Bone stabilization member with bone screw retention mechanism

Abstract

A spinal implant for stabilizing first and second vertebrae. The spinal implant includes an intervertebral spacer and a bone stabilization member configured to be coupled to the intervertebral spacer. The bone stabilization member includes a plurality of bone screw openings and a plurality of bone screws extendable through the bone screw openings to secure the bone stabilization member to the vertebrae. A retention member, which is slidably coupled to the bone stabilization member, is linearly slidable between a first position and a second position while coupled to the bone stabilization member. In the first position, each of the bone screws is permitted to be inserted into the bone screw openings, and in the second position the retention member at least partially covers each of the bone screw openings to prevent a bone screw from backing out of the respective bone screw opening.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implant securable to vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
 an intervertebral spacer positionable between a first vertebra and a second vertebra;   a bone stabilization member coupleable to the intervertebral spacer, the bone stabilization member including a first bone screw opening, a second bone screw opening, and a locking bore;   a first bone screw extendable through the first bone screw opening to secure the bone stabilization member to the first vertebra;   a second bone screw extendable through the second bone screw opening to secure the bone stabilization member to the second vertebra;   a retention member coupleable to the bone stabilization member, the retention member movable between a first position and a second position, the retention member allowing the first and second bone screws to be received through the first and second bone screw openings, respectively, when the retention member is in the first position, and the retention member preventing the first and second bone screws from exiting the first and second bone screw openings, respectively, when the retention member is in the second position, the retention member including a retention opening extending therethrough; and   a locking member insertable through the retention opening and into the locking bore of the bone stabilization member, the locking member configured to move the retention member between the first position and the second position as the locking screw is secured within the locking bore.   
     
     
         22 . The spinal implant of  claim 21 , wherein the retention member includes a protrusion slidably engaged in a slot of the bone stabilization member in a dovetail engagement. 
     
     
         23 . The spinal implant of  claim 22 , wherein the retention member is translatable between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         24 . The spinal implant of  claim 21 , wherein the retention member includes an arcuate edge defining an arcuate cutout, the arcuate cutout allowing insertion of the first bone screw when the retention member is in the first position. 
     
     
         26 . The spinal implant of  claim 21 , wherein the retention member is movable between the first and second position while the locking screw couples the retention member to the bone stabilization member. 
     
     
         27 . The spinal implant of  claim 26 , wherein retention member includes a first tab extending outward from the retention member to cover a portion of the second bone screw opening when the retention member is in the second position. 
     
     
         28 . An implant securable to vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
 an intervertebral spacer positionable between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the intervertebral spacer including first and second channels disposed on lateral sides of the intervertebral spacer;   a bone stabilization member comprising:
 a first bone screw opening and a second bone screw opening; 
 a locking bore; and 
 a first arm and a second arm disposed on first and second lateral sides of the bone stabilization member, respectively, the first arm and the second arm engageable with the first and second channels, respectively, to releasably secure the intervertebral spacer to the bone stabilization member; 
   a first bone screw extendable through the first bone screw opening to secure the bone stabilization member to the first vertebra;   a second bone screw extendable through the second bone screw opening to secure the bone stabilization member to the second vertebra;   a retention member coupleable to the bone stabilization member and including a retention opening, the retention member movable between a first position and a second position to retain the first and second bone screws in the stabilization member when the retention member is in the second position; and   a locking member insertable through the retention opening and into the locking bore of the bone stabilization member to secure the retention member in the second position.   
     
     
         29 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second channels each include first and second notches, respectively. 
     
     
         30 . The spinal implant of  claim 29 , wherein the first and second arms include first and second tangs, respectively, engageable with the first and second notches, respectively, to interlock the bone stabilization member with the intervertebral spacer. 
     
     
         31 . The spinal implant of  claim 30 , wherein the first and second tangs are flexibly deflectable relative to the first and second arms, respectively. 
     
     
         32 . The spinal implant of  claim 31 , wherein the first and second tangs are deflectable outward as the first and second arms engage the first and second channels and the first and second tangs return to an equilibrium position as the tangs engage in the notches. 
     
     
         33 . The spinal implant of  claim 32 , wherein the locking member further comprises a screw configured to move the retention member between the first position and the second position as the screw is inserted into the locking bore. 
     
     
         34 . The spinal implant of  claim 28 , wherein the retention member allows the first and second bone screws to be received through the first and second bone screw openings, respectively, when the retention member is in the first position, and the retention member prevents the first and second bone screws from exiting the first and second bone screw openings, respectively, when the retention member is in the second position. 
     
     
         35 . An implant securable to vertebral bodies, the implant comprising:
 an intervertebral spacer positionable between a first vertebra and a second vertebra, the intervertebral spacer including first and second channels disposed on first and second sides, respectively, of the intervertebral spacer;   a bone stabilization member comprising:
 a first bone screw opening and a second bone screw opening; 
 a locking bore; and 
 a first arm and a second arm disposed on first and second sides, respectively, of the bone stabilization member, the first arm and the second arm engageable with the first and second channels, respectively, to releasably secure the intervertebral spacer to the bone stabilization member; 
   a retention member coupleable to the bone stabilization member and including a retention opening, the retention member movable between a first position and a second position to retain bone screws in the stabilization member when the retention member is in the second position; and   a locking member insertable through the retention opening and into the locking bore of the bone stabilization member to secure the retention member in the second position.   
     
     
         36 . The spinal implant of  claim 35 , wherein the first and second channels each include first and second notches, respectively. 
     
     
         37 . The spinal implant of  claim 36 , wherein the first and second arms include first and second tangs, respectively, engageable with the first and second notches, respectively, to interlock the bone stabilization member with the intervertebral spacer. 
     
     
         38 . The spinal implant of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second tangs are flexibly deflectable relative to the first and second arms, respectively. 
     
     
         39 . The spinal implant of  claim 38 , wherein the first and second tangs are deflectable outward as the first and second arms engage the first and second channels and the first and second tangs return to an equilibrium position as the tangs engage in the notches. 
     
     
         40 . The spinal implant of  claim 35 , wherein the retention member allows the first and second bone screws to be received through the first and second bone screw openings, respectively, when the retention member is in the first position.