Device and method for locking a screw with a bendable plate portion

• US 8,343,188 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Michelson, Gary Karlin
• Primary Examiner(s): McDermott, Corrine M
• Assistant Examiner(s): RYCKMAN, MELISSA K
• Application Number:
  US13/453,686
• Publication Number:
  US 20120209331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/246, 606/249, 606289-291, 623/17.11, 623/17.16
• US Class Current: 606/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/025 Joint distractors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/809 with bone-penetrating elements, e.g. blades or prongs bone staples A61B17/0642; intramedullary nails with a plate at an end A61B17/7233
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8665 Nuts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/92 Impactors or extractors, e.g. for removing intramedullary devices insertion or extraction of artificial joints A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30767 Special external or bone-contacting surface, e.g. coating for improving bone ingrowth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/30965 Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/442 Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/446 having a circular or elliptical cross-section substantially parallel to the axis of the spine, e.g. cylinders or frustocones
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30062 (bio)absorbable, biodegradable, bioerodable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30235 : tubular, e.g. sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30329 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 : hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 : internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30785 : parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30787 : inclined obliquely with respect to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30836 : knurled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3085 : with a threaded, e.g. self-tapping, bone-engaging surface, e.g. external surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 : serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 : comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0004 : bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 : cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 : Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 : Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00059 : Chromium or Cr-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00796 : Coating or prosthesis-covering structure made of a phosphorus-containing compound, e.g. hydroxy(l)apatite

Abstract

A spinal device for stabilizing adjacent vertebral bodies of the human spine. The device includes a combination of a screw and a member having a screw hole and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies. The member has a portion that is bendable or deformable to prevent the outward excursion of the screw from the screw hole of the member.

Claims

1. A spinal device for stabilizing two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies of the human spine, each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and an external curvature, said device comprising:

a screw having a head, a shaft, a mid-longitudinal axis and a length along the mid-longitudinal axis, said shaft including a thread; and

a member having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said lower surface being adapted to contact the anterior aspect of each of the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member being curved to conform to the external curvature of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member including a screw hole having a central longitudinal axis and a depth from said upper surface to said lower surface along the central longitudinal axis, the depth of said screw hole being less than the length of said screw, said screw hole intersecting with said upper surface to form an entrance having an inner perimeter, said upper surface including a recess, an integral portion of said upper surface that defines both a portion of said entrance and a portion of said recess being bendable from an open position that permits insertion of said head of said screw into said screw hole to a closed position where said integral portion overlaps a portion of said head of said screw to prevent the outward excursion of said screw from said screw hole.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said member includes a width transverse to the length of said member, said member including opposite sides along the length, one of said sides having a portion curved partially around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said lower surface of said member includes two ratcheted projections at opposite ends of said member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said thread of said screw has a maximum diameter, said screw including a non-threaded portion with a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of said thread of said screw.

5. The device of claim 1, in combination with a spinal implant, said screw being adapted to couple said member to said spinal implant.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said inner perimeter of said entrance extends completely around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said recess is completely separate and spaced-apart from said screw hole.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said integral bendable portion of said member has a bending axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said recess is a notch.

10. The device of claim 1, in combination with an instrument for bending said integral bendable portion.

11. The device of claim 1, in combination with a fusion promoting material.

12. A spinal device for stabilizing two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies of the human spine, each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and an external curvature, said device comprising:

a screw having a head, a shaft, a mid-longitudinal axis and a length along the mid-longitudinal axis, said shaft including a thread; and

a member having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said lower surface being adapted to contact the anterior aspect of each of the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member being curved to conform to the external curvature of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member including a screw hole having a central longitudinal axis and a depth from said upper surface to said lower surface along the central longitudinal axis, the depth of said screw hole being less than the length of said screw, said screw hole intersecting with said upper surface to form an entrance having an inner perimeter, a portion of said inner perimeter of said entrance being moveable from a circular open position that permits insertion of said head of said screw into said screw hole to a closed position where said portion of said inner perimeter is closer to the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole, said portion of said inner perimeter in the closed position overlying a portion of said head of said screw to prevent the outward excursion of said screw from said screw hole.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said member includes a width transverse to the length of said member, said member including opposite sides along the length, one of said sides having a portion curved partially around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said lower surface of said member includes two ratcheted projections at opposite ends of said member.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said thread of said screw has a maximum diameter, said screw including a non-threaded portion with a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of said thread of said screw.

16. The device of claim 12, in combination with a spinal implant, said screw being adapted to couple said member to said spinal implant.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said inner perimeter of said entrance extends completely around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

18. The device of claim 12, further comprising a recess, said moveable portion of said inner perimeter separating said recess from said screw hole.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said recess is a notch.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein said moveable portion of said inner perimeter moves about a bending axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

21. The device of claim 12, in combination with an instrument for moving said moveable portion of said inner perimeter.

22. The device of claim 12, in combination with a fusion promoting material.

23. A spinal device for stabilizing two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies of the human spine, each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and an external curvature, said device comprising:

a member having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said lower surface being adapted to contact the anterior aspect of each of the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member being curved to conform to the external curvature of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member including a screw hole having a central longitudinal axis and a depth from said upper surface to said lower surface along the central longitudinal axis, said screw hole being non-threaded along the depth of said screw hole; and

a moveable securing means for locking a head of a screw to said member.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said securing means includes a moveable portion of said member proximate said screw hole.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said securing means includes a bendable portion of said member proximate said screw hole.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein said securing means includes a portion of a recess adjacent said screw hole.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein said member includes a width transverse to the length of said member, said member including opposite sides along the length, one of said sides having a portion curved partially around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein said lower surface of said member includes two ratcheted projections at opposite ends of said member.

29. The device of claim 23, in combination with a fusion promoting material.