Spinal fixation device

Claim 2

1 . A spinal fixation device comprising: a spacer member comprising a main body member having an exposed open interior and a pair of contact surface members; a pair of fixation plate members joined to said spacer member, each of said fixation plate members comprising an extended plate portion and a recessed plate portion, wherein said extended plate portion of one of said fixation plate members is on the side opposite that of said extended plate portion of the other of said fixation plate members.

Claim 3

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a slotted screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said extended plate portions.

Claim 4

3 . The device of claim 2 , further comprising a circular screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said recessed plate portions.

Claim 5

4 . The device of claim 3 , further comprising at least one beveled ridge member disposed on each of said contact surface members.

Claim 6

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein said exposed open interior is defined by intersecting bores.

Claim 7

6 . A spinal fixation device comprising: a spacer member comprising a main body member having an exposed open interior, a superior contact surface member and an inferior contact surface; a pair of fixation plate members joined anteriorly to said spacer member, one of said fixation plates extending superiorly and the other of said fixation plates extending inferiorly, each of said fixation plate members comprising a lateral midline, an extended plate portion and a recessed plate portion, wherein said lateral midline is between said extended plate portion and said recessed portion, wherein said extended plate portion of said superiorly-extending fixation plate member is on the lateral side opposite that of said extended plate portion of said anteriorly-extending fixation plate member; and a slotted screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said extended plate portions.

Claim 8

6 . A spinal fixation device comprising: a spacer member comprising a main body member having an exposed open interior, a superior contact surface member and an inferior contact surface; a pair of fixation plate members joined anteriorly to said spacer member, one of said fixation plates extending superiorly and the other of said fixation plates extending inferiorly, each of said fixation plate members comprising a lateral midline, an extended plate portion and a recessed plate portion, wherein said lateral midline is between said extended plate portion and said recessed portion, wherein said extended plate portion of said superiorly-extending fixation plate member is on the lateral side opposite that of said extended plate portion of said anteriorly-extending fixation plate member; and a slotted screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said extended plate portions.

Claim 9

7 . The device of claim 6 , further comprising a circular screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said recessed plate portions.

Claim 10

8 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising at least one beveled ridge member disposed on said superior and inferior contact surface members, wherein said at least one beveled ridge members are parallel.

Claim 11

9 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said exposed open interior is defined by the intersection of a pair of superior-inferior bores extending through said superior and inferior contact surface members and a lateral bore extending through said main body.

Claim 12

10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein said at least one beveled ridge member disposed on said superior and inferior contact surface members comprises three beveled ridge members disposed on said superior contact surface and three beveled ridge members disposed on said inferior contact surface.

Claim 13

11 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said slotted screw-receiving apertures further comprise beveled shoulders.

Claim 14

12 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said superior and inferior contact surface members further comprise laterally-extending rounded shoulder members.

Claim 15

13 . A spinal fixation device comprising: a spacer member adapted to be inserted between adjacent vertebrae in a spinal column as replacement for a removed intervertebral disc, said spacer member comprising a main body member having an exposed open interior, a generally planar superior contact surface member adapted to abut a superior vertebra and a generally planar inferior contact surface adapted to abut an inferior vertebra; a pair of fixation plate members joined anteriorly to said spacer member, one of said fixation plates extending superiorly from said spacer member and adapted to abut and be secured to a superior vertebra and the other of said fixation plates extending inferiorly and adapted to abut and be secured to an inferior vertebra, each of said fixation plate members comprising a lateral midline, an extended plate portion and a recessed plate portion, wherein said lateral midline is between said extended plate portion and said recessed portion, wherein said extended plate portion of said superiorly-extending fixation plate member is on the lateral side opposite that of said extended plate portion of said anteriorly-extending fixation plate member; and a slotted screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said extended plate portions and adapted to receive a screw to secure said fixation plate member to either a superior or inferior vertebra; and a screw disposed within each said slotted screw receiving aperture, said screw adapted to be driven into either a superior or inferior vertebra.

Claim 16

13 . A spinal fixation device comprising: a spacer member adapted to be inserted between adjacent vertebrae in a spinal column as replacement for a removed intervertebral disc, said spacer member comprising a main body member having an exposed open interior, a generally planar superior contact surface member adapted to abut a superior vertebra and a generally planar inferior contact surface adapted to abut an inferior vertebra; a pair of fixation plate members joined anteriorly to said spacer member, one of said fixation plates extending superiorly from said spacer member and adapted to abut and be secured to a superior vertebra and the other of said fixation plates extending inferiorly and adapted to abut and be secured to an inferior vertebra, each of said fixation plate members comprising a lateral midline, an extended plate portion and a recessed plate portion, wherein said lateral midline is between said extended plate portion and said recessed portion, wherein said extended plate portion of said superiorly-extending fixation plate member is on the lateral side opposite that of said extended plate portion of said anteriorly-extending fixation plate member; and a slotted screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said extended plate portions and adapted to receive a screw to secure said fixation plate member to either a superior or inferior vertebra; and a screw disposed within each said slotted screw receiving aperture, said screw adapted to be driven into either a superior or inferior vertebra.

Claim 17

14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a circular screw-receiving aperture disposed in each of said recessed plate portions and adapted to receive a screw to secure said fixation plate member to either a superior or inferior vertebra; and a screw disposed within each said circular screw receiving aperture, said screw adapted to be driven into either a superior or inferior vertebra.

Claim 18

15 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising at least one beveled ridge member disposed on said superior and inferior contact surface members, wherein said at least one beveled ridge members are parallel.

Claim 19

16 . The device of claim 13 , wherein said exposed open interior is defined by the intersection of a pair of superior-inferior bores extending through said superior and inferior contact surface members and a lateral bore extending through said main body.

Claim 20

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein said at least one beveled ridge member disposed on said superior and inferior contact surface members comprises three beveled ridge members disposed on said superior contact surface and three beveled ridge members disposed on said inferior contact surface.

Claim 21

18 . The device of claim 13 , wherein said slotted screw-receiving apertures further comprise beveled shoulders.

Claim 22

19 . The device of claim 13 , wherein said superior and inferior contact surface members further comprise laterally-extending rounded shoulder members.