초록 ▼

Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The bone screws have a tapered self-tap

Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The bone screws have a tapered self-tapping leading end, an increasing root diameter with a generally constant outer diameter with a thread that is narrow and sharp throughout and an enlarged head portion capable of an interference fit to the receiving holes of the plate. Instrumentation consists of plate holders, a compression apparatus and a pilot hole forming device that interlocks with the plate. Methods for spinal compression and bone hole preparation are provided.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for positioning a plate adjacent a spinal column of a patient, comprising: accessing at least two vertebrae of the spinal column; positioning a compression instrument adjacent the at least two vertebrae; providing the plate with a perimeter; extending a first engagin

What is claimed is: 1. A method for positioning a plate adjacent a spinal column of a patient, comprising: accessing at least two vertebrae of the spinal column; positioning a compression instrument adjacent the at least two vertebrae; providing the plate with a perimeter; extending a first engaging portion of the compression instrument through the plate, and penetrating one of the at least two vertebrae with the first engaging portion; positioning a second engaging portion of the compression instrument beyond the perimeter of the plate, and penetrating another of the at least two vertebrae with the second engaging portion; holding the plate along a longitudinal axis of the plate with the compression instrument; moving the first and second engaging portions toward one another from a first position wherein only one of the first and second engaging portions engages the plate to a second position wherein both of the first and second engaging portions engage the plate; moving the at least two vertebrae relative to one another using the compression instrument; and positioning the plate relative to the at least two vertebrae. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing the plate to the at least two vertebrae with bone engaging fasteners extending through the plate. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising securing the bone engaging fasteners to the plate with at least one retaining device. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein, when moving the at least two vertebrae, the compression instrument compresses the at least two vertebrae toward one another. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein, when holding the plate, the compression instrument cooperatively engages an engagement surface of the plate. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second engaging portions Includes a sharpened tip for penetrably engaging one of the at least two vertebrae. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein, when positioning the plate, the compression instrument aligns a first portion of the plate with one of the at least two vertebrae and aligns a second portion of the plate with another of the at least two vertebrae. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first and second portions of the plate each include at least one bone screw receiving hole. 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising channeling one of the first and second engaging portions to an engagement surface formed on the perimeter of the plate.