US6764489B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hinged anterior thoracic/lumbar plate
Assignee: SPINE PARTNERS LLC
•
Filing: 2002-03-27
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Granted: 2004-07-20
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Expires: 2022-03-27
Abstract
Abstract An anterior thoracic/lumbar system comprising a thin plate and fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The plate may be hinged along the central axis, with a pair of collinear holes on each portion of the plate. Each of the holes accommodates a bolt which is screwed into the vertebrae and secured to the plate using a nut.
Inventors
- 👤 Bret A. Ferree
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 21:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7059; A61B17/80; A61B17/8033; A61B17/8047; A61B17/84; A61B17/86; A61B17/8665; A61B17/8695; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/90; Y10S606/901; Y10S606/907; Y10S606/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A device for rigidly affixing vertebrae of a spine, comprising: a first plate having a first pair of openings, a second plate hingedly affixed to said first plate and having a second pair of openings, wherein said first and second pairs of openings are capable of receiving bone engaging screws for affixing said first and second plates to vertebrae of a spine.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A device for rigidly affixing vertebrae of a spine, comprising: a first plate having a first pair of openings, a second plate hingedly affixed to said first plate and having a second pair of openings, wherein said first and second pairs of openings are capable of receiving bone engaging screws for affixing said first and second plates to vertebrae of a spine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said second pair of openings lie at a 15° anterior angulation to the upper surface of said second plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said first plate and said second plate is manufactured from titanium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising a third opening comprised of a first cutout section from said first plate and a second cutout section from said second plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said first pair of openings extend to an outer edge of said first plate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said first plate includes a first hinge element, said second plate includes a second hinge element, and said first and second plates are hingedly coupled together by engaging said first hinge element with said second hinge element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising a third opening disposed between a first end and a second end of at least one of said first and second plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first pair of openings and said second pair of openings comprise elongated slots.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 8 , wherein said elongated slots extend along a longitudinal axis of at least one of said first plate and said second plate.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
52 words
A system for fixation of the spine, comprising: a first plate having a first pair of openings, and a second plate hingedly affixed to said first plate and having a second pair of openings; and a plurality of bone anchor elements, one for each of said first and second pairs of openings.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
52 words
A system for fixation of the spine, comprising: a first plate having a first pair of openings, and a second plate hingedly affixed to said first plate and having a second pair of openings; and a plurality of bone anchor elements, one for each of said first and second pairs of openings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said second pair of openings lie at a 15° anterior angulation to the upper surface of said second plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of locking devices which may be fixed in position on said bone anchor elements.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 12 , wherein said locking devices comprise snap rings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein said bone anchor elements comprise a plurality of bone engaging screws, each of said screws including a lower threaded section for affixing said screws within bone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 14 , wherein said screws further include an unthreaded section adjacent to said lower threaded section.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 15 , further including a plurality of locking devices which may be fixed in position on said unthreaded section of said screws.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 16 , wherein said locking devices comprise snap rings.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 15 , wherein said screws further include an upper threaded section, adjacent to said unthreaded portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of nuts capable of threadedly engaging said upper threaded section of said screws.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of affixing vertebrae in the spine, comprising the steps of: (a) hingedly coupling a first plate having a first pair of openings with a second plate having a second pair of openings; and (b) introducing a plurality of bone anchor elements, one through each of said first pair of openings and said second pair of openings to anchor said first and second plates to vertebrae in the spine.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of affixing vertebrae in the spine, comprising the steps of: (a) hingedly coupling a first plate having a first pair of openings with a second plate having a second pair of openings; and (b) introducing a plurality of bone anchor elements, one through each of said first pair of openings and said second pair of openings to anchor said first and second plates to vertebrae in the spine.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said second pair of openings lie at a 15° anterior angulation to the upper surface of said second plate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said first pair of openings extend to an outer edge of said first plate.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said first plate includes a first hinge element, said second plate includes a second hinge element, and said first and second plates are hingedly coupled together by engaging said first hinge element with said second hinge element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first and second plates can be hingedly rotated away from the spine during the plate affixiation process.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein at least one of said first pair of openings and said second pair of openings comprise elongated slots.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said elongated slots extend along a longitudinal axis of at least one of said first and second plates.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 20 , further providing a plurality of locking devices which may be fixed in position on said bone anchor elements.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein said locking devices comprise snap rings.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein said bone anchor elements comprise a plurality of bone engaging screws, each of said screws including a lower threaded section for affixing said screw within bone.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29 , wherein said screws further include a unthreaded section adjacent to said lower threaded section.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 30 , further including a plurality of locking devices which may be fixed in position on said unthreaded section of said screws.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 31 , wherein said locking devices comprise snap rings.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein said screws further include an upper threaded section adjacent to said unthreaded portion.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 33 , further comprising a plurality of nuts capable of threadedly engaging said upper threaded section of said screws.
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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) | 2007-07-20 | 2008-01-19 | 2008-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-20 | 2012-01-19 | 2012-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-20 | 2016-01-19 | 2016-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |