Anterior cervical plating system, instrumentation, and method of installation
OwnerGary K. Michelsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The bone screws have a tapered self-tapping leading end, an increasing root diameter with a generally constant outer diameter with a thread that is narrow and sharp throughout and an enlarged head portion capable of an interference fit to the receiving holes of the plate. Instrumentation consists of plate holders, a compression apparatus and a pilot hole forming device that interlocks with the plate. Methods for spinal compression and bone hole preparation are provided.
Claims54
A pilot hole forming apparatus for creating a pilot hole in a vertebral body comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a top end and a lower end configured to cooperatively engage a bone screw receiving hole in a bone plate, said lower end having a shoulder adapted to contact an upper surface of the bone plate, said lower end having a first reduced cross-section adapted to fit within a portion of the bone screw receiving hole adapted to receive at least a portion of a head of a screw, said lower end having a second reduced cross-section adapted to fit within a portion of the bone screw receiving hole adapted to receive the shaft of the screw, said second reduced cross-section being smaller than said first reduced cross-section, a rod having an upper portion and a sharpened-end opposite said upper portion, said rod being movable within said tubular member whereby applying a force to said upper portion of said rod drives the sharpened-end of said rod into the vertebral body, said sharpened-end having sufficient length to pass through the bone plate and into the vertebral body to a predetermined depth less than the depth of the vertebral body.
A pilot hole forming apparatus for creating a pilot hole in a vertebral body comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a top end and a lower end configured to cooperatively engage a bone screw receiving hole in a bone plate, said lower end having a first reduced cross-section adapted to cooperatively engage a portion of the bone screw receiving hole adapted to receive at least a portion of a head of a screw, said lower end having a second reduced cross-section adapted to cooperatively engage a portion of the bone screw receiving hole adapted to receive the shaft of the screw, said second reduced cross-section being smaller than said first reduced cross-section, a rod having an upper portion and a sharpened-end opposite said upper portion, said rod being movable within said tubular member whereby applying a force to said upper portion of said rod drives the sharpened-end of said rod into the vertebral body, said sharpened-end having sufficient length to pass through the bone plate and into the vertebral body to a predetermined depth less than the depth of the vertebral body.
A pilot hole forming apparatus for creating a pilot hole in a vertebral body comprising:
- a hollow tubular member having a top end and a lower end configured to cooperatively engage a bone screw receiving hole in a bone plate, said lower end having a reduced diameter portion, said reduced diameter portion being threaded, a rod having an upper portion and a sharpened-end opposite said upper portion, said rod being movable within said tubular member whereby applying a force to said upper portion of said rod drives the sharpened-end of said rod into the vertebral body, said sharpened-end having sufficient length to pass through the bone plate and into the vertebral body to a predetermined depth less than the depth of the vertebral body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.