Lateral vertebral lumbar plate system with integrated rotational control mechanism for screw retention
Inventors
Thompson, Joseph • Klepa{hacek over (c)}, Gary W.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12102358-B2
Publication Date
2024-10-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A plate system includes a retention cap and a plate. The retention cap includes a head with tangs and a shank. The shank includes protrusions at an end of the shank and relief cut-outs clocked relative to the protrusions. The plate includes screw holes and a locking feature. The locking feature includes an assembly guide adapted to guide the shank and features thereof into the locking feature, locking detents distal to the top surface of the plate and adapted to receive the protrusions and interfere with rotational movement of the retention cap, and a retainer positioned axially between the assembly guide and the locking detents. The retainer is adapted to prevent axial movement of the retention cap. The locking feature is adapted to hold the retention cap with the tangs overlapping the screw holes and with the tangs not overlapping the screw holes.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a lateral lumbar vertebral plate system for securing to a vertebrae or other osseous material using bone screws. The system includes a plate having screw holes and a locking feature, with a plurality of axially extending insertion-assembly slots positioned proximal a top surface to guide protrusions of an associated retention cap into the locking feature.
The plate defines relief detents positioned distal to the top surface to receive the protrusions and interfere with rotational movement of the associated retention cap. The plate further includes blind interference ribs positioned adjacent to the relief detents, closer to the top surface than the relief detents, where the blind interference ribs prevent axial movement of the associated retention cap.
A retention cap includes a head with tangs and a shank extending from the head, with protrusions and relief cut-outs extending toward the head. The retention cap and plate are configured so that, in a first rotational alignment, the tangs are positioned between screw holes so as to not axially overlap with the screw holes, and in a second rotational alignment, the tangs are positioned at least partially over the screw holes.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across the independent claims, the plate system is characterized by a locking feature with insertion-assembly slots, relief detents, and blind interference ribs that cooperate with a retention cap having tangs and protrusions to interfere with rotational movement and prevent axial movement, including a defined change between two rotational alignments relative to the plate’s screw holes.
Axially extending insertion-assembly slots to guide retention-cap protrusions into a locking feature
A plate system having a plurality of axially extending insertion-assembly slots proximal a top surface of the plate and adapted to guide protrusions of an associated retention cap into the locking feature.
Relief detents to interfere with rotational movement of the retention cap
A plate system having a plurality of relief detents defined in the plate and positioned distal to the top surface of the plate and adapted to receive the protrusions of the associated retention cap and interfere with rotational movement of the associated retention cap.
Blind interference ribs to prevent axial movement of the retention cap
A plate system having a plurality of blind interference ribs positioned adjacent to the plurality of relief detents closer to the top surface of the plate than the plurality of relief detents, the plurality of blind interference ribs adapted to prevent axial movement of the associated retention cap.
Retention-cap tangs positioned between screw holes in a first rotational alignment and over screw holes in a second rotational alignment
A plate system wherein, in a first rotational alignment of each retention cap relative to the plate, the tangs are positioned between screw holes so as to not axially overlap with the screw holes, and in a second rotational alignment of each retention cap relative to the plate, the tangs are positioned at least partially over the screw holes.
Clocked relief cut-outs relative to protrusions
A retention cap comprising a shank including protrusions distal to the head and relief cut-outs extending towards the head from an end of the shank distal to the head, the relief cut-outs being clocked relative to the protrusions.
Taken together, the independent claims define a locking interface where insertion-assembly slots guide retention-cap protrusions into relief detents, relief detents interfere with rotational movement, and blind interference ribs prevent axial movement. The independent claims further require specific tang placement behavior between a first and a second rotational alignment, including tangs that change from between screw holes without axial overlap to at least partially over the screw holes.
Stated Advantages
Prevents axial movement of the associated retention cap.
Interferes with rotational movement of the associated retention cap.
In the second rotational alignment, positions tangs at least partially over the screw holes.
In the first rotational alignment, positions tangs between screw holes so as to not axially overlap with the screw holes.
Documented Applications
Securing to a vertebrae or other osseous material using bone screws with a lateral lumbar vertebral plate system.
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