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:
Aug. 24, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 02, 2001
Joseph P. Errico, Kirkland, WA (US);
Thomas J. Errico, Summit, NJ (US);
James D. Ralph, Seaside Park, NJ (US);
Third Millennium Engineering LLC, Summit, NJ (US);
Abstract
A polyaxial locking cervical screw and plate assembly for immobilization of cervical bones, via fixation to surfaces thereof, including a plate, having a pair of elongated tapered holes in the top and bottom thereof, into which holes elongated coupling elements and screws may be inserted. Each coupling element has an equivalent taper which matches the taper of the holes in the plate, and an interior semi-spherical curvate surface in which the curvate head of the screw may be polyaxially mounted. The coupling elements are initially disposed in the holes in the plate such that they may slide axially therein. The bone screws are inserted through the respective coupling elements until the heads thereof enter the curvate volumes thereof. Once the head is fully seated in the coupling element, advancement of the screw causes the coupling element to crush lock to the plate and to the head of the screw.