Dynamic anterior cervical plate system having moveable segments, instrumentation, and method for installation thereof

A plate adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said plate comprising:

• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate, at least a portion of said lower surface of said first plate segment is configured to interdigitate with at least a portion of said upper surface of said second plate segment;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to move in only a single direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate.

A plate adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said plate comprising:

• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate, at least a portion of said upper surface of said second plate segment being convex at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate, said concave lower surface of said first plate segment having a radius of curvature that is different than the radius of curvature of said convex upper surface of said second plate segment;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate.

A plate adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said plate comprising:

• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate, at least a portion of said lower surface of said first plate segment being configured to interdigitate with at least a portion of said upper surface of said second plate segment, said at least a portion of said lower surface of said first plate segment and said at least a portion of said upper surface of said second plate segment including at least one ratchet configured to permit movement of said first and second plate segments toward one another in a first direction along a longitudinal axis of said plate and to restrict movement in a direction opposite to said first direction;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate.

A system adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said system comprising:

• a plate comprising:
• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• an interbody spinal fusion implant;
• and
• a fusion promoting substance.

A system adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said system comprising:

• a plate comprising:
• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of tile longitudinal axis of said plate;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate, said first and second plate segments when attached to the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, being adapted to move toward one another in response to of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies toward each other;
• and
• bone screws for engaging said plate to the cervical spine, wherein at least a portion of one of said plate and said bone screws is a bioresorbable material.

A system adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said system comprising:

• a plate comprising:
• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate, said first and second plate segments when attached to the adjacent vertebral bodies, respectively, are adapted to move toward one another in response to movement of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies toward each other;
• and
• at least one spinal fixation implant.

A system adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said system comprising:

• a plate comprising:
• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending horn said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• and
• at least one bone screw lock adapted to lock to said plate at least one bone screw inserted in said bone screw receiving holes, respectively, at least one of said plate and said bone screw lock being electrified for purposes of stimulating bone growth and contributing to bone fusion.

A plate adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said plate comprising:

• at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, said at least first and second plate segments adapted to be connected to one another and at least in part overlapped to form said plate, said at least first and second plate segments being in a moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of said plate, each of said at least first and second plate segments including:
• a lower surface adapted to contact at least one of the cervical vertebral bodies and an upper surface opposite said lower surface, said lower surface being concave at least in part along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the cervical vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the cervical vertebral body to attach said plate to the cervical spine;
• said first and second plate segments being configured to couple together in cooperative relationship so as to facilitate movement of said first and second plate segments in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate and to resist movement of said first and said second plate segments in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said plate;
• and
• at least one bone screw lock adapted to lock to said plate at least one bone screw inserted in said bone screw receiving holes, respectively.