Patent ID: 8052729
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An anterior lumbar plate assembly attachable with bone screws to vertebrae of a person's spine, comprising: (a) a plate member having top, bottom and middle parts, anterior and posterior surfaces and laterally spaced side edges, (b) a first set of spaced-apart through holes in said top part extending through said plate member between said anterior and posterior surfaces; (c) a second set of spaced-apart through holes in said bottom part extending through said plate member between said anterior and posterior surfaces; (d) each of said through holes dimensioned to receive with clearance one of said bone screws and to engage and block passage of the head of said bone screw in the posterior direction; (e) a rib formed laterally across the posterior side of the plate member such that the rib's length between the laterally spaced side edges is its greatest dimension, the rib being located on the plate in a location such that the rib would engage a superior edge on the anterior side of the S1 vertebra and thereby properly locate the plate member for drilling of holes in the vertebrae for attachment of the plate member; and (f) at least one locking means on said plate member for restricting rotation of each of said bone screws from said vertebrae; wherein said top and bottom parts of said plate are curved toward said posterior side of said plate.