SPINAL BUTTRESS DEVICE AND METHOD

摘要

A spinal buttress device for installation to the anterior of the spinal column. The device has a pair of opposed ends located adjacent the anterior of adjacent vertebrae with a flexible region therebetween. Either one or both of the ends of the device can be affixed to adjacent vertebrae or non-adjacent vertebrae and that affixation can be by screws passing through the device and into the vertebrae. The device is installed so as to span between the adjacent vertebrae and allow motion between those adjacent vertebrae. An example of the flexible region suitable for use in the device is a monolithic material having at least one slot formed therein. The dimensions of the slot, the cross section of the device and the material used to make the device, among other factors, enables the creation of a desired flexibility to the device. There is also a method of installing the device.