# US 9,872,781 B2 · Nubbed plate

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- Number: US 9,872,781 B2
- Document ID: US9872781B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/581,571
- Filed: 2017-04-28
- Published: 2017-08-10
- Granted: 2018-01-23
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-06
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Nicholas Pavento; John Riley Hawkins; Sheryl Furlan; Douglas Raymond
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9872781B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61B 17/7059: {Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence)}
- A61F 2/30744: {End caps, e.g. for closing an endoprosthetic cavity}
- A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)}
- A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)}
- A61F 2/30965: {Reinforcing the prosthesis by embedding particles or fibres during moulding or dipping}
- A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2002/2817: {Bone stimulation by chemical reactions or by osteogenic or biological products for enhancing ossification, e.g. by bone morphogenetic or morphogenic proteins [BMP] or by transforming growth factors [TGF]}
- A61F 2002/2835: {Bone graft implants for filling a bony defect or an endoprosthesis cavity, e.g. by synthetic material or biological material}
- A61F 2002/30378: {Spherically-shaped protrusion and recess}
- A61F 2002/30428: {made by inserting a protrusion into a slot}
- A61F 2002/30482: {using a locking cam}
- A61F 2002/305: {Snap connection}
- A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30594: {slotted, e.g. radial or meridian slot ending in a polar aperture, non-polar slots, horizontal or arcuate slots}
- A61F 2002/30604: {modular}
- A61F 2002/30607: {Kits of prosthetic parts to be assembled in various combinations for forming different prostheses}
- A61F 2002/30616: {Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes or orientations}
- A61F 2002/30622: {Implant for fusing a joint or bone material}
- A61F 2002/30774: {internally-threaded}
- A61F 2002/30784: {Plurality of holes}
- A61F 2002/30785: {parallel}
- A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/30836: {knurled}
- A61F 2002/30843: {Pyramidally-shaped}
- A61F 2002/448: {comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants}
- A61F 2220/0008: Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
- A61F 2310/00011: Metals or alloys
- A61F 2310/00017: Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
- A61F 2310/00023: Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
- A61F 2310/00029: Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
- A61F 2310/00047: Aluminium or Al-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00053: Vanadium or V-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00101: Molybdenum or Mo-based alloys
- A61F 2310/00161: Carbon; Graphite
- A61F 2310/00179: Ceramics or ceramic-like structures
- A61F 2310/00203: containing alumina or aluminium oxide
- A61F 2310/00239: containing zirconia or zirconium oxide ZrO2
- A61F 2310/00359: Bone or bony tissue
- A61F 2310/00407: Coating made of titanium or of Ti-based alloys
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A separate nub component between the plate and an intervertebral fusion cage, wherein the nub is attached to the plate. The nub lessens the undesired pivotal movement of the plate. It is believed that when the nub fits snugly between the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies, it acts as a stop against the undesired pivotal movement of the plate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of implanting an intervertebral fusion device, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a leading end of an elongated member into an intervertebral space that is defined by an upper vertebral endplate and a lower vertebral endplate, such that an upper surface of the elongated member grips the upper vertebral endplate, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface along a vertical direction grips the lower vertebral endplate, wherein the elongated member further defines a trailing end and a central vertical through hole that extends therethrough; and
moving a concave inner plate surface of a plate about a convex outer component surface of a component, the convex outer component surface being complementary to the concave inner plate surface, wherein the component is interposed between the inner plate surface and the trailing end of the elongated member and separate from both the plate and the elongated member, such that an inner component surface of the component faces the trailing end of the elongated member,
wherein a threaded post extends through a through hole of the plate that extends from the inner plate surface to an outer plate surface that is opposite the inner plate surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the moving step comprises sliding the concave inner plate surface along the convex outer component surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein an entirety of the outer component surface is convex.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the outer component surface defines a pair of opposed terminal ends, and the outer component surface is curved from one of the terminal ends to the other of the terminal ends.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the threaded post comprises a threaded shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the threaded shaft extends into the component.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the component has a height, the elongated member has a height, and the height of the component is no greater than the height of the elongated member.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the component is in contact with the elongated member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of locking the plate to the component so as to prevent movement of the plate about the component when the plate is in a locked state.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the moving step comprises siding the concave inner plate surface along the convex outer component surface when the plate is in an unlocked state.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising the step of tightening the threaded post against the plate so as to define the locked state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of limiting, via a stop surface, movement of the concave inner plate surface about the complementary convex outer component surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of limiting, via a stop surface defined by a surface of the component, movement of the concave inner plate surface about the complementary convex outer component surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the through hole is centrally located in the plate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the moving step further comprises moving the plate with respect to the elongated member.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of gripping the upper vertebral endplate and the lower vertebral endplate, respectively, with respective teeth of the upper surface and the lower surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the component comprises a nub.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer plate surface is convex.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer component surface defines a pair of opposed terminal ends, and the outer component surface is curved from one of the terminal ends to the other of the terminal ends.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the moving step comprises guiding the plate move along a path parallel to the convex outer component surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of driving a threaded shaft of a bone screw into one of an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra that define the upper vertebral endplate and the lower vertebral endplate, respectively.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the driving step comprises driving a first bone screw into the upper vertebra, and driving a second bone screw into the lower vertebra.