Anterior cervical plate system having vertebral body engaging anchors and connecting plate

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a top end and an opposite bottom end adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said lower facing surface of said connecting plate being concave along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis thereof, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors;
• and
• said connecting plate and at least one of said vertebral body engaging anchors being configured to couple together, said connecting plate when coupled to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, having one of said opposite ends of said connecting plate proximate said top end of said first vertebral body engaging anchor and another of said opposite ends of said connecting plate proximate said bottom end of said second vertebral body engaging anchor, said connecting plate having a length between said opposite ends along the longitudinal axis of said connecting plate, said length being not greater than a length between said top end of said first vertebral body engaging anchor and said bottom end of said second vertebral body engaging anchor along the longitudinal axis of the human spine.

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite ends adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to at least one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors;
• and
• at least two fasteners, each of said fasteners adapted to couple together said connecting plate and one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, at least one of said fasteners including a top and a shaft, said shaft being adapted to engage one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said top having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a greater dimension transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fastener than said second portion, said first portion and said second portion of said top each having a lower facing surface, said at least one of said fasteners having a first position with said shaft engaging said one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said lower facing surface of said second portion of said top being in contact with said upper facing surface of said one of said first and second vertebral body encasing anchors, and said lower facing surface of said first portion of said top being spaced apart from said upper facing surface of said connecting plate, said first position of said at least one fastener adapted to facilitate movement of at least one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors relative to said connecting plate in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said connecting plate and to resist movement of at least one of said first and said second vertebral body engaging anchors in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said connecting plate.

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite ends adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said fastener receiving opening being recessed;
• at least one fastener not protruding above said connecting plate when said fastener is in said receiving opening and engaged to one of said vertebral body engaging anchors;
• and
• said connecting plate and at least one of said vertebral body engaging anchors being configured to couple together.

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite ends adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors;
• said connecting plate and at least one of said vertebral body engaging anchors being configured to couple together, and
• a bone screw lock configured to lock at least one bone screw to one of said vertebral body engaging anchors.

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite ends adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors;
• said connecting plate and at least one of said vertebral body engaging anchors being configured to couple together;
• at least one bone screw having a leading end for insertion into the cervical spine and a head opposite said leading end of said at least one bone screw;
• and
• at least one bone screw lock adapted to contact said head, said at least one bone screw being configured to be in a moveable relationship to at least one of said vertebral body engaging anchors.

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite ends adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to at least one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, at least a portion of said lower facing surface of said connecting plate and at least a portion of said upper facing surface of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors including ratchetings, said ratchetings of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having an opposite orientation to one another when said connecting plate is coupled to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said ratchetings being adapted to facilitate movement of at least one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors relative to said connecting plate in a direction toward one another along the longitudinal axis of said connecting plate and to resist movement of at least one of said first and said second vertebral body engaging anchors in a direction away from one another along the longitudinal axis of said connecting plate;
• and
• at least two fasteners, each of said fasteners adapted to couple together said connecting plate and one of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors.

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

• at least a first vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and at least a second vertebral body engaging anchor adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having a lower facing surface adapted to contact one of the vertebral bodies, at least one upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, and at least one bone screw receiving hole extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes adapted to overlie one of the vertebral bodies and being adapted to receive at least one bone screw for engaging the vertebral body to attach a respective one of said at least first and second vertebral body engaging anchors to the cervical spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite ends adapted to be oriented along a longitudinal axis of the human spine, each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors having opposite sides;
• a connecting plate configured to connect said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, said connecting plate configured to overlap at least a portion of each of said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors, respectively, said connecting plate having a lower facing surface adapted to be oriented toward the vertebral bodies and an upper facing surface opposite said lower facing surface, said connecting plate having opposite ends and a longitudinal axis therebetween, said lower facing surface of said connecting plate being concave along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis thereof, said connecting plate having at least one fastener receiving opening extending from said upper facing surface through said lower facing surface of said connecting plate, said fastener receiving opening adapted to receive a fastener to attach said connecting plate to said first and second vertebral body engaging anchors;
• said connecting plate and at least one of said vertebral body engaging anchors being configured to couple together, and
• a bone screw lock configured to lock only one bone screw to one of said vertebral body engaging anchors.