Occipital Plates and Related Methods
AssigneeAlphatec Spine, Inc.
InventorsCatherine Pinion, Fernando Olea, Thomas Henry Hackathorn, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims20
An occipital plate comprising:
- a fixation plate portion having a superior end and an inferior end, the fixation plate portion comprising a plurality of through-holes;
- 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 rod connector comprising:
- a base having a protruding edge;
- 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 for receiving the base of the 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, at least a portion of the flex tab positioned at least partially in the entry portion such that, when deflected, the flex tab allows the base to be inserted into the entry portion and then slid into the holding portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.