# US 11,844,702 B2 · Nubbed plate

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- Number: US 11,844,702 B2
- Document ID: US11844702B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/359,756
- Filed: 2021-06-28
- Published: 2021-10-21
- Granted: 2023-12-19
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-06
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Nicholas Pavento; John Riley Hawkins; Sheryl Furlan; Douglas Raymond
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11844702B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- A61F 2/30744: {End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity}
- 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)}
- 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)}
- A61F 2/30965: {Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping}
- A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2002/2817: {Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30378: {Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/30428: {made by inserting a protrusion into a slot}
- A61F 2002/30482: {using a locking cam}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30594: {slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30607: {Kits of prosthetic parts to be assembled in various combinations for forming different prostheses}
- A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations}
- A61F 2002/30622: {Implant for fusing a joint or bone material}
- A61F 2002/30774: {internally-threaded}
- A61F 2002/30784: {Plurality of holes}
- A61F 2002/30785: {parallel}
- A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/30836: {knurled}
- A61F 2002/30843: {Pyramidally-shaped}
- 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}
- A61F 2220/0008: Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
- A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00029: Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
- A61F 2310/00047: Aluminium or Al-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00053: Vanadium or V-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00101: Molybdenum or Mo-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00161: Carbon; Graphite
- A61F 2310/00179: Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
- A61F 2310/00203: containing alumina or aluminium oxide
- A61F 2310/00239: containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
- A61F 2310/00359: Bone or bony tissue
- A61F 2310/00407: Coating made of titanium or of Ti-based alloys
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A separate nub component between the plate and an intervertebral fusion cage, wherein the nub is attached to the plate. The nub lessens the undesired pivotal movement of the plate. It is believed that when the nub fits snugly between the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, it acts as a stop against the undesired pivotal movement of the plate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of implanting an intervertebral fusion device, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting an elongate member into an intervertebral space that is defined by an upper vertebral body and a lower vertebral body, wherein an upper surface of the elongate member bears against the upper vertebral body and a lower surface of the elongate member bears against the lower vertebral body; and
moving a body such that a concave inner surface of the body moves along a curved path defined by a convex outer surface of a component that is complementary to the concave inner surface of the body, wherein the component is disposed between the body and the elongate member and separate from both the body and the elongate member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a threaded member extends through the body.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the threaded member extends through a hole of the body that extends from the inner surface of the body to an outer surface of the body that is opposite the inner surface of the body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the threaded member extends from the component through the body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the component has an inner surface that is opposite the outer surface of the component, and the inner surface of the component faces the elongate member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the moving step comprises sliding the concave inner surface of the body along the convex outer surface of the component.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of locking the elongate member to the component so as to prevent movement of the elongate member about the component when the elongate member is in a locked state.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of tightening the threaded member against the body so as to define the locked state.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein movement of the body along the convex outer surface of the component is limited by a stop surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein moving the body is also relative to the elongate member.

### Claim 11

An intervertebral fusion device comprising:
an elongated intervertebral implant configured to be inserted into an intervertebral space, such that upper and lower surfaces of the implant abut upper and lower vertebral bodies, respectively, to define the intervertebral space;
a body that defines a concave inner surface; and
a component disposed between the implant and the body, wherein the component defines a convex outer surface that is complementary to the concave inner surface of the body,
wherein the concave inner surface of the body is movable along a curved path defined by the convex outer surface of the component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 11, further comprising a threaded member that extends into the body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 12, wherein the threaded member extends through a hole of the body that extends from the inner surface of the body to an outer surface of the body that is opposite the inner surface of the body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 13, wherein the threaded member extends from the component through the body.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 11, wherein the component has an inner surface that is opposite the outer surface of the component, and the inner surface of the component faces the elongated intervertebral implant.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 11, wherein the elongated intervertebral implant is lockable to the component so as to prevent movement of the elongated intervertebral implant about the component when the elongated intervertebral implant is in a locked state.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 16, further comprising a stop surface that limits movement of the body along the path.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The intervertebral fusion device of claim 11, wherein moving the body relative to the component is also relative to the elongated intervertebral implant.