US6017345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spinal fixation plate
Assignee: Aesculap Implant Systems LLC
•
Filing: 1997-05-09
•
Granted: 2000-01-25
•
Expires: 2017-05-09
Abstract
Abstract A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') for fixation of the spine includes a mechanism (26) for allowing movement between adjacent vertebrae (18) while maintaining engagement of the bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') with the vertebrae (18).
Inventors
- 👤 Marc Richelsoph
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:56
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/80; A61B17/8033; A61B17/8047; A61B17/70; A61B17/7059; A61B17/60; A61B17/64; A61B17/6491; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8625; A61B17/863
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') for fixation of adjacent vertebrae of the spine comprising: a fixation plate (12, 212, 212') including first and second ends (14, 16) and at least one aperture (24, 24', 60) disposed at each of said first and second ends (14, 16) thereof; at least one bone screw (40); and locking means (26) for allowing movement between the adjacent vertebrae while simultaneously maintaining engagement of said bone fixation plate (12) against the vertebrae, said locking means (26) including an insert (28, 28', 70) loosely retained within at least one of the apertures (24, 24', 60) for receiving and retaining the screw (40) therein, said insert comprising a threaded axial throughbore (33); wherein a threaded portion (54) of the screw is configured to engage the threaded axial throughbore (33) of the insert and provide a locked condition wherein the screw is prevented for moving relative to said insert and is in non-engagement with said plate, and wherein the screw (40) and insert (26) form an assembly which is loosely retained to the plate so as to allow movement of the assembly in all directions relative to said plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') for fixation of adjacent vertebrae of the spine comprising: a fixation plate (12, 212, 212') including first and second ends (14, 16) and at least one aperture (24, 24', 60) disposed at each of said first and second ends (14, 16) thereof; at least one bone screw (40); and locking means (26) for allowing movement between the adjacent vertebrae while simultaneously maintaining engagement of said bone fixation plate (12) against the vertebrae, said locking means (26) including an insert (28, 28', 70) loosely retained within at least one of the apertures (24, 24', 60) for receiving and retaining the screw (40) therein, said insert comprising a threaded axial throughbore (33); wherein a threaded portion (54) of the screw is configured to engage the threaded axial throughbore (33) of the insert and provide a locked condition wherein the screw is prevented for moving relative to said insert and is in non-engagement with said plate, and wherein the screw (40) and insert (26) form an assembly which is loosely retained to the plate so as to allow movement of the assembly in all directions relative to said plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 1, wherein said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') includes a longitudinal axis (A) defined by a first end (14) and a second end (16) and a length along said axis (A) sufficient to span between the adjacent vertebrae (18), said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') including an upper (20) and a lower (22) surface, said lower surface (22) adapted to engage the vertebrae (18).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 2, wherein said at least one aperture (24, 24') is a bore.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 3, wherein said bore includes at least one internal recess (13) disposed in at least one of said upper and lower surfaces of said plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 4, wherein said insert means (28, 28') is in mating engagement with said internal recess (13) to lock said insert means (28, 28') within said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 2, wherein said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') includes at least one aperture (24') disposed between said ends (14,16) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 6, wherein said at least one aperture (24') disposed between the ends (14,16) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') is disposed along the longitudinal axis (A) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 2, wherein said lower surface (22) includes bone engagement means (46) for enhancing the engagement of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') to the vertebrae (18).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 8, wherein said bone engagement means (46) includes a texturized surface disposed on substantially all of said lower surface (22) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 9, wherein said texturized surface is disposed on a portion of said lower surface (22).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 1, wherein said insert means (28, 28', 70) freely rotates within said aperture (24, 24', 60).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 1, wherein said at least one aperture (24,24') includes at least one elongated slot (44,44', 44") having a recess (45) disposed in said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 12, wherein said elongated slot (44, 44") is disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10) according to claim 13, wherein said elongated slot (44, 44") is disposed at one end (14,16) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 12, wherein said elongated slot (44') is disposed at a substantially acute angle with respect to said longitudinal axis (A) of said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 1, wherein said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') is curved transverse to said longitudinal axis (A) to conform said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') to the curvature of the vertebrae (18).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
130 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 1, wherein said insert means (28) includes an annular recess (30) defined at one end by an circumferential threaded screw receiving portion (32) and at the other by a frustoconical insert portion (34), said annular recess (30) and said frustoconical insert portion (34) being biased outwardly and include a transverse slot (36) disposed therein whereby upon insertion of said insert means (28) into said aperture (24, 24'), said annular recess (30) and said frustoconical insert portion (34) deflect inwardly to allow said annular recess (30) and said frustoconical insert portion (34) to pass through said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212') and then deflect outwardly to lock said insert means (28) into said bone fixation plate (12, 212, 212').
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
A bone fixation plate assembly (10, 210, 210') according to claim 1, wherein said screw receiving portion (32) of said insert means (28) includes at least two recesses (38) adapted to receive a device to prevent rotation of said insert means (28) within said aperture (24,24') during insertion and tightening of the screw (40) disposed therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4388921A
Cited
US4493317A
Cited
US4838252A
Cited
US4905680A
Cited
US5129903A
Cited
US4957496A
Cited
WO1990012547A1
Cited
US5085660A
Cited
US5129899A
Cited
US5234431A
Cited
US5395371A
Cited
US5540690A
Cited
US5545163A
Cited
US5603713A
Cited
US5209751A
Cited
US5324290A
Cited
US5549612A
Cited
EP0599640A1
Cited
US5364399A
Cited
US5569251A
Cited
US5735853A
Cited
WO1995035067A2
Cited
US5616142A
Cited
US5601553A
Cited
FR2726461A1
Cited
US5591166A
Cited
US5607426A
Cited
US5520690A
Cited
US5607428A
Cited
US5578034A
Cited
DE29521456U1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |