Bone support plate assembly

Abstract

A sliding bone support plate assembly comprises at least first and second plates which slide with respect to each other, varying the length of the plate assembly by plate-on-plate sliding after bone screws mount the plate assembly to vertebrae in a recipient. The plates comprise cooperating sliding structures which cooperate with each other to interconnect the plates to each other and to facilitate sliding movement of the plates with respect to each other. Such sliding accommodates varying the length of the plate assembly, and relieving stress which would otherwise be imposed on the plate assembly by post-procedural settling of respective vertebrae to which the plates are mounted without requiring any movement of a plate with respect to a bone to which that plate is mounted. The plate assembly is fabricated using bio-compatible, bio-stable materials which are safe for extended use in a living human, and which are not generally assimilated.

1 - 92 . (canceled).  
   
   
       93 . A bone support plate assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a bone support plate;    (b) a second plate element, mounted to said bone support plate,    said bone support plate assembly being designed and adapted to receive bone fasteners therethrough thus to fasten said bone support plate assembly to first and second underlying bone structures of a recipient user thereof,    said bone support plate assembly being adapted to accommodate, when mounted to such first and second underlying bone structures, post procedural settling of at least one of such first and second bone structures with respect to the other of such first and second bone structures.    
   
   
       94 . A bone support plate as in  claim 93  wherein said bone support plate assembly comprises a spinal plate assembly and wherein such first and second underlying bone structures comprise first and second vertebrae.  
   
   
       95 . A bone support plate as in  claim 93 , said second plate element engaging said bone support plate so as to slide with respect to said bone support plate.  
   
   
       96 . A bone support plate as in  claim 93 , further comprising bone-fastener-receiving apertures in at least one of said bone support plate and said second plate element, thereby to effect the fastening of said bone support plate assembly to such first and second underlying bone structures of such recipient user.  
   
   
       97 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 93 , further comprising apertures in at least one of said first and second plates, said apertures being adapted to receive bone fasteners therethrough thus to fasten said bone support plate assembly to such first and second underlying bone structures.  
   
   
       98 . A bone support plate assembly, comprising: 
 (a) a first plate;    (b) a second plate mounted to said first plate and engaged with said first plate so as to slide with respect to said first plate; and    (c) apertures in at least one of said first and second plates, said apertures being adapted to receive bone fasteners therethrough thus to fasten said bone support plate assembly to first and second underlying bone structures of a recipient user thereof,    said bone support plate assembly being adapted to accommodate, when mounted to such first and second underlying bone structures, post procedural settling of at least one of such first and second bone structures with respect to the other of such first and second bone structures.    
   
   
       99 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 98  wherein said bone support plate assembly comprises a spinal plate assembly and wherein such first and second underlying bone structures comprise first and second vertebrae.  
   
   
       100 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 98 , further comprising apertures in at least one of said first and second plates, said apertures being adapted to receive bone fasteners therethrough thus to fasten said bone support plate assembly to such first and second underlying bone structures.  
   
   
       101 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 93  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       102 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 94  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       103 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 95  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       104 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 96  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       105 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 97  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       106 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 98  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       107 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 99  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.  
   
   
       108 . A bone support plate assembly as in  claim 100  wherein said first and second plates are made from material selected from the group consisting of titanium and stainless steel.