Modular occipital plate
First Claim
Patent Images
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 bone contacting surface, a top surface opposite the bone contacting surface, a side surface between the bone contacting surface and the top surface, at least one elongated slot, and an opening in communication with the elongated slot, 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
a single piece 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 inserted into the opening of the plate from the top surface opposite the bone contacting surface of the plate, wherein the bone contacting surface of the plate contacts the region of the skull when the plate is secured thereto, 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 of the elongated slot; 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for fixing a region of the skull to a portion of the spine, the system comprising:
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a plate configured to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto, the plate having a bone contacting surface, a top surface opposite the bone contacting surface, a side surface between the bone contacting surface and the top surface, at least one elongated slot, and an opening in communication with the elongated slot, 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 a single piece 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 inserted into the opening of the plate from the top surface opposite the bone contacting surface of the plate, wherein the bone contacting surface of the plate contacts the region of the skull when the plate is secured thereto, 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 of the elongated slot; 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. 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 bottom surface, a top surface opposite the bottom surface, a side surface between the bottom surface and the top surface, at least one elongated slot, and an opening in communication with the elongated slot, 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; a single piece 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 second interlocking surface being disposed on an outside edge of the flange; the adjustable housing configured to be inserted into the opening of the plate from the top surface opposite the bottom surface of the plate or from the side surface between the bottom surface and the top surface of the plate and moved laterally relative to the plate into the elongated slot, wherein the bottom surface of the plate contacts the region of the skull when the plate is secured thereto, 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 of the elongated slot; 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 threaded 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 threaded securing device with the spinal rod in the channel. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of fixing a region of the skull to a portion of the spine, the method comprising:
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providing a plate configured to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto, the plate having a bottom surface, a top surface opposite the bottom surface, a side surface between the bottom surface and the top surface, at least one elongated slot, and an opening in communication with the elongated slot, 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 a single piece adjustable housing into the opening of the plate from the top surface opposite the bottom surface of the plate or from the side surface of the plate between the bottom surface and the top surface, wherein the bottom surface of the plate contacts the region of the skull when the plate is secured thereto; moving the adjustable housing laterally relative to the plate 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 of the elongated slot; positioning a spinal rod in the channel of the adjustable housing, the adjustable housing being 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; moving the adjustable housing 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; and thereafter, securing the position of the spinal rod in the channel of the adjustable housing by securing a securing device, the secured securing device also securing the adjustable housing in the second position; wherein the plate and the adjustable housing are structured such that the adjustable housing may be disposed in the second position to secure the at least one of translational and rotational movement of the adjustable housing prior to securing the spinal rod in the channel with the securing device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification