Anterior cervical plate

Abstract

An anterior cervical plate has a lower surface adapted to engage the cervical spine and a top surface. At least one location along the plate there are two transversely aligned bone screw holes. A locking element is pivotally mounted between these two bone screw holes for movement between an open position which uncovers the two bone screw holes and a locking position wherein the locking element at least partially covers each of the two bone screw holes. A positive positioning structure positively positions the locking element in the locking position.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
   
   
       21 . An anterior cervical plate for engaging at least two vertebrae along the anterior cervical spine, comprising: 
 a lower surface adapted to engage the anterior of at least two cervical vertebrae and an opposite upper surface;    at least one receiving area formed in the upper surface and including two transversely aligned screw holes, and    a locking element pivotally mounted on the receiving area and being movable to a first position in which the locking element completely uncovers the screw holes and a second position in which portions of the elongated locking element extend over a portion of each screw hole to prevent the bone screws located therein from backing out; and    at least one projection on the receiving area and at least one matching recess on the bottom of the locking element, wherein the projection will snap into place in the recess when the locking element is in said second position.    
   
   
       22 . The cervical plate of  claim 21 , wherein the locking element has a pair of recessed ramps on the bottom thereof to ride up over the projections and permit the projections to snap into place in the recesses.  
   
   
       23 . The cervical plate of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 a tool receiving opening in the locking element for receiving a tool to turn the locking element between the first and second positions.    
   
   
       24 . The cervical plate of  claim 21 , wherein the receiving area is recessed relative to a remainder of the upper surface and extends substantially the width of the upper surface.  
   
   
       25 . A spinal fixation assembly comprising: 
 an anterior cervical plate for engaging at least two vertebrae along the anterior cervical spine;    a lower surface of the plate adapted to engage the anterior of at least two cervical vertebrae and an opposite upper surface of the plate;    at least two transversely aligned screw holes extending between the upper and lower surfaces;    at least two bone screws each having a head and extending through and seated in one of the screw holes; and    a locking element pivotally coupled to the upper surface of the plate and being movable to a first position in which the locking element completely uncovers the screw holes and a second position in which portions of the locking element extend over a portion of each screw hole to prevent the bone screws located therein from backing out;    wherein the locking element is spaced from the heads of bone screws when the locking element is in the second position and the heads are seated in the screw holes.    
   
   
       26 . The assembly of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 a positive positioning structure at an interface between the plate and the locking element, which holds the locking element in the second position.    
   
   
       27 . The assembly of  claim 25  further comprising: 
 a pivot hole in one of the plate and the locking element; and    a post extending through the pivot hole to pivotally couple the plate and locking element together.    
   
   
       28 . An anterior cervical plate for engaging at least two vertebrae along the anterior cervical spine, comprising: 
 a plate having a lower surface adapted to engage the anterior of at least two cervical vertebrae and an opposite upper surface;    at least one pair of spaced apart screw holes through the plate;    a locking element pivotally mounted between the screw holes and movable between a first position in which the locking element completely uncovers the screw holes and a second position in which the locking element extends over a portion of each screw hole to prevent the bone screws located therein from backing out; and    a positive positioning structure at an interface between the plate and the locking element that holds the locking element in the second position.    
   
   
       29 . The cervical plate of  claim 28 , wherein the positive positioning structure further comprises: 
 a projection on one of the plate and the locking element; and    a matching recess on the other of the plate and the locking element, the projection and the matching recess being positioned so as to hold the locking element in said second position.    
   
   
       30 . The cervical plate of  claim 29 , wherein the projection is on the plate and the matching recess is on the bottom of the locking element.  
   
   
       31 . The cervical plate of  claim 30 , wherein the bottom of the locking element has a recessed ramp to ride up over the projection to permit the projection to snap into the matching recess when the locking element is in the second position.  
   
   
       32 . The cervical plate of  claim 31  further comprising: 
 a pair of projections on the plate and a pair of matching recesses on the bottom of the locking element.