allow the fastener to be removed from the bone.
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56. The system of claim 32, further comprising:
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an additional hole in the plate;
an additional fastener comprising a head and a shank for coupling the plate to the bone; and
an additional ring for coupling the additional fastener to the plate.
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57. The system of claim 56, wherein the fastener shank extends from a bottom of the plate at a first oblique angle relative to the plate, and wherein the additional fastener shank extends from the bottom of the plate at a second oblique angle relative to the plate during use.
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58. The system of claim 57, wherein the fastener shank and the additional fastener shank extend from the bottom of the plate in diverging directions relative to each other.
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59. The system of claim 57, wherein the fastener shank and the additional fastener shank extend from the bottom of the plate in converging directions relative to each other.
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60. The system of claim 32, wherein the fastener comprises a bone screw.
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61. A bone plate system comprising:
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a plate for stabilizing a bone structure;
a hole through the plate, wherein a portion of the plate forms a wall of the hole;
a fastener configured to couple the plate to a bone head, said fastener comprising a head and a shank, wherein the head comprises;
an opening configured to accept a driver head of an insertion tool;
an outer surface; and
a plurality of apertures extending from the outer surface to the opening;
a ring positionable within the hole between the plate and the fastener; and
a locking mechanism comprising a top and a plurality of elongated members extending from the top the locking mechanism configured to insert in the opening of the head with a portion of the elongated members extendable through the apertures in the head of the fastener during use. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
an additional hole in the plate;
an additional fastener comprising a head and a shank for coupling the plate to the bone; and
an additional ring positionable within the additional hole between the plate and the additional fastener.
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85. The system of claim 84, the additional ring is configured to move within the additional hole to allow the additional fastener to be positioned and inserted into the bone at an angle that is oblique to the plate.
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86. The system of claim 84, wherein the shank is positioned at a first oblique angle relative to the plate, and wherein the additional fastener shank is positioned at a second oblique angle relative to the plate.
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87. The system of claim 86, wherein the shank and the additional fastener shank extend in diverging directions relative to each other.
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88. The system of claim 86, wherein the shank and the additional fastener shank extend in converging directions relative to each other.
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89. The system of claim 61, wherein the insertion tool further comprises:
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a shaft;
a handle disposed at a first end of the shaft; and
the driver head disposed at a second end of the shaft, the driver head configured to couple to the opening on the head to allow insertion of the fastener through the ring and into the bone, the driver head comprising a hollow section configured to slide over and compress the locking mechanism during insertion of the fastener through the ring and into the bone, the hollow section configured to inhibit the elongated members from projecting through the apertures in the head during insertion of the fastener;
wherein removal of the insertion tool after insertion of the fastener through the ring and into the bone allows the locking mechanism to expand in the opening of the head, the expansion of the locking mechanism allowing the elongated members to project through the apertures in the head to engage the ring and secure the head in to the ring.
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90. The system of claim 61, wherein the fastener comprises a bone screw.
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91. A method for stabilizing a spine, comprising:
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inserting a locking mechanism into an opening on a head of a fastener, wherein said head of the fastener comprises an outer surface, and an aperture extending from the outer surface to the opening;
positioning a plate adjacent to a bone, the plate comprising a hole;
inserting a ring within the hole, the ring comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, and a groove on a portion of the inner surface of the ring;
inserting a shank of the fastener through the ring and into the bone;
forcing the outer surface of the ring against an inner surface of the hole with the head to substantially fix the fastener relative to the plate; and
extending a locking mechanism projection through the aperture in the head to engage the groove to substantially secure the fastener to the ring. - View Dependent Claims (92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103)
a shaft;
a handle disposed at a first end of the shaft; and
a driver head disposed at a second end of the shaft, the driver head configured to mate with the opening on the head, the driver head comprising a hollow section configured to slide over and compress the locking mechanism;
wherein compression of the locking mechanism by the hollow section inhibits an elongated member of the locking mechanism from projecting through the aperture in the head during insertion of the fastener, and wherein removal of the insertion tool after insertion of the fastener allows the elongated member to project through the aperture in the head.
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104. A method for stabilizing a spine, comprising:
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positioning a plate adjacent to a bone, the plate comprising a hole;
inserting a ring within the hole, said ring comprising a base and a projection extending upward substantially perpendicular to the base, said projecting comprising at least one finger extending from the projection substantially parallel to the base;
placing a shank of a fastener through the ring so that an end of the shank extends from a bottom of the plate, said fastener comprising a head, said head comprising a groove;
inserting the fastener shank into the bone to connect the plate to the bone;
forcing an outer surface of the ring against an inner surface of the hole with the fastener head to substantially fix the fastener relative to the plate; and
snapping the fingers into the groove on the head to substantially secure the fastener to the ring. - View Dependent Claims (105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117)
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118. A method for stabilizing a spine, comprising:
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positioning a plate adjacent to a bone, the plate comprising a hole;
inserting a ring into the hole, the ring comprising an inner surface and a ridge on a portion of the inner surface;
placing a fastener into the ring, the fastener comprising a shank, a head, and a groove in the head;
driving the fastener into the bone to couple the plate to the bone;
inserting the head into the ring while driving the fastener into the bone, wherein inserting the head into the ring deflects the ridge outwards;
further driving the fastener into the bone to couple the plate to the bone and to position the groove adjacent to the ridge so that the ridge deflects inwards towards the head and forms an interference fit with the groove, wherein the interference fit between the ring and the head inhibits the fastener from backing out of the plate during use. - View Dependent Claims (119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130)
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Specification