US 8,221,476 B2Granted

Spinal plate assembly

OwnerKamaljit S. Paulinventor

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Abstract

Spinal plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprises blocking structures assembled to spinal plates. The blocking structure comprises an elongate band which can be against structure of the plate. The band is mounted into a continuous or intermittent channel in the plate, and extends into an aperture in the plate. The band responds to side forces applied by interfering elements of bone fasteners driven through an aperture, by moving away from the interfering element, and returning to a blocking position over the interfering element after the interfering element has passed the band. Methods of fabrication include inserting the blocking structure, optionally longitudinally, into the channel. Methods of use include advancing bone screws through an aperture and past the band. The bone screw deflects the band as the screw passes, and the band moves to the blocking position when the screw has moved past the band.

Claims35

Dependent claims

A bone support plate assembly, comprising:

(a) a bone support plate having a length, and comprising
(i) a top surface,
(ii) a bottom surface opposite the top surface,
(iii) a plurality of bone-fastener-receiving apertures, and
(iv) a channel extending from the top surface, down to a bottom wall of the channel, a channel side wall adjacent the top surface defining at least in part a channel opening extending down from the top surface, the bottom wall of the channel extending away from a side of the channel and across at least a portion of the channel opening;
(b) a blocker band extending across a portion of a respective bone-fastener-receiving aperture;
and
(c) a retainer engaging said blocker band so as to retain said blocker band in the channel,
further comprising first and second rows of said bone-fastener-receiving apertures extending along a length of said bone support plate, the channel extending along the length of said bone support plate, said side of the channel comprising first and second sides of the channel, opening into respective ones of the apertures in the first and second rows of apertures, said blocker band comprising first and second elongate blocker bands being urged against the respective first and second sides of the channel, said first elongate blocker band extending into and across portions of respective apertures in the first row, said second elongate blocker band extending into and across portions of respective apertures in the second row,
further comprising a compression spring extending between said first and second blocker bands.

7 more elements

A method of installing a bone support assembly in a recipient user thereof, the method comprising:

(a) providing a bone support assembly comprising
(i) a bone support plate having a length, and comprising
A. a top surface,
B. a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and
C. a plurality of bone-fastener-receiving apertures extending between the top surface and the bottom surface,
D. a channel extending, from the top surface, down to a bottom wall of the channel, a channel side wall adjacent the top surface defining at least in part a channel opening extending down from the top surface, the bottom wall of the channel extending away from the side wall and across at least a portion of the channel opening, and
(ii) a blocker band in the channel, the blocker band having a length and extending into, and across, a portion of a respective one of the bone-fastener-receiving apertures;
and
(b) advancing a bone fastener through a such bone-fastener-receiving aperture and into bone structure of such recipient user, including advancing an interfering element of the bone fastener past the blocker band, such that such interfering element on a such bone fastener causes the blocker band to deflect, from a first position, transversely and away from the respective bone-fastener-receiving aperture and away from the channel side wall as the interfering element passes and such that, when the interfering element has moved past the blocker band, the blocker band automatically returns to the first position, thereby occupying a blocking position with respect to the interfering element, thus to automatically inhibit withdrawal of the bone fastener, past the blocker band.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/786,851Filed 13 Apr 2007 · continuation
Priority: 14 Dec 2001
Published: US 2007/0288015 A113 Dec 2007
Granted: 17 Jul 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

A61B 17/7059
Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant: cortical plates
A61B 17/8047
Having indirect contact with screw heads, or having contact with screw heads maintained with the aid of additional components, e.g. nuts, wedges…:…
A61B 17/2812
Surgical forceps: with a single pivotal connection
A61B 17/282
With a single pivotal connection: jaws

Family

Application10/014,409Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Dec 2001
Application10/202,705Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Jul 2002
Application10/627,065Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Jul 2003
US 2007/0288015 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Dec 2007
US 7,204,837 B2Parent of this continuation
US 7,070,599 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application10/627,065Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,755,833 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2004/0034354 A1Published application
US 2004/0153069 A1Published application
US 8,221,476 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.