Bone plate system and method for spine stabilization

Abstract

In an embodiment, a bone plating system may include a plate having end holes, each extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the plate and comprising an inner surface having a curved contour. The bone plating system may include bone fasteners, each being sized to be placed in a ring for anchoring an end of the plate to a bone, the ring being sized to fit in a corresponding end hole and rotatable therein to define an angle of a corresponding bone fastener relative to the plate. The ring may have an outer surface that substantially corresponds to the curved contour of the inner surface of the hole to allow for rotation of the ring within the hole. The angles of the bone fasteners relative to the plate may define a converging or diverging configuration, which can prevent the bone fasteners from backing out.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a plate comprising:
 a first end having a first hole; 
 a second end opposite the first end and having a second hole, wherein each hole of the first and second holes extends from an upper surface to a lower surface of the plate and comprises an inner surface having a curved contour; 
   a first bone fastener sized to be placed in a first ring for anchoring the first end of the plate to a first bone, the first ring being sized to fit in the first hole and rotatable in the first hole to define a first angle of the first bone fastener relative to the plate; and   a second bone fastener sized to be placed in a second ring for anchoring the second end of the plate to a second bone, the second ring being sized to fit in the second hole and rotatable in the second hole to define a second angle of the second bone fastener relative to the plate, wherein each ring of the first and second rings comprises an outer surface that substantially corresponds to the curved contour of the inner surface of the hole to allow for rotation of the ring within the hole.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is defined by a longitudinal axis of the first bone fastener and a first axis perpendicular to the plate and wherein the second angle is defined by a longitudinal axis of the second bone fastener and a second axis perpendicular to the plate. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate further comprises a portion between the first end and the second end, the portion having a width that is different than widths of the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each ring of the first and second rings further comprises a plurality of deflectable portions. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each ring of the first and second rings further comprises a gap to allow for expansion and contraction of the ring. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each ring of the first and second rings is sized to have a height not exceeding a thickness of the plate. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate has a thickness that is constant or substantially constant across the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle and the second angle define a converging or diverging configuration of the first and second bone fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each bone fastener of the first and second bone fasteners comprises a head and wherein each ring of the first and second rings is sized to surround at least partially the head of the bone fastener positioned within the hole. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate further comprises a third hole extending from the upper surface to the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the third hole is sized to be larger at the upper surface and smaller at the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the third hole is located at about a mid-point of the plate. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the mid-point of the plate has a width that is different than widths of the first end and the second end of the plate. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate further comprises one or more spikes extending from the lower surface of the plate. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plate has a curved contour. 
     
     
         16 . A method for implanting a spinal plate, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of holes, wherein each of the holes extends from an upper surface to a lower surface of the plate, the method comprising:
 drilling and tapping holes into bones to which the plate is to be attached;   positioning the plate adjacent to the bones and over the holes in the bones; and   for each bone fastener of a plurality of bone fasteners:
 placing the bone fastener in a ring, the ring being positioned in a hole of the plurality of holes in the plate; 
 rotating the bone fastener to define an oblique angle relative to the plate, the bone fastener being rotated via the ring positioned in the hole, wherein the ring has an outer surface that substantially corresponds to a curved contour of an inner surface of the hole to allow for rotation of the ring within the hole; and 
 advancing the bone fastener into a bone at the oblique angle to thereby anchor the plate to the bone. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of holes comprises a first hole at a first end of the plate, a second hole at a second end of the plate, and a third hole at about a mid-point of the plate, further comprising:
 positioning a fastener in the third hole.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the mid-point of the plate has a width that is different than widths of the first end and the second end of the plate. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the ring further comprises a plurality of deflectable portions. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the ring is positioned in the hole before or after the bone fastener is placed in the ring.