Implant fixation methods and apparatus
Various exemplary methods and devices are provided for fixing an implant to native tissue, such as, bone. The devices can include a plate body with an upper surface and a lower tissue contacting surface. The body provides a large contact area for fixing the tissue implant to bone, such that the implant can be securely held in position without requiring penetration of the implant. In one embodiment, the plate body can include at least one aperture for receiving a fixation device and a tissue implant receiving opening through which a tissue implant can be threaded prior to fixing the plate to bone.
1 . A soft tissue graft implantation device, comprising:
a plate including a body have an upper surface and a lower tissue contacting surface, the body including an implant receiving opening defined by an elongate slot, and at least two apertures, each aperture adapted to receive a different bone fixation element,
wherein the elongate slot is adapted to receive an implant such that the implant is fixed between the plate and a tissue surface.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the apertures are adapted to each receive a fixation element selected from the group consisting of a pin, screw, staple, tine, wire, anchor, expansion bolt, rivet, and combinations thereof.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each aperture is adapted to receive the head of a bone screw.
4 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising bone screws mated with the at least two apertures.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least two apertures include snap rings for rotatably mating bone screws with the plate.
6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the bone screws are spaced from the implant receiving opening.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the plate is flexible or malleable.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lower tissue contacting surface has a contour that corresponds to the contour of a bone surface.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lower tissue contacting surface has a contour that corresponds to the contour of a vertebral body.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein plate is adapted for implanting on a single vertebral body.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the apertures are spaced for implantation in a single vertebral body.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the lower tissue contacting surface includes a recess for seating an implant.
13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate slot extends between the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate at a non-perpendicular angle with respect to the upper surface and the lower surface of the plate.
14 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a second implant receiving opening.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the first and second implant receiving openings extend parallel to one another.
16 . A method for implanting a soft tissue graft, comprising:
providing a plate having a body that includes an implant receiving slot and at least two apertures;
threading a first end of an implant through the implant receiving slot; and
fixing the implant to a hard tissue surface by implanting one or more fixation devices in the at least two apertures, such that the implant is fixed between the plate and the hard tissue surface without being pierced by the fixation devices.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of threading a second end of the implant through an implant receiving slot of a second plate.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of implanting the first and second plates to first and second vertebral bodies.
19 . A soft tissue graft implantation device, comprising:
a plate including a body have an upper surface and a lower tissue contacting surface, the body including an implant receiving opening defined by an elongate slot, and a single aperture adapted to receive a bone fixation device,
wherein the elongate slot is adapted to receive an implant such that the implant is fixed between the plate and a tissue surface.