Apparatus for compressing a spinal disc space disposed between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a cervical spine
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.
Claims100
A compression system for use in the anterior cervical spine having at least two vertebral bodies and a disc space therebetween, said compression system comprising:
- an anterior cervical plate adapted to contact the anterior aspect of at least two cervical vertebral bodies, said plate comprising:
- a lower surface being concave along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plate and adapted to contact the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface;
- at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said plate from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said plate to the cervical spine;
- and
- at least one end of said plate being configured to cooperatively engage a compression device;
- and said compression device comprising:
- a first arm having an end adapted to cooperatively engage at least one of said ends of said plate;
- a second arm having an end adapted to be coupled to at least one of the vertebral bodies;
- and
- a mechanism for moving said first and second arms toward one another so as to create a compression force across the disc space when said first arm is engaged to one of said ends of said plate attached to one of the vertebral bodies and said second arm is coupled to one of the vertebral bodies.
A compression system for use in the anterior cervical spine having at least two vertebral bodies and a disc space therebetween, said compression system comprising:
- an anterior cervical plate adapted to contact the anterior aspect of at least two cervical vertebral bodies, said plate comprising:
- a lower surface being concave along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plate and adapted to contact the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface;
- at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said plate from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said plate to the cervical spine;
- and
- at least one aperture through said plate for accessing a vertebral body below said plate with a compression device;
- and
- said compression device comprising:
- a first arm having an end adapted to be coupled to at least one of the vertebral bodies through said aperture of said plate;
- a second arm having an end adapted to be coupled to at least one of the vertebral bodies;
- and
- a mechanism for moving said first and second arms toward one another so as to create a compression force across the disc space when said first arm is coupled to one of the vertebral bodies and said second arm is coupled to one of the vertebral bodies.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.