Patent ID: 6916320
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A plate adapted to be applied to the anterior human cervical spine for contacting the anterior aspects of at least two cervical vertebral bodies to be fused together, said plate comprising: a mid-longitudinal axis, a lower surface being concave along a substantial portion of the mid-longitudinal axis of said plate and adapted to contact the cervical vertebral bodies, and an upper surface opposite said lower surface; at least two bone screw receiving holes extending through said plate from said upper surface through said lower surface, each of said bone screw receiving holes having a central longitudinal axis and a radius, each of said bone screw receiving holes being adapted to receive a bone screw for engaging said plate to the cervical spine; and opposite first and second ends along the mid-longitudinal axis of said plate, at least said first end having one of said bone screw receiving holes on each side of the mid-longitudinal axis of said plate, at least said first end having an end wall extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, said end wall being proximate to a straight line connecting the central longitudinal axes of each bone screw receiving hole at said first end, said end wall being located a distance from the line that is less than a distance of the radius of either of said bone screw receiving holes at said first end to form an indentation at said first end, said indentation having a maximum width transverse to the mid-longitudinal axis that is greater than the minimum distance separating said bone screw receiving holes at said upper surface and along the straight line.