Anatomical Anterior Vertebral Plating System

A vertebral plate system for placement on an anterior portion of vertebrae, the vertebrae defining an anterior-posterior dimension and a cephalo-caudal dimension, comprising:

• a plurality of plates, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface sized to fit completely on an anterior lateral portion of a vertebra, the lower bone contacting surface including cephalad and caudal peripheral portions and a recess at a central portion in the cephalo-caudal dimension of the plate and running across an entirety of the plate in the anterior-posterior dimension;
• first means for coupling the plates to a plurality of vertebrae;
• and
• second means for coupling the plates to each other.

A vertebral plate system for placement on an anterior portion of vertebrae, the vertebrae defining an anterior-posterior dimension and a cephalo-caudal dimension, comprising:

• a plurality of plates, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface and cephalad and caudal peripheral portions, each plate sized to fit completely on an anterior lateral portion of a vertebra, the lower bone contacting surface of each plate defining a recess at a central portion in the cephalo-caudal dimension of the plate and running across an entirety of the plate in the anterior-posterior dimension;
• bone screws adapted to coupled the respective plates to a plurality of respective vertebrae;
• and
• at least one rigid element having a length sized to extend across at least one vertebral level, said plates rigidly coupled relative to said rigid element.

A vertebral plate system for placement on an anterior portion of vertebrae, the vertebrae defining an anterior-posterior dimension and a cephalo-caudal dimension, comprising:

• a plurality of vertebral plates sized to fit completely on an anterior lateral portion of a vertebra, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface including cephalad and caudal peripheral portions, the lower bone contacting surface provided with a concavity in an anterior-posterior dimension and a convexity provided between the caphalad and caudal peripheral portions of the plate, such convexity extending within the cephalo-caudal dimension;
• bone screws adapted to coupled the respective plates to a plurality of respective vertebrae;
• and
• at least one rigid element having a length sized to extend across at least one vertebral level, said plates rigidly couplable relative to said rigid element.

A vertebral bone plate kit for use in treating a condition of the human spine, the spine including vertebrae, the vertebrae defining an anterior-posterior dimension and a cephalo-caudal dimension, comprising:

• a first plurality of vertebral plates of a first size sized to fit completely on an anterior lateral portion of a vertebra, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface including cephalad and caudal peripheral portions, the lower bone contacting surface provided with a concavity in an anterior-posterior dimension and a convexity provided between the caphalad and caudal peripheral portions of the plate, such convexity extending within the cephalo-caudal dimension;
• a second plurality of vertebral plates of a second size different from said first size, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface including cephalad and caudal peripheral portions, the lower bone contacting surface provided with a concavity in an anterior-posterior dimension and a convexity provided between the caphalad and caudal peripheral portions of the plate, such convexity extending within the cephalo-caudal dimension;
• and
• bone screws adapted to coupled a plurality of said first or second plates to a plurality of vertebrae;
• and
• at least one rigid element having a length sized to extend across at least one vertebral level, said plates first and second plurality of vertebral plates rigidly couplable relative to said rigid element.

A vertebral bone plate kit for use in treating a condition of the human spine, the spine including vertebrae, the vertebrae defining an anterior-posterior dimension and a cephalo-caudal dimension, comprising:

• a first plurality of vertebral plates of a first size, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface contoured to accommodate the anatomy of the lateral anterior vertebra, each plate of a said first size sized to fit completely on an anterior lateral portion of vertebrae, the lower bone contacting surface of said first plurality of plates includes a recess at a central portion in the cephalo-caudal dimension of the plate and running across an entirety of each said plate in the anterior-posterior dimension;
• a second plurality of vertebral plates of a second size different from said first size, each plate including a lower bone contacting surface contoured to accommodate the anatomy of the lateral anterior vertebra, and including cephalad and caudal peripheral portions, each plate of a said second size sized to fit completely on an anterior lateral portion of relatively larger vertebrae, the lower bone contacting surface of said first plurality of plates includes a recess at a central portion in the cephalo-caudal dimension of the plate and running across an entirety of each said plate in the anterior-posterior dimension;
• and
• bone screws adapted to coupled a plurality of said first or second plates to a plurality of vertebrae;
• and
• at least one rigid element having a length sized to extend across at least one vertebral level, said plates first and second plurality of vertebral plates rigidly couplable relative to said rigid element.