Anterior lateral spine cage-plate fixation device and technique
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorsJean-Charles LeHuec, Mingyan Liu, Loic Josse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An interbody fusion cage has an externally threaded stem projecting from a domed outer end. A contoured plate is provided with an aperture receivable on the stem. The stem threads receive a nut to fix the plate to the cage. Bone screws anchor the plate to vertebral bodies. A hemispherical surface on the plate and surrounding the stem-receiving aperture and bearing on the dome, accommodates universal angulation of the plate relative to the cage. In addition to a cage installation tool, there is a plate installation tool assembly including a cage installer, a plate holder, a nut holder and cage adjuster, a nut driver, and a plate holding prong controller.
Claims36
An interbody fusion assembly comprising:
- an interbody fusion device which is elongated, has a longitudinal axis, has an inner end and an outer end, and is adapted to be implanted in the intervertebral disc space between two vertebral bodies in a spine and to accommodate fusion of the disc space;
- a fastener receiver on the outer end;
- an attachment plate mounted on the outer end;
- said plate having first and second ends and first and second sites, respectively, thereon adjacent said ends, for attachment respectively to a first and second ones of said two vertebral bodies, and said plate and outer end of said fusion device having bearing surfaces shaped and inter-engaging such that said bearing surfaces facilitate various angulations of the plate relative to the longitudinal axis of the fusion device;
- and
- a fastener engaging the receiver and plate and connecting the plate to the device.
In a subject having a spine including at least two vertebral bodies, a method of interconnection of bone anchorage, an interbody fusion device and a plate, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing into the intervertebral space between two vertebral bodies, a fusion device adapted to be implanted in the intervertebral disc space between the two vertebral bodies in the spine and to accommodate fusion in the disc space;
- receiving through an aperture in the plate, a stem fixed to the fusion device;
- mounting the plate on the fusion device and seating the plate with convex surfaces of the plate positioned in concave surfaces on the vertebral bodies;
- applying plate anchors to the vertebral bodies and the plate;
- tightening the anchors to the plate and the vertebral bodies;
- applying a fastener to the stem and engaging the plate;
- and
- tightening the fastener on the stem and plate and thereby fastening the plate to the fusion device.
An interbody fusion assembly comprising:
- an interbody fusion device having an inner end and an outer end and configured to be received in the intervertebral disc space between two vertebral bodies of a human spine;
- an attachment device which has first and second ends and has first and second sites, respectively, thereon adjacent said ends, for attachment respectively to a first and second ones of the two vertebral bodies;
- the attachement device and fusion device having inter-engaging bearing surfaces shaped for cooperating and accommodating various degrees of angulation between the attachment device and the fusion device, said bearing surface of the attachment device being located between the sites for attachment to vertebral bodies;
- and
- fasteners on said devices for fixing said attachment device and said fusion device together in a selected degree of angulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.