US 12,263,096 B2
Zero-profile interbody spacer and coupled plate assembly
William P. McDonough, Collegeville, PA (US); William L. Strausbaugh, Myerstown, PA (US); Christopher Bonner, Downingtown, PA (US); Thomas Pepe, West Chester, PA (US); Ralph Meili, Muttenz (CH); Markus Hunziker, Aaru (CH); Michael Jeger, Thernen (CH); Thomas Kueenzi, Magden (CH); David Koch, North Logan, UT (US); Rainer Ponzer, Himmelreid (CH); Joern Richter, Kandern (DE); and Roger Berger, Büren (CH)
Assigned to DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed by DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/190,215.
Application 18/190,215 is a continuation of application No. 16/558,670, filed on Sep. 3, 2019, granted, now 11,612,492.
Application 16/558,670 is a continuation of application No. 15/217,198, filed on Jul. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,433,976, issued on Oct. 8, 2019.
Application 15/217,198 is a continuation of application No. 14/689,614, filed on Apr. 17, 2015, granted, now 9,414,935, issued on Aug. 16, 2016.
Application 14/689,614 is a continuation of application No. 12/613,866, filed on Nov. 6, 2009, granted, now 9,192,419, issued on Nov. 24, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/139,920, filed on Dec. 22, 2008.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/112,441, filed on Nov. 7, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2023/0233336 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/44 (2006.01); A61B 17/17 (2006.01); A61B 17/80 (2006.01); A61B 17/86 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61F 2/46 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/4455 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1728 (2013.01); A61B 17/1757 (2013.01); A61B 17/8033 (2013.01); A61B 17/8042 (2013.01); A61B 17/8052 (2013.01); A61B 17/8057 (2013.01); A61B 17/86 (2013.01); A61B 17/88 (2013.01); A61F 2/4465 (2013.01); A61F 2/4611 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30387 (2013.01); A61F 2002/305 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30505 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30507 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30517 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30576 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30593 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30604 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30787 (2013.01); A61F 2002/3079 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30841 (2013.01); A61F 2/30965 (2013.01); A61F 2002/448 (2013.01); A61F 2002/4615 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0016 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0025 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0034 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00017 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00023 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00029 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00131 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00407 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00796 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for inserting an intervertebral implant into an intervertebral disc space between superior and inferior vertebral bodies, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting the intervertebral implant into the intervertebral disc space, the intervertebral implant including a spacer portion and a plate portion coupled to the spacer portion;
driving first and second bone fixation elements along respective first and second insertion directions through first and second bone fixation holes, respectively, of the plate portion and into the superior and inferior, respectively, vertebral bodies; and
preventing the first bone fixation element from backing out of the first bone fixation hole along a first back-out direction that is opposite the first insertion direction, wherein the preventing step comprises aligning a flat inner surface of a first spring biased snapper element with the first bone fixation element along the first back-out direction,
wherein the first spring biased snapper element has a tapered outer surface opposite the flat inner surface.