Standalone anterior lumber interbody spacer

Abstract

Disclosed is a standalone anterior lumbar interbody spacer that includes a lumbar spacer body and lumbar plate with a unique locking system to rigidly couple the spacer body and plate via a spring loaded lock tab.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular interbody spacer for placement between adjacent vertebrae comprising:
 a spacer body having upper and lower vertebrae engagement surfaces and a vertical slot from the upper surface with a bore or hole;   a locking system slidable within the bore or hole; and   a fixation plate having upper and lower bone vertebrae surfaces and a protrusion configured to slidably insert in the vertical slot in a vertical direction and engage the locking system, the locking system being configured to lock the fixation plate to the spacer body in a completely joined position.   
     
     
         2 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the locking system includes a spring loaded lock tab. 
     
     
         3 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusion includes a first portion configured to compress the spring loaded lock tab during the vertical insertion, and a second portion configured to lock the spring loaded lock tab when the fixation plate and spacer body are in the completely joined position. 
     
     
         4 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the protrusion includes an inclined or ramped portion configured to engage and move the spring loaded lock tab inward in the bore or hole. 
     
     
         5 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 3 , wherein the second portion of the protrusion includes a tab engagement recess configured to engage and allow the spring loaded lock tab to move outward from the bore and lock the spring loaded lock tab. 
     
     
         6 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the locking system is configured to provide an audible click when the fixation plate is locked to the spacer body. 
     
     
         7 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the fixation plate includes a hole configured to receive a disassembly tool to disengage the locking system and unlock the fixation plate from the spacer body. 
     
     
         8 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical slot is position on a proximal end of the spacer plate and the protrusion is positioned on a distal end of the fixation plate. 
     
     
         9 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 1 , wherein the fixation plate includes one or more fastener holes on a proximal end sized to receive a bone engagement fastener to attach the fixation plate to:
 the vertebra above or below the spacer body, or   both the vertebra above and below the spacer body.   
     
     
         10 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 10 , wherein the fixation plate includes bone screw locking features configured to cover a portion of the fastener holes to prevent the bones screws from withdrawing from the fastener holes. 
     
     
         11 . A modular interbody spacer for placement between adjacent vertebrae comprising:
 a spacer body having upper and lower vertebrae engagement surfaces and a vertical slot from the upper surface with a bore or hole;   a spring loaded lock tab and a spring slidable within the bore or hole; and   a fixation plate having upper and lower bone vertebrae surfaces and a protrusion configured to slidably insert in the vertical slot in a vertical direction and engage the spring loaded lock tab and spring, the spring loaded lock tab and spring being configured to lock the fixation plate to the spacer body in a completely joined position.   
     
     
         12 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 11 , wherein the vertical slot is position on a proximal end of the spacer plate and the protrusion is positioned on a distal end of the fixation plate. 
     
     
         13 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 11 , wherein the protrusion includes a first portion configured to compress the spring loaded lock tab during the vertical insertion, and a second portion configured to lock the spring loaded lock tab when the fixation plate and spacer body are in the completely joined position. 
     
     
         14 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the protrusion includes an inclined or ramped portion configured to engage and move the spring loaded lock tab and spring inward in the bore or hole. 
     
     
         15 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 13 , wherein the second portion of the protrusion includes a tab engagement recess configured to engage and allow the spring loaded lock tab and spring to move outward from the bore and lock the spring loaded lock tab. 
     
     
         16 . A modular interbody spacer for placement between adjacent vertebrae comprising:
 a spacer body having a vertical slot with a bore or hole;   a locking system slidable within the bore or hole; and   a fixation plate having a protrusion configured to slidably insert vertically in the vertical slot and engage the locking system, the locking system configured to lock the fixation plate to the spacer body in a joined position.   
     
     
         17 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 16 , wherein the spacer body includes upper and lower vertebrae engagement surfaces, and the fixation plate includes upper and lower bone vertebrae surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The modular interbody spacer of claim  18 , wherein the fixation plate includes at least one fastener hole tilted at an upward angle so that a bone screw engages the vertebra above the modular interbody spacer, and at least one fastener hole tilted at a downward angle so that a bone screw engages the vertebra below the modular interbody spacer. 
     
     
         20 . The modular interbody spacer of  claim 19 , wherein the fixation plate includes bone screw locking features configured to cover a portion of the fastener holes to prevent the bones screws from withdrawing from the fastener holes.