Method for connecting adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine with a plating system
OwnerGary K. Michelsoninventor
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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.
Claims44
A method for connecting at least two vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space from an anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plate having a length sufficient to contact the two adjacent vertebral bodies across the disc space and having a plurality of bone screw receiving holes;
- positioning the plate against at least a portion of the anterior aspect of the vertebral bodies to align at least one of the bone screw receiving holes with a respective one of the adjacent vertebral bodies;
- attaching the plate to a first of the adjacent vertebral bodies with at least one bone screw adapted to be inserted into a vertebral body through a respective one of the bone screw receiving holes;
- compressing the disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies;
- and
- attaching the plate to the second of the two adjacent vertebral bodies with at least one bone screw adapted to be inserted into a vertebral body through a respective one of the bone screw receiving holes.
A method for compressing two vertebral bodies adjacent a disc space in the human spine, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a plate having a length sufficient to contact at least a portion of the anterior aspect of the two adjacent vertebral bodies across the disc space and having a plurality of bone screw receiving holes;
- engaging the plate with a first arm of a compression tool;
- engaging the spine with a vertebral body penetrating member affixed to a second arm of the compression tool;
- and
- utilizing the compression tool to shorten the distance between the first and second arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.