SPINE PLATE WITH BONE SCREW RELIEF AREA

摘要

A spine plate (10) defines a body (12) having a posterior surface or side (15) and an anterior surface or side (13). The body (12) also has a pair of bone screw bores (34, 36; 50, 52; 60, 62) for each vertebra to which the spine plate (10) will be attached. The bone screw bores (34, 36; 50, 52; 60, 62) extend between the posterior side (15) and the anterior side (13). A relief area (38; 54; 64) is provided between each pair of bone screw bores (34, 36; 50, 52; 60, 62) in the anterior surface (13) of the body (12). The relief area (38; 54; 64) opens to both bone screw bores (34, 36; 50, 52; 60, 62) to allow displacement of the bone screw when entering the respective bone screw bore. The relief area (38; 54; 64) also opens to both bone screw bores (34, 36; 50, 52; 60, 62) to permit an instrument to be received therein to remove a bone screw from one of the bone screw bores.