Zero-profile interbody spacer and coupled plate assembly
First Claim
1. An implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
- a spacer portion including a top surface configured to face the superior vertebral body, and a bottom surface configured to face the inferior vertebral body;
a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, the plate portion including a top surface, and a bottom surface, the plate portion further including a first bone fixation hole configured to receive a first bone fixation element along a first insertion direction, the plate portion further including a first borehole intersecting with the first bone fixation hole; and
a first spring biased snapper element disposed at least partially in the first borehole, the first spring biased snapper element configured to prevent the first bone fixation element from backing-out of the first bone fixation hole along a first back-out direction that is opposite the first insertion direction when the first bone fixation element is inserted into the first bone fixation hole, the first spring biased snapper element including a first end that defines a tapered top surface and a flat bottom surface;
wherein the first spring biased snapper element is moveable to a position such that at least a portion of the first end protrudes into the first bone fixation hole so that when the first bone fixation element is inserted into the first bone fixation hole the flat bottom surface of the first spring biased snapper element at least partially is aligned with the first bone fixation element along the first back-out direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implant for insertion into a disc space between vertebrae, wherein the implant includes a spacer portion, a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, two bone fixation elements for engaging the vertebrae and a retention mechanism for preventing the bone fixation elements from postoperatively backing-out of the plate portion. The retention mechanism may be in the form of a spring biased snapper element that is biased into communication with the bone fixation elements so that once the bone fixation element advances past the snapper element, the snapper element is biased back to its initial position in which the snapper element interfaces with the bone fixation elements. Alternatively, the retention mechanism may be in the form of a propeller rotatable between a first position in which the bone fixation elements are insertable to a second position where the bone fixation elements are prevented from backing-out.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
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a spacer portion including a top surface configured to face the superior vertebral body, and a bottom surface configured to face the inferior vertebral body; a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, the plate portion including a top surface, and a bottom surface, the plate portion further including a first bone fixation hole configured to receive a first bone fixation element along a first insertion direction, the plate portion further including a first borehole intersecting with the first bone fixation hole; and a first spring biased snapper element disposed at least partially in the first borehole, the first spring biased snapper element configured to prevent the first bone fixation element from backing-out of the first bone fixation hole along a first back-out direction that is opposite the first insertion direction when the first bone fixation element is inserted into the first bone fixation hole, the first spring biased snapper element including a first end that defines a tapered top surface and a flat bottom surface; wherein the first spring biased snapper element is moveable to a position such that at least a portion of the first end protrudes into the first bone fixation hole so that when the first bone fixation element is inserted into the first bone fixation hole the flat bottom surface of the first spring biased snapper element at least partially is aligned with the first bone fixation element along the first back-out direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
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a spacer portion including a top surface configured to face the superior vertebral body, and a bottom surface configured to face the inferior vertebral body; a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, the plate portion including a top surface, and a bottom surface, the plate portion further including a first bone fixation hole, a first borehole, and a second borehole, the first bone fixation hole configured to receive a first bone fixation element, the first borehole intersecting with the first bone fixation hole, and the second borehole being offset and open to the first borehole, the plate portion further including a second bone fixation hole, a third borehole, and a fourth borehole, the second bone fixation hole configured to receive a second bone fixation element, the third borehole intersecting with the second bone fixation hole, and the fourth borehole being offset and open to the third borehole; a first spring biased snapper element positioned in the first borehole such that the first spring biased snapper element is moveable from a first position wherein a portion of the first spring biased snapper element protrudes into the first bone fixation hole to prevent the first bone fixation element from backing out of the first bone fixation hole, to a second position wherein the portion of the first spring biased snapper element is removed from the first bone fixation hole; a second spring biased snapper element positioned in the third borehole such that the second spring biased snapper element is moveable from a first position wherein a portion of second the spring biased snapper element protrudes into the second bone fixation hole to prevent the second bone fixation element from backing out of the second bone fixation hole, to a second position wherein the portion of the second spring biased snapper element is removed from the second bone fixation hole; a first mechanism that is located at least partially within the second borehole, the first mechanism moveable with respect to the first spring biased snapper element and configured to be positioned at least partially within the first borehole such that the first mechanism;
1) permits movement of the first spring biased snapper element between the first and second positions; and
2) prevents the first spring biased snapper element from exiting the first borehole entirely; anda second mechanism that is located at least partially within the fourth borehole, the second mechanism moveable with respect to the second spring biased snapper element and configured to be positioned at least partially within the third borehole such that the second mechanism;
1) permits movement of the second spring biased snapper element between the first and second positions; and
2) prevents the second spring biased snapper element from exiting the third borehole entirely;wherein the first and second spring biased snapper elements each include a first end that has a tapered top surface and a flat bottom surface such that when the first and second spring biased snapper elements are in their respective first positions and the first and second bone fixation elements are inserted into the first and second bone fixation holes, respectively,
1) the flat bottom surface of the first spring biased snapper element faces a head of the first bone fixation element such that back out of the first bone fixation element is prevented, and
2) the flat bottom surface of the second spring biased snapper element faces a head of the second bone fixation element such that back out of the second bone fixation element is prevented.
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31. An implant for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
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a spacer portion including a top surface configured to face the superior vertebral body, and a bottom surface configured to face the inferior vertebral body; a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion, the plate portion including a top surface, and a bottom surface, the plate portion further including a first bone fixation hole, a first borehole, and a second borehole, the first bone fixation hole configured to receive a first bone fixation element, the first borehole intersecting with the first bone fixation hole, and the second borehole being offset and open to the first borehole, the plate portion further including a second bone fixation hole, a third borehole, and a fourth borehole, the second bone fixation hole configured to receive a second bone fixation element, the third borehole intersecting with the second bone fixation hole, and the fourth borehole being offset and open to the third borehole; a first spring biased snapper element positioned in the first borehole such that the first spring biased snapper element is moveable from a first position wherein a portion of the first spring biased snapper element protrudes into the first bone fixation hole to prevent the first bone fixation element from backing out of the first bone fixation hole, to a second position wherein the portion of the first spring biased snapper element is removed from the first bone fixation hole; a second spring biased snapper element positioned in the third borehole such that the second spring biased snapper element is moveable from a first position wherein a portion of second the spring biased snapper element protrudes into the second bone fixation hole to prevent the second bone fixation element from backing out of the second bone fixation hole, to a second position wherein the portion of the second spring biased snapper element is removed from the second bone fixation hole; a first mechanism comprising a spring or a set screw, the first mechanism located at least partially within the second borehole, the first mechanism moveable with respect to the first spring biased snapper element and configured to be positioned at least partially within the first borehole such that the first mechanism;
1) permits movement of the first spring biased snapper element between the first and second positions; and
2) prevents the first spring biased snapper element from exiting the first borehole entirely; anda second mechanism comprising a spring or a set screw, the second mechanism located at least partially within the fourth borehole, the second mechanism moveable with respect to the second spring biased snapper element and configured to be positioned at least partially within the third borehole such that the second mechanism;
1) permits movement of the second spring biased snapper element between the first and second positions; and
2) prevents the second spring biased snapper element from exiting the third borehole entirely.
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Specification