Spinal assembly plate

Claim 2

A spinal assembly plate comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal dimension suitable to be secured to a portion of a spine and having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending passage defining an inner wall, said passage having a dimension to extend over a portion of said spine and to accommadate a portion of at least one vertebral screw extending therethrough at a non-predetermined position within the passage selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions, and said elongated body including an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending perimeter defining an outer wall a connector brace having a sidewall extending a portion of a length of said outer wall in a direction defined by an axis of the vertebral screw to couple adjacent said outer wall at a non-predetermined position along the perimeter selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions, and a nut having a face configured to be secured adjacent a surface of said elongated body and a coupling portion to secure said portion of said vertebral screw.

Claim 3

The spinal assembly plate of claim 1 , wherein said elongated body further comprises a surface configured to be oriented towards said portion of said spine between an outer wall and said inner wall.

Claim 4

The spinal assembly plate of claim 2 wherein said base of the connector brace comprises a dimension to accommodate said portion of said at least one vertebral screw between said base and said sidewall.

Claim 5

A kit comprising: a plate having a longitudinal dimension suitable to be secured to a portion of a spine, having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending passage having a dimension to extend over a portion of the spine, and having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending perimeter defining an outer wall; a nut having dimension to couple to the plate and to extend through the plate at a non-predetermined longitudinal position within the passage selected from an undetermined longitudinal adjustment distance within the passage; and a connector brace having a dimension to couple adjacent said outer wall at a non-predetermined position along the perimeter selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions.

Claim 6

A kit comprising: a plate having a longitudinal dimension suitable to be secured to a portion of a spine, having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending passage having a dimension to extend over a portion of the spine, and having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending perimeter defining an outer wall; a nut having dimension to couple to the plate and to extend through the plate at a non-predetermined longitudinal position within the passage selected from an undetermined longitudinal adjustment distance within the passage; and a connector brace having a dimension to couple adjacent said outer wall at a non-predetermined position along the perimeter selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions.

Claim 7

The kit of claim 4 , further comprising a vertebral screw to couple to the nut.

Claim 8

The kit of claim 5 , wherein a portion of the vertebral screw and the a portion of the nut are cooperatively threaded.

Claim 9

The kit of claim 5 , further comprising said connector brace is to stabilize the plate as the nut secures the vertebral screw.

Claim 10

The kit of claim 5 , wherein the nut has a face portion having a frictional character to longitudinally stabilize the nut to the plate when the vertebral screw is coupled to the nut and the vertebral screw is secured to a vertebral body of a patient.

Claim 11

The kit of claim 8 , wherein the frictional character is provided by at least one frictional ridge protruding from the face portion.

Claim 12

The of claim 9 , wherein the face portion has an approximately circular circumference and the at least one frictional ridge includes a plurality of frictional ridges defining concentric circles of the face portion.

Claim 13

A spinal assembly plate comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal dimension suitable to be secured to a portion of a spine and having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending passage defining an inner wall, said passage having a dimension to extend over a portion of said spine and to couple to a portion of at least one vertebral screw extending therethrough at a non-predetermined position within the passage selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions, and said elongated body including an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending perimeter defining an outer wall having a dimension such that a sidewall of a connector brace may be coupled adjacent said outer wall at a non-predetermined position along the perimeter selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions; wherein said elongated body further comprises a surface configured to be oriented towards said portion of said spine between said outer wall and said inner wall and said plate further comprises a connector brace, having a sidewall to be adjacent said outer wall and a base to be adjacent said surface oriented towards said portion of said spine: wherein the surface of said elongated body is a first surface, the elongated body further comprising a second surface terminating at said inner wall, said plate further comprising: a nut having a face configured to be secured adjacent said second surface of said elongated body and a coupling portion to secure said portion of said vertebral screw.

Claim 14

A spinal assembly plate comprising: an elongated body having a longitudinal dimension suitable to be secured to a portion of a spine and having an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending passage defining an inner wall, said passage having a dimension to extend over a portion of said spine and to couple to a portion of at least one vertebral screw extending therethrough at a non-predetermined position within the passage selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions, and said elongated body including an uninterrupted, longitudinally extending perimeter defining an outer wall having a dimension such that a sidewall of a connector brace may be coupled adjacent said outer wall at a non-predetermined position along the perimeter selected from boundless potential longitudinal positions; wherein said elongated body further comprises a surface configured to be oriented towards said portion of said spine between said outer wall and said inner wall and said plate further comprises a connector brace, having a sidewall to be adjacent said outer wall and a base to be adjacent said surface oriented towards said portion of said spine: wherein the surface of said elongated body is a first surface, the elongated body further comprising a second surface terminating at said inner wall, said plate further comprising: a nut having a face configured to be secured adjacent said second surface of said elongated body and a coupling portion to secure said portion of said vertebral screw.

Claim 15

The spinal assembly plate of claim 11 wherein said nut is to effect a torque of between about 8 Nm and about 15 Nm when said plate and said portion of said vertebral screw are secured by said nut.

Claim 16

The spinal assembly plate of claim 12 wherein said elongated body has a uniform shape and a length greater than about 40 mm, said elongated body to maintain said uniform shape as said plate and said portion of said vertebral screw are secured.