Bone plate stabilization system and method for its use

Abstract

A bone stabilization plate system. The bone stabilization plate system includes a base plate configured to fit primarily between an anterior portion of a first bone's lip osteophyte and an anterior portion of a second, adjacent bone's lip osteophyte. The bone stabilization plate system includes a plurality of bone screws configured to fit in respective bone screw holes in the base plate to secure the base plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bone stabilization plate system comprising:
 a base plate having a top surface, first and second ends, a bottom surface, and a plurality of bone screw holes, wherein the base plate is sized to fit primarily between anterior portions of adjacent vertebral bones' lip osteophytes and is configured to bear weight to hold the bones while sharing weight with bone graft material for fusion; and   a plurality of bone screws configured to fit in the plurality of bone screw holes, respectively;   wherein one of the bone screw holes is configured to receive one of the bone screws to secure the base plate to one of the vertebral bones;   wherein another of the bone screw holes is configured to receive one of the bone screws to secure the base plate to the lip osteophyte of another of the vertebral bones; and   wherein each and every one of the plurality of bone screw holes is configured to receive one of the bone screws angled relative to the base plate and oriented generally in an anterior-posterior direction through the top surface of the base plate.   
     
     
         2 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bone screw holes is configured to permit a range of bone screw angles. 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the base plate is generally flat. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a screw retainer configured to prevent at least one of the plurality of bone screws from backing out. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the screw retainer is a plate or a screw. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the base plate is configured to have a recessed region and the screw retainer is configured to sit in the recessed region of the base plate. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bone screws is configured to permit toggling relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes a primary member and a secondary member angled relative to the primary member, wherein the secondary member does not cover a significant portion of a top surface of any of the adjacent vertebral bones. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the secondary member has a first of the plurality of bone screw holes therethrough. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base plate includes two lateral tabs sized to fit between the lip osteophytes of the adjacent vertebral bones and extending from opposite ends of the bottom surface of the base plate in a direction generally transverse to the adjacent vertebral bones. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the lateral tabs have at least one of protrusions and pointed nubs. 
     
     
         12 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is configured to fit primarily between the lip osteophytes of the bones, at least one of which is trimmed to provide a substantially flat surface for enhanced anchoring. 
     
     
         13 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the base plate coincides with or generally matches an outer diameter of the anterior cortex of the adjacent vertebral bones. 
     
     
         14 . The system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bone screw holes extends primarily through the first or second end. 
     
     
         15 . An implant device for two adjacent vertebrae, the device including:
 at least one portion configured for subsidence engagement with at least one of the vertebrae; and   at least portions that are configured for contacted relative movement during the subsidence engagement with at least one of the vertebrae.   
     
     
         16 . An implant device including:
 a base member configured to interface with two or more bone bodies, wherein the base member includes a primary member that forms a peripherally-surrounded bone chamber for receiving fusion material and a secondary member;   a plurality of interface members extending from at least one surface of the base member, the interface members being configured to provide controlled subsidence of the implant device into at least one bone body; and   a plurality of bone fasteners extending through apertures provided in the base member.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the base member includes a radiolucent material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the base member includes a radiopaque material. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the primary member has at least one aperture configured to receive a bone fastener there through and the secondary member having at least one aperture configured to receive a bone fastener there through. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 16 , further including restraining means for restricting movement of at least one bone fastener extending through an aperture in the base member.