Occipital plates and related methods
AssigneeAlphatec Spine, Inc.
InventorsCatherine Pinion, Fernando Olea, Thomas Henry Hackathorn, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are occipital plates that include a fixation plate portion and at least two extensions integrally connected to the fixation plate portion and extending away from the fixation plate portion. The fixation plate portion has a plurality of through-holes for receiving bone screws that secure the occipital plate to a patient's skull or, specifically, the occiput. Each extension includes a slot for removably receiving a rod connector or a rod-to-rod connector, the slots having an entry area or portion for receiving a connector and a holding area or portion for maintaining the connector in the slot.
Claims16
An occipital plate comprising:
- a fixation plate portion having a first bone contacting surface configured to contact an occiput, a superior end and an inferior end, the fixation plate portion comprising a plurality of through-holes extending through the first bone contacting surface;
- and
- at least two extensions integrally connected to the fixation plate portion, the at least two extensions extending away from the fixation plate portion, each of the at least two extensions comprising:
- a second bone contacting surface configured to contact the occiput;
- a first rod connector comprising:
- a base having a protruding edge;
- and
- at least two side walls extending from the base to define at least one U-shaped opening configured to receive at least one rod and at least one set screw;
- a slot extending through the second bone contacting surface for receiving the base of the first rod connector, the slot having an entry portion and a holding portion, the holding portion having a first width and the entry portion having a second width that is greater than the first width, the holding portion having a flange extending at least partially along a perimeter of the holding portion so as to engage with the protruding edge of the base;
- and
- a flex tab extending within the slot and comprising a proximal end integrally connected to a portion of the holding portion and a distal end having a retaining protrusion positioned at least partially in the entry portion such that, when deflected from an initial position, the flex tab allows the base to be inserted into the entry portion and then slid into the holding portion, and when returned back to the initial position, prevent the first rod connector from sliding out of the slot;
- wherein the plurality of through-holes comprises at least three midline through-holes comprising a superior through-hole, a middle through-hole, and an inferior through-hole, the at least three midline through-holes positioned along a first imaginary line running from the superior end to the inferior end of the fixation plate portion;
- and
- wherein the at least two extensions extend at an angle relative to the first imaginary line of the fixation plate portion, the angle being greater than about 95°.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.