Patent ID: 8425514
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A spinal fixation assembly, comprising a removable bone screw having a shank with threads and a head, the head having a driving socket therein, the head further having a continuously curved spherical outer surface beginning before and continuing past a maximum diameter of the sphere measured orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the screw; an annular bushing having a plurality of segments curving away from a base having an outward extending flange that is slit at one location to form a discontinuous ring, the curved segments having an inner wall curved to rotatably receive the curved outer surface of the bone screw, the curved segments having an outer wall that is curved to form a portion of a sphere, the base having a hole through which the threaded shank of the screw extends; a first, single piece, anterior fixation plate having four legs which legs extend along one of two intersecting lines intersecting at a cross-member to form an X shaped configuration, the legs and cross-member having a predetermined and fixed length and shape and sized for use in spinal fixation; a socket at a distal end of each leg, each socket having a recess therein with an inward facing surface that is curved to receive and allow rotation of the outer surface of the spherical portion of the bushing, the socket further having an annular recess configured to receive the outward extending flange of the bushing, the annular recess being larger than the outward extending flange to allow the flange and bushing to tilt a predetermined amount depending on a thickness of the outward extending flange, the flange having a hole through which the bone screw can pass but through which the bushing and head of the bone screw do not pass, and wherein the legs have a thickness that is smaller at the cross-member and larger at the socket.