Spinal fixation plates

Abstract

Spinal fixation plates for maintaining adjacent vertebrae in and fixed position are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the plate includes opposed superior and inferior portions that are angled in a direction anterior to an anterior face of a mid-portion of the plate. The plate also includes a curvature formed therein about a longitudinal axis in a sagittal plane thereof. In use, when the plate is attached to adjacent vertebrae, the angle of the superior and inferior portions and the curvature in the plate are effective to position one or more thru-bores formed in the superior and inferior portions at the anterior rims of the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a spinal fixation plate is provided that is adapted to engage and mate to a fusion cage or other vertebral implant disposed between adjacent vertebra. The present invention also provides spinal fixation kits or assemblies, and methods for implanting the same.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A spinal implant assembly, comprising:
 a fusion cage having a first face, a second face, a superior face, and an inferior face, the fusion cage being configured to be positioned between adjacent vertebrae such that at least a portion of the superior face contacts an endplate of a superior vertebra and at least a portion of the inferior face contacts an endplate of an inferior vertebra, the superior face of the fusion cage having a first recess formed therein and the inferior face of the fusion cage having a second recess formed therein;   a plate having:
 a first face and a second face, 
 a central opening disposed substantially at a center of the plate, and 
 first and second arms extending outward from the second face of the plate, the first and second arms being configured to slidably mate with the fusion cage, the first arm being received in the first recess of the fusion cage and the second arm being received in the second recess of the fusion cage; and 
   a screw that is received in the central opening of the plate.   
     
     
         16 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 15 , wherein, when the first and second arms are received in the first and second recesses, the first and second arms engage the fusion cage. 
     
     
         17 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second arms are configured to engage the fusion cage such that the plate does not move relative to the fusion cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second face of the plate. 
     
     
         18 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the superior and inferior faces of the fusion cage include bone engaging surface features formed thereon. 
     
     
         19 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second arms extend substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         20 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first arm is positioned superior to the second arm. 
     
     
         21 . A spinal implant assembly, comprising:
 a fusion cage configured to be positioned between adjacent vertebrae and having a superior face having a first indentation formed therein and an inferior face having a second indentation formed therein; and   a plate having:
 opposed first and second surfaces, 
 a central opening extending through the plate, 
 a first arm extending outward from the second surface of the plate, the first arm having a first protrusion extending therefrom that is configured to engage the first indentation formed in the fusion cage, and 
 a second arm extending outward from the second surface of the plate, the second arm having a second protrusion extending therefrom that is configured to engage the second indentation in the fusion cage. 
   
     
     
         22 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second arms are configured to slide relative to the fusion cage. 
     
     
         23 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second arms extend substantially perpendicular to the second surface of the plate. 
     
     
         24 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the first and second arms extend substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         25 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the first protrusion is formed on an inferior surface of the first arm and the second protrusion is formed on a superior surface of the second arm. 
     
     
         26 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the first arm is contoured to a shape of the superior face of the fusion cage and the second arm is contoured to a shape of the inferior face of the fusion cage. 
     
     
         27 . A spinal implant assembly, comprising:
 a fusion cage having a superior surface with a first elongate groove formed therein and an inferior surface with a second elongate groove formed therein;   a plate having a first arm that includes a first engagement element configured to be received in the first elongate groove of the fusion cage, a second arm that includes a second engagement element configured to be received in the second elongate groove of the fusion cage, and an opening positioned along a horizontal longitudinal axis of the plate; and   a screw received in the opening of the plate.   
     
     
         28 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 27 , wherein when the first engagement element extends into the first groove, the first arm is substantially flush with the superior surface of the fusion cage and when the second engagement element extends into the second groove, the second arm is substantially flush with the inferior surface of the fusion cage. 
     
     
         29 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second engagement elements and the first and second elongate grooves prevent the plate from moving relative to the fusion cage in a direction substantially perpendicular to a first face of the plate. 
     
     
         30 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the opening in the plate includes threads and the screw includes a threaded shank that mates with the threads in the opening. 
     
     
         31 . The spinal implant assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second engagement elements comprise first and second protrusions that extend from the first and second arms.