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US 8,940,030 B1Granted
Spinal fixation system and related methods
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Stein, Chad Grant, Nathan Lovell, Ryan Donahoe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for use in spinal surgery. In particular, the disclosed devices relate to a spinal fixation system and an intervertebral spinal implant assembly sized and dimensioned for the lumbar spine implantable via an anterior or anterolateral approach. The devices include an implant, bone screws, and an improved locking mechanism to prevent the back out of screws.
Claims9
A surgical fixation system for fixing a first bony segment relative to a second bony segment, comprising:
- a bone plate sized to span at least two adjacent bone segments, said bone plate including a first aperture configured to receive an anchor element, said first aperture positioned relative to said first bony segment, and a second aperture configured to receive an anchor element, said second aperture positioned relative to said second bony segment;
- a plurality of anchor elements configured to anchor said bone plate to said first and second bony segments, each of said anchor elements dimensioned to be received through one of said first and second apertures;
- and
- a plurality of anti-backout elements disposed adjacent to each of said first and second apertures, said anti-backout elements configured to allow passage of at least a portion of said anchor element therethough in one direction while resisting passage of at least a portion of said anchor element therethrough in an opposite direction;
- wherein said plurality of anti-backout elements comprise a locking slide and a biasing member, wherein said biasing member is physically distinct from said locking slide and elastically deformable from a first position urging at least a portion of said locking slide in a first direction into said aperture to a second position wherein said locking slide urges said biasing member in a direction opposite said first direction.
2 more elements
A method of performing spinal fusion surgery, comprising:
- positioning a bone plate to span at least two adjacent bony segments, said bone plate including a first aperture configured to receive an anchor element and positioned relative to said first bony segment, a second aperture configured to receive an anchor element and positioned relative to said second bony segment, and a plurality of anti-backout elements disposed adjacent each of said first and second apertures, said anti-backout elements configured to allow passage of at least a portion of said anchor element therethrough in one direction while resisting passage of at least a portion of said anchor element therethrough in an opposite direction;
- inserting an anchor element through each of said first and second apertures such that said anti-backout element covers at least a portion of said anchor element;
- wherein said plurality of anti-backout elements comprise a biasing member and a locking slide, wherein said biasing member is physically distinct from the locking slide and elastically deformable from a first position urging at least a portion of said locking slide in a first direction into said aperture to a second position wherein said locking slide urges said biasing member in a direction opposite said first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.