| US 7,611,527 B2 | ||
| System and method for stabilizing the human spine with a bone plate | ||
| Jim Freid, Austin, Tex. (US); Michael E. Landry, Austin, Tex. (US); and Erik J. Wagner, Austin, Tex. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Zimmer Spine, Inc., Austin, Tex. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 15, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/735,976. | ||
| Application 10/735976 is a continuation of application No. 10/015206, filed on Nov. 19, 2001. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0127897 A1, Jul. 01, 2004 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61B 17/80 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—279 [606/915; 606/281; 606/287] | 20 Claims |
| 1. A spinal plating system comprising;
an elongated plate having a plurality of bone screw apertures;
a locking ring disposed in one of the bone screw apertures, the locking ring having at least a portion resiliently expandable
from a retracted state to an expanded state;
a bone screw inserted into the one of the bone screw apertures, the bone screw having a head with a diameter sized such that
in the retracted state the locking ring prevents the bone screw from backing out of the plate and in the expanded state the
locking ring permits insertion and removal of the bone screw relative to the one bone screw aperture; and
a tool for removing the bone screw from the one bone screw aperture, the tool having a first portion coupled to the head of
the bone screw and a second portion resiliently expanding the locking ring to the expanded state.
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