Patent US2265186A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5486176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Angled bone fixation apparatus
Assignee: VERTEBRAL SYSTEMS LLC
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Filing: 1994-02-23
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Granted: 1996-01-23
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Expires: 2014-02-23
Abstract
Abstract An angled bone fixation apparatus including a bone screw having a first end portion adapted to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass and a second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top surface. An elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis with the slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges. The plate member has a first and second angled sidewall at the slot with the sidewalls each forming an acute angle with the upper and lower plate surfaces. A washer interfaces with the plate member and the bone screw, for distributing load from the bone screw to the plate member with the washer including an opening and upper and lower surfaces with the lower surface having a pair of spaced apart projections extending therefrom. The plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings with each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of the adjustment openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan D. Hildebrand
- 👤 Laura C. Small
- 👤 Hansen A. Yuan
- 👤 B. Thomas Barker
- 👤 Matthew M. Morrison
- 👤 Abraham Salehi
- 👤 Forrest C. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7007; A61B17/701; A61B17/7059; A61B17/80; A61B17/8033; A61B17/8061; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
An angled bone fixation apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of bone screws having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass, said second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top portion; b) an elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis, a transverse cross section and a vertical centerline, said slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges; c) said slot defining an opening for receiving the bone screws, the plate member having a first and second angled sidewall at the slot, said sidewalls each forming an acute angle relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member whereby the slot is wider at the lower surface than at the upper surface. d) a washer interfacing with the plate member and each bone screw, for distributing load from each bone screw to the plate member, said washer including a central opening having a vertical centerline and upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface having a pair of laterally spaced apart projections extending therefrom; e) said plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings in the upper surface, and each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of adjustment openings; f) said angled plate sidewalls being angled to constrict bone screw angulation in a medial/lateral transverse plane when each bone screw interfaces with the washer and the washer interfaces with the plate member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
An angled bone fixation apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of bone screws having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass, said second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top portion; b) an elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis, a transverse cross section and a vertical centerline, said slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges; c) said slot defining an opening for receiving the bone screws, the plate member having a first and second angled sidewall at the slot, said sidewalls each forming an acute angle relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member whereby the slot is wider at the lower surface than at the upper surface. d) a washer interfacing with the plate member and each bone screw, for distributing load from each bone screw to the plate member, said washer including a central opening having a vertical centerline and upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface having a pair of laterally spaced apart projections extending therefrom; e) said plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings in the upper surface, and each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of adjustment openings; f) said angled plate sidewalls being angled to constrict bone screw angulation in a medial/lateral transverse plane when each bone screw interfaces with the washer and the washer interfaces with the plate member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slot is sized to accommodate a pair of spaced apart and surgically implantable bone screws that comprise the bone screws of the apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein placement of the washer projections of each washer in selected pairs of the adjustment openings on the plate member provide for a fine adjustment means in the placement of each bone screw in relation to the bone mass.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the washer opening vertical centerline registers with the vertical centerline of the plate slot when the washer interfaces with the plate member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the washer opening at the upper surface of the washer includes a hemispherical surface configured to register with the load transfer surface of the head portion of each bone screw, said hemispherical surface being configured to allow for angulation of each bone screw when the bone screw interfaces with the washer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the hemispherical surface of the washer opening is configured so as to allow the rotation of the top portion of the screw head portion below the upper surface of the washer when the bone screw is angled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart projections of the washer are longitudinally offset from the washer opening centerline so as to allow for displacement of the washer opening centerline along the longitudinal axis of the plate member by rotating the washer 180° in a selected pair of adjustment openings of the plate member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second slot sidewalls are angled between about 15° to 45° relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first slot sidewall is angled 25° relative to the vertical centerline 0f the plate member and the second slot sidewall is angled 20° relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the combination of a hemispherical surface of the washer opening and the transverse cross section and longitudinal axis of the plate slot, formed when the washer interfaces with the plate member, allows each bone screw inserted through the washer opening an elliptical rotational range between about 20° to 80° in the medial/lateral transverse plane and the cephalad/caudal longitudinal plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
289 words
An angles bone screw fixation apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of bone screws having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass, said second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top surface; b) an elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis, a transverse cross section and a vertical centerline, said slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges; c) said slot defining on an opening for receiving the bone screws, the plate member having a first and second angular sidewall at the slot, each sidewall defining therebetween an angle of between about 15° to 45° relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member whereby the slot is wider at the lower surface than at the upper surface; d) a washer interfacing with the plate member and each bone screw, for distributing load from each bone screw to the plate member, said washer including a central opening having a vertical centerline and upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface having a pair of laterally spaced apart projections extending therefrom; e) said plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings in the upper surface, and each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of adjustment openings; f) said angled plate sidewalls being angled to constrict bone screw angulation in a medial/lateral transverse plane when each bone screw interfaces with the washer and the washer interfaces with the plate member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
289 words
An angles bone screw fixation apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of bone screws having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass, said second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top surface; b) an elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis, a transverse cross section and a vertical centerline, said slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges; c) said slot defining on an opening for receiving the bone screws, the plate member having a first and second angular sidewall at the slot, each sidewall defining therebetween an angle of between about 15° to 45° relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member whereby the slot is wider at the lower surface than at the upper surface; d) a washer interfacing with the plate member and each bone screw, for distributing load from each bone screw to the plate member, said washer including a central opening having a vertical centerline and upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface having a pair of laterally spaced apart projections extending therefrom; e) said plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings in the upper surface, and each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of adjustment openings; f) said angled plate sidewalls being angled to constrict bone screw angulation in a medial/lateral transverse plane when each bone screw interfaces with the washer and the washer interfaces with the plate member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the slot is sized to accommodate a pair of spaced apart and surgically implantable bone screws that comprise the bone screws of the apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein placement of the washer projections of each washer in selected pairs of the adjustment openings on the plate member provide for a fine adjustment means in the placement of each bone screw in relation to the bone mass.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the washer opening a vertical centerline registers with the vertical centerline of the plate slot when the washer interfaces with the plate member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the washer opening on the upper surface of the washer includes a hemispherical surface configured to register with the load transfer surface of the head portion of each bone screw, said hemispherical surface being configured to allow for angulation of each bone screw when the bone screw interfaces with the washer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the hemispherical surface of the washer opening is configured so as to allow the rotation of the top surface of the screw head portion below the upper surface of the washer when the bone screw is angled.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the spaced apart projections of the washer are longitudinally offset from the washer opening centerline so as to allow for displacement of the washer opening centerline along the longitudinal axis of the plate member by rotating the washer 180° in a selected pair of adjustment openings of the plate member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first slot sidewall is angled 25° relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member and the second slot sidewall is angled 20° relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a combination of a hemispherical surface of the washer opening and the transverse cross section and longitudinal axis of the plate slot, formed when the washer interfaces with the plate member, allows each bone screw inserted through the washer opening an elliptical rotational range between about 20° to 80° in the medial/lateral transverse plane and the cephalad/caudal longitudinal plane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
310 words
An angled bone fixation apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of bone screws having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass, said second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top portion; b) an elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis, a transverse cross section and a vertical centerline, said slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges; c) said slot defining, an opening for receiving the bone screws, the plate member having a first and second angled sidewall at the slot, said sidewalls each forming an acute angle relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member whereby the slot is wider at the lower surface than at the upper surface; d) a washer interfacing with the plate member and each bone screw, for distributing load from each bone screw to the plate member, said washer including a central opening having a vertical centerline and upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface having a pair of laterally spaced apart projections extending therefrom; e) said plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings in the upper surface, and each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of adjustment openings; f) wherein a combination of the hemispherical surface of the washer opening and the transverse cross section and longitudinal axis of the plate slot, formed when the washer interfaces with the plate member, allows each bone screw inserted through the washer opening an elliptical rotational range between about 20° to 80° in the medial/lateral transverse plane and the cephalad/caudal longitudinal plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
310 words
An angled bone fixation apparatus, comprising: a) a plurality of bone screws having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's vertebral bone mass and at first and second spaced apart positions on the bone mass, said second end portion having a head portion with a load transfer surface thereon and a top portion; b) an elongated plate member having upper and lower surfaces angled with respect to each other and an elongated plate slot having a longitudinally extending axis, a transverse cross section and a vertical centerline, said slot being surrounded by a peripheral portion having outer opposed edges; c) said slot defining, an opening for receiving the bone screws, the plate member having a first and second angled sidewall at the slot, said sidewalls each forming an acute angle relative to the vertical centerline of the plate member whereby the slot is wider at the lower surface than at the upper surface; d) a washer interfacing with the plate member and each bone screw, for distributing load from each bone screw to the plate member, said washer including a central opening having a vertical centerline and upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface having a pair of laterally spaced apart projections extending therefrom; e) said plate member having a plurality of adjustment openings in the upper surface, and each of the washer projections sized and shaped to fit in selected pairs of adjustment openings; f) wherein a combination of the hemispherical surface of the washer opening and the transverse cross section and longitudinal axis of the plate slot, formed when the washer interfaces with the plate member, allows each bone screw inserted through the washer opening an elliptical rotational range between about 20° to 80° in the medial/lateral transverse plane and the cephalad/caudal longitudinal plane.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
The angled bone fixation apparatus of claim 20, wherein said spaced apart projections of the washer are longitudinally offset from the washer opening centerline so as to allow for displacement of the washer opening centerlines along the longitudinal axis of the plate member by rotating the washer 180° in a selected pair of adjustment opening of the plate member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-01-22 | 1999-07-24 | 2000-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-22 | 2003-07-24 | 2004-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-22 | 2007-07-24 | 2008-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |