Uni-directional dynamic spinal fixation device
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for postoperatively compressing a bone graft between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- a spinal fixation device including first and second discrete plates each having a pair of generally laterally aligned openings for cooperation with fasteners to secure the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of the bone graft;
said first and second plates having respective first and second sets of interlocking elements cooperable with one another to enable progressive postoperative advancement of the plates toward one another and to lock the plates to one another in a plurality of advanced positions precluding movement of the plates away from one another in each said advanced position for progressively compressing the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae, one of said first and second plates including a cantilevered leg mounting one of said first and second sets of interlocking elements for flexing movement toward and away from another of said first and second sets of interlocking elements to enable the progressive advancement and locking of said plates to one another.
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Abstract
A uni-directional dynamic spinal fixation device includes first and second plates having openings at remote ends for receiving bone screws to fix the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of a bone graft-receiving site. The first and second plates have male and female parts having interlocking elements cooperable with one another enabling movement of the plates and the adjacent vertebrae to one another to progressively compress the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae and prevent movement of the first and second plates and adjacent vertebrae away from one another.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for postoperatively compressing a bone graft between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
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a spinal fixation device including first and second discrete plates each having a pair of generally laterally aligned openings for cooperation with fasteners to secure the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of the bone graft;
said first and second plates having respective first and second sets of interlocking elements cooperable with one another to enable progressive postoperative advancement of the plates toward one another and to lock the plates to one another in a plurality of advanced positions precluding movement of the plates away from one another in each said advanced position for progressively compressing the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae, one of said first and second plates including a cantilevered leg mounting one of said first and second sets of interlocking elements for flexing movement toward and away from another of said first and second sets of interlocking elements to enable the progressive advancement and locking of said plates to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for postoperatively compressing a bone graft between adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
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a spinal fixation device including first and second discrete plates each having a pair of generally laterally aligned openings for cooperation with fasteners to secure the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of the bone graft, said first plate including a male projection and said second plate including a female recess for receiving the male projection;
said male projection and said female recess of said first and second plates, respectively, having first and second sets of ratchet teeth cooperable with one another to enable progressive postoperative displacement of the plates relative to one another in a first direction to shorten the distance between the openings of the respective plates and thereby progressively compress the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae and to lock the plates to one another in a plurality of progressively displaced positions precluding movement of the plates in a second direction opposite said first direction, said male projection including a pair of legs having margins carrying said first set of ratchet teeth and a slot between said legs enabling said legs to flex toward and away from said second set of ratchet teeth carried by margins of said female recess in response to said relative displacement of the plates in said first direction. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification