Anterior plating system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:
- a plate having an upper face, a lower face, and at least one hole therethrough extending between said upper and lower faces; and
a retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said at least one hole, said retaining element having a first form wherein a screw is insertable into the at least one hole and being formable to a second form wherein at least a portion of said retaining element extends over said at least one hole.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for stabilizing the spine are provided. For stabilizing the L5-S1 junction, the system includes a plate that has a generally triangular shape with an upper node and a pair of lower nodes. The upper node has a hole through the plate to receive a screw for passage into the L5 vertebra. The lower nodes each include a hole through the plate to receive screws for passage into the S1 vertebra. The system further includes a plate having a retaining element for preventing backout of screws inserted through the plate. Instruments and methods for attaching the plate to the spinal column are also provided.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:
-
a plate having an upper face, a lower face, and at least one hole therethrough extending between said upper and lower faces; and
a retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said at least one hole, said retaining element having a first form wherein a screw is insertable into the at least one hole and being formable to a second form wherein at least a portion of said retaining element extends over said at least one hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
said plate has a generally triangular shape and includes an upper node and a pair of lower nodes; and
said at least one hole includes an upper hole through said plate at said upper node to receive a screw for passage into an upper vertebra, a first lower hole in said plate formed through one of said lower nodes to receive a screw for passage into a lower vertebra, and a second lower hole in said plate through the other of said lower nodes to receive a screw for passage into the lower vertebra.
-
-
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each of said retaining elements extends from a base member attached to said upper face of said plate.
-
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein there is a gap between said base member and each of said retaining elements.
-
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said retaining element is positioned adjacent said upper hole and further comprising:
-
a first lower retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said first lower hole; and
a second lower retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said second lower hole, wherein said first and second lower retaining elements each have a first form wherein a screw is insertable into the adjacent hole and are formable to a second form wherein at least a portion of said retaining element extends over said adjacent hole.
-
-
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of said retaining elements includes a connecting member integrally formed with said upper face of said plate.
-
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein each of said retaining elements extends around said adjacent hole.
-
9. A system for securing a plate to a spinal column segment, the system comprising:
-
a plate having a generally triangular shape forming three vertices, said plate having a hole adjacent each vertex;
an instrument including;
a plate holding portion coupled to said plate and being configured to establish and maintain a defined relative position between said instrument and said plate;
a shaft having a proximal handle portion and a distal end supporting said plate holding portion; and
a support extending from said shaft, said support defining three guiding portions, each of said guiding portions corresponding to a respective one of said holes of said plate and arranged to guide a drill to said corresponding hole. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:
-
a plate having an upper face, a lower face, and at least one hole therethrough extending between said upper and lower faces; and
a retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said at least one hole, said retaining element having a first form wherein a screw is insertable into the at least one hole and being formable to a second form wherein at least a portion of said retaining element extends over said at least one hole, wherein said retaining element is formed by applying a bending force to said retaining element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
said plate has a generally triangular shape and includes an upper node and a pair of lower nodes; and
said at least one hole includes an upper hole through said plate at said upper node to receive a screw for passage into an upper vertebra, a first lower hole in said plate formed through one of said lower nodes to receive a screw for passage into a lower vertebra, and a second lower hole in said plate through the other of said lower nodes to receive a screw for passage into the lower vertebra.
-
-
18. The apparatus of claim of claim 17, wherein each of said retaining elements extends from a base member attached to said upper face of said plate.
-
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein there is a gap between said base member and each of said retaining elements.
-
20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said retaining element is positioned adjacent said upper hole and further comprising:
-
a first lower retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said first lower hole; and
a second lower retaining element extending from said upper face adjacent said second lower hole, wherein said first and second lower retaining elements each have a first form wherein a screw is insertable into the adjacent hole and are formable to a second form wherein at least a portion of said retaining element extends over said adjacent hole.
-
-
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein each of said retaining elements includes a connecting member integrally formed with said upper face of said plate.
-
22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein each of said retaining elements extends around said adjacent hole.
-
23. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:
-
a plate having a generally triangular shape with an upper node positionable along an upper vertebra and a pair of lower nodes positionable along a lower vertebra;
an upper hole in the plate at the upper node to receive a screw for engaging the upper vertebra;
a first lower hole in the plate through one of the lower nodes to receive a screw for engaging the lower vertebra and a second lower hole in the plate through the other of the lower nodes to receive a screw for engaging the lower vertebra; and
means for blocking screws inserted in the upper hole and the first and second lower holes, wherein said means for blocking includes a triangular retaining element attached to said plate, said retaining element being movable from a first orientation wherein screws are insertable into each of said upper hole and said first and second lower holes to a second orientation wherein apices of said retaining element extend over respective ones of said upper hole and said first and second lower holes, wherein said retaining element includes a spring blade extendable therefrom to secure said retaining element in said second orientation. - View Dependent Claims (24)
-
-
25. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:
-
a plate having a general triangular shape, said plate having an upper hole near an upper vertex through which a screw is passed for securing said plate to the L5 vertebra, and a pair of lower holes situated near respective ones of first and second lower vertices of said plate, each of said pair of lower holes having a screw passed therethrough to secure said plate to the S1 vertebra; and
means for blocking screws seated in said upper hole and said pair of lower holes, wherein said means for blocking screws includes a retaining element threadingly attached to a central hole in said plate, said retaining element being configured to at least partially cover said upper hole and said pair of lower holes. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A plating apparatus for the spine, comprising:
-
a plate having a general triangular shape, said plate having an upper hole near an upper vertex through which a screw is passed for securing said plate to the L5 vertebra, and a pair of lower holes situated near respective ones of first and second lower vertices of said plate, each of said pair of lower holes having a screw passed therethrough to secure said plate to the S1 vertebra;
a retaining element attachable to a central hole in said plate, said retaining element configured to at least partially cover said upper hole and said pair of lower holes, said retaining element including an elastic tongue with a stud extending from a posterior face of said retaining element, said stud insertable in a receiving seat formed on an anterior face of said plate. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
Specification