The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 30, 2003
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2001
Christopher M. Campbell, Westwood, NJ (US);
Donald E. Anselm, Bermuda Dunes, CA (US);
Jason D. Blain, Palm Desert, CA (US);
Joel P. Bales, Palm Desert, CA (US);
Dan L. Pastrick, Palm Desert, CA (US);
George A. Ramirez, San Jacinto, CA (US);
Rick B. Delamarter, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Leonard J. Tokish, Jr., Seattle, WA (US);
Alphatec Manufacturing, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US);
Abstract
An anterior cervical plate is disclosed, along with threaded fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The cervical plate has several pockets or apertures, preferably at least four, to receive a corresponding number of the fasteners. The pockets have spherical surfaces, and the fasteners have heads with similarly sized spherical surfaces, which when engaged permit each of the fasteners to be oriented at a variety of projection angles with respect to the plate. In connection with each pocket, the cervical plate incorporates a fastener retaining feature. The feature can take the form of a cantilevered tab or a beam supported at its opposite ends, in each case plastically deformable between an open position for admitting the fastener and a closed position for preventing retraction.