Decoupled spacer and plate and method of installing the same

Abstract

Intervertebral spacer assemblies, systems, and methods thereof. A method of insertion includes inserting an intervertebral spacer and plate together using an insertion tool and, upon removal of the insertion tool, the intervertebral spacer and plate are no longer considered connected/coupled and act as separate components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spacer assembly extending along a longitudinal axis, the assembly comprising:
 a spacer having:
 a body having a first lateral side extending on one side of the longitudinal axis and a second lateral side extending on an opposing side of the longitudinal axis, with an inner space formed between the first and second lateral sides and defining a graft chamber; 
 a prong receiver disposed on the first lateral side; and 
 a rod receiver disposed entirely within the second lateral side so as not to decrease the size of the graft chamber; 
   a plate having:
 a plate body configured to engage the spacer body; 
 a prong opening disposed on and extending through the plate body, and aligned with the prong receiver; and 
 a rod opening extending through the plate body and aligned with the rod receiver; 
   a holder having:
 a holder body having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to engage the plate, and a channel extending through the holder body; and 
 a prong extending distally from the distal end, the prong sized to extend through the prong opening and into the prong receiver; and 
 a rod having a distal end, the rod being sized to be inserted through the channel in the holder body, through the rod opening in the plate and into the rod receiver such that the distal end releasably engages the rod receiver without reducing the size of the graft chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plate body includes a pair of laterally spaced fingers adapted to respectively engage the first and second lateral sides of the spacer body. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each of the lateral sides includes a recess for receiving at least a portion of the respective finger. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plate body includes:
 first and second through-holes shaped for receiving fasteners for insertion into a first vertebral body;   a third through-hole disposed between the first and second through-holes and shaped for receiving a fastener for insertion into a second vertebral body adjacent to the first vertebral body.   
     
     
         5 . The spacer assembly of  claim 4 , further comprising first, second and third locking screws each arranged near a respective through-hole for preventing backout of the fastener. 
     
     
         6 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rod is constructed from an elastic metal. 
     
     
         7 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is constructed from an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being bonded to the upper portion. 
     
     
         8 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the prong receiver is open to the inner space. 
     
     
         9 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the rod receiver comprises a female threaded passage. 
     
     
         10 . The spacer assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the rod distal end comprises a male thread sized to threadingly engage the female threaded passage. 
     
     
         11 . The spacer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the prong is inserted into the prong receiver and when the rod distal end is inserted into the rod receiver, the spacer is releasably connected to the holder. 
     
     
         12 . A spacer assembly extending along a longitudinal axis, the assembly comprising:
 a spacer having:
 a body having a first lateral side extending on one side of the longitudinal axis and a second lateral side extending on an opposing side of the longitudinal axis, with an inner space formed between the first and second lateral sides and defining a graft chamber; 
 a prong recess disposed on the first lateral side; and 
 a rod recess disposed entirely within the second lateral side so as not to decrease the size of the graft chamber; 
   a plate having:
 a plate body configured to engage the spacer body; 
 first and second fingers adapted to engage the respective first and second lateral sides of the spacer body; 
 a prong opening disposed on and extending through the plate body, and aligned with the prong recess; and 
 a rod opening extending through the plate body and aligned with the rod recess; 
   a holder having:
 a holder body having a proximal end and a distal end adapted to engage the plate, and a channel extending through the holder body; and 
 a prong extending distally from the distal end, the prong sized to extend through the prong opening and into the prong recess; and 
 a rod having a distal end, the rod being sized to be inserted through the channel in the holder body, through the rod opening in the plate and into the rod recess such that the distal end releasably engages the rod recess without reducing the size of the graft chamber. 
   
     
     
         13 . The spacer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein each of the lateral sides includes a recess for receiving at least a portion of the respective finger. 
     
     
         14 . The spacer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the plate body includes:
 first and second through-holes shaped for receiving fasteners for insertion into a first vertebral body;   a third through-hole disposed between the first and second through-holes and shaped for receiving a fastener for insertion into a second vertebral body adjacent to the first vertebral body.   
     
     
         15 . The spacer assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising first, second and third locking screws each arranged near a respective through-hole for preventing backout of the fastener. 
     
     
         16 . The spacer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the rod is constructed from an elastic metal. 
     
     
         17 . The spacer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the holder is constructed from an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being bonded to the upper portion. 
     
     
         18 . The spacer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the prong recess is open to the inner space. 
     
     
         19 . The spacer assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the rod recess comprises a female threaded passage. 
     
     
         20 . The spacer assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the rod distal end comprises a male thread sized to threadingly engage the female threaded passage.