Device and method for locking a screw with a bendable plate portion
A spinal device for stabilizing adjacent vertebral bodies of the human spine. The device includes a combination of a screw and a member having a screw hole and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the adjacent vertebral bodies. The member has a portion that is bendable or deformable to prevent the outward excursion of the screw from the screw hole of the member.
1. A spinal device for stabilizing two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies of the human spine, each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and an external curvature, said device comprising:
a screw having a head, a shaft, a mid-longitudinal axis and a length along the mid-longitudinal axis, said shaft including a thread; and
a member having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said lower surface being adapted to contact the anterior aspect of each of the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member being curved to conform to the external curvature of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member including a screw hole having a central longitudinal axis and a depth from said upper surface to said lower surface along the central longitudinal axis, the depth of said screw hole being less than the length of said screw, said screw hole intersecting with said upper surface to form an entrance having an inner perimeter, said upper surface including a recess, an integral portion of said upper surface that defines both a portion of said entrance and a portion of said recess being bendable from an open position that permits insertion of said head of said screw into said screw hole to a closed position where said integral portion overlaps a portion of said head of said screw to prevent the outward excursion of said screw from said screw hole.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said member includes a width transverse to the length of said member, said member including opposite sides along the length, one of said sides having a portion curved partially around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said lower surface of said member includes two ratcheted projections at opposite ends of said member.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said thread of said screw has a maximum diameter, said screw including a non-threaded portion with a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of said thread of said screw.
5. The device of claim 1 , in combination with a spinal implant, said screw being adapted to couple said member to said spinal implant.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said inner perimeter of said entrance extends completely around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said recess is completely separate and spaced-apart from said screw hole.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein said integral bendable portion of said member has a bending axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said recess is a notch.
10. The device of claim 1 , in combination with an instrument for bending said integral bendable portion.
11. The device of claim 1 , in combination with a fusion promoting material.
12. A spinal device for stabilizing two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies of the human spine, each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and an external curvature, said device comprising:
a screw having a head, a shaft, a mid-longitudinal axis and a length along the mid-longitudinal axis, said shaft including a thread; and
a member having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said lower surface being adapted to contact the anterior aspect of each of the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member being curved to conform to the external curvature of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member including a screw hole having a central longitudinal axis and a depth from said upper surface to said lower surface along the central longitudinal axis, the depth of said screw hole being less than the length of said screw, said screw hole intersecting with said upper surface to form an entrance having an inner perimeter, a portion of said inner perimeter of said entrance being moveable from a circular open position that permits insertion of said head of said screw into said screw hole to a closed position where said portion of said inner perimeter is closer to the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole, said portion of said inner perimeter in the closed position overlying a portion of said head of said screw to prevent the outward excursion of said screw from said screw hole.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein said member includes a width transverse to the length of said member, said member including opposite sides along the length, one of said sides having a portion curved partially around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein said lower surface of said member includes two ratcheted projections at opposite ends of said member.
15. The device of claim 12 , wherein said thread of said screw has a maximum diameter, said screw including a non-threaded portion with a diameter equal to the maximum diameter of said thread of said screw.
16. The device of claim 12 , in combination with a spinal implant, said screw being adapted to couple said member to said spinal implant.
17. The device of claim 12 , wherein said inner perimeter of said entrance extends completely around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
18. The device of claim 12 , further comprising a recess, said moveable portion of said inner perimeter separating said recess from said screw hole.
19. The device of claim 18 , wherein said recess is a notch.
20. The device of claim 12 , wherein said moveable portion of said inner perimeter moves about a bending axis transverse to the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
21. The device of claim 12 , in combination with an instrument for moving said moveable portion of said inner perimeter.
22. The device of claim 12 , in combination with a fusion promoting material.
23. A spinal device for stabilizing two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies of the human spine, each of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies having an anterior aspect and an external curvature, said device comprising:
a member having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a length sufficient to span a disc space between the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said lower surface being adapted to contact the anterior aspect of each of the two adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member being curved to conform to the external curvature of the adjacent cervical vertebral bodies, said member including a screw hole having a central longitudinal axis and a depth from said upper surface to said lower surface along the central longitudinal axis, said screw hole being non-threaded along the depth of said screw hole; and
a moveable securing means for locking a head of a screw to said member.
24. The device of claim 23 , wherein said securing means includes a moveable portion of said member proximate said screw hole.
25. The device of claim 23 , wherein said securing means includes a bendable portion of said member proximate said screw hole.
26. The device of claim 23 , wherein said securing means includes a portion of a recess adjacent said screw hole.
27. The device of claim 23 , wherein said member includes a width transverse to the length of said member, said member including opposite sides along the length, one of said sides having a portion curved partially around the central longitudinal axis of said screw hole.
28. The device of claim 23 , wherein said lower surface of said member includes two ratcheted projections at opposite ends of said member.
29. The device of claim 23 , in combination with a fusion promoting material.