US20040010254A1 — Lumbar spine fixation device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 169 words

1 . A spine fixation device comprising: an alignment plate, having top and bottom surfaces for attachment to a pair of adjacent vertebrae on a human body; said alignment plate having at least two openings spaced from each other a distance such that at least two of the openings open onto adjacent vertebrae; said alignment plate having a predetermined angle formed therein so as to position adjacent vertebrae at said predetermined angle; said alignment plate having a spacer on its bottom surface; said spacer having a predetermined length as measured along a longitudinal axis of the alignment plate; wherein the predetermined length is equal to the desired spacing between the adjacent vertebrae; wherein said spacer is oriented on the bottom surface of the alignment plate such that when the alignment plate is installed on the adjacent vertebrae said spacer is between adjacent vertebrae in the intervertebral space; at least two surgical screws adapted to pass through the openings in the alignment plate and to screw into the adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 169 words

1 . A spine fixation device comprising: an alignment plate, having top and bottom surfaces for attachment to a pair of adjacent vertebrae on a human body; said alignment plate having at least two openings spaced from each other a distance such that at least two of the openings open onto adjacent vertebrae; said alignment plate having a predetermined angle formed therein so as to position adjacent vertebrae at said predetermined angle; said alignment plate having a spacer on its bottom surface; said spacer having a predetermined length as measured along a longitudinal axis of the alignment plate; wherein the predetermined length is equal to the desired spacing between the adjacent vertebrae; wherein said spacer is oriented on the bottom surface of the alignment plate such that when the alignment plate is installed on the adjacent vertebrae said spacer is between adjacent vertebrae in the intervertebral space; at least two surgical screws adapted to pass through the openings in the alignment plate and to screw into the adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 74 words

2 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the surgical screws have a flange with a diameter larger than at least one dimension of the openings in said alignment plate such that when said surgical screws are screwed into the adjacent vertebrae through the openings in said alignment plate, the flange rests on the top surface of said alignment plate and firmly secures the alignment plate to the vertebrae.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 44 words

3 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alignment plate comprises three openings, which are spaced from each other a distance that two openings open onto a first vertebrae and the third opening opens onto an adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 42 words

4 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alignment plate comprises four openings, which are spaced from each other a distance such two openings open onto a first vertebrae and two openings open onto adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

5 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the alignment plate comprises at least one indentation above the at least two openings for receiving the surgical screws.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 21 words

6 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the alignment plate comprises at least two indentations.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 75 words

7 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the screws have a flange with a diameter larger than at least one dimension of the openings in said alignment plate such that when said screws are screwed into the adjacent vertebrae through the openings in said alignment plate, the flange rests within the indentations in the top surface of said alignment plate and firmly secures the alignment plate to the vertebrae.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

8 . The spine fixation device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an extension member disposed on the top surface of the alignment plate for handling said spine fixation device.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 123 words

9 . A method of fixing the spine, comprising the steps of: attaching an alignment plate to a pair of adjacent vertebrae on a body; placing a pair of surgical screws through the alignment plate into adjacent vertebrae so as to position adjacent vertebrae at a predetermined angle with respect to each other; drilling at least one hole into or between the adjacent vertebrae on each side of the alignment plate, said alignment plate holding the adjacent vertebrae at the predetermined angle while the holes are being drilled; placing a hollow sleeve in operative contact with the alignment plate and using the hollow sleeve to guide the drilling; and placing a spinal fixation implant through the hollow sleeve and into the intervertebral space.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 123 words

9 . A method of fixing the spine, comprising the steps of: attaching an alignment plate to a pair of adjacent vertebrae on a body; placing a pair of surgical screws through the alignment plate into adjacent vertebrae so as to position adjacent vertebrae at a predetermined angle with respect to each other; drilling at least one hole into or between the adjacent vertebrae on each side of the alignment plate, said alignment plate holding the adjacent vertebrae at the predetermined angle while the holes are being drilled; placing a hollow sleeve in operative contact with the alignment plate and using the hollow sleeve to guide the drilling; and placing a spinal fixation implant through the hollow sleeve and into the intervertebral space.

Lumbar spine fixation device

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