Dynamic, modular, multilock anterior cervical plate system having detachably fastened assembleable and moveable segments and instrumentation for installation thereof

A plate system, comprising:

• a plate adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two cervical vertebral bodies to be fused, 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 central 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 in a direction parallel to the central 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;
• at least one fastener adapted to couple together said first and second plate segments, said fastener being detachably attached to at least one of said first and second plate segments so as to permit assembly of said first and second plate segments by the surgeon and complete uncoupling of said first and second plate segments from one another, said fastener having a first position adapted to permit said first and second plate segments to move relative to one another in a direction along the central longitudinal axis of said plate, said fastener being configured to contact both of said “first and second plate segments when in the first position, said first and second plate segments including a fastener receiving opening configured to receive said fastener;
• and
• at least one bone screw lock adapted to lock to said plate at least two bone screws inserted in said bone screw receiving holes, respectively;
• and
• an instrument having a shaft terminating at a working end and having a mid-longitudinal axis, said working end including a first portion configured to cooperatively engage said fastener and a second portion spaced apart from said first portion configured to cooperatively engage at least a portion of at least one of said first and second plate segments so as upon rotational movement of said fastener with said instrument said first and second plate segments move relative to one another in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said plate.