Bottom-loading bone anchor assemblies and methods
AssigneeMedos International Sarl
InventorsFrank Spratt, Thibault Chandanson, Ernest Quintanilha, Shawn D. Stad, Ralf Klabunde
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Bone anchor assemblies and methods are provided having a multi-component bone anchor that is configured to allow the shank of the bone anchor to be bottom loaded into a receiver member. In one embodiment, a bone anchor assembly is provided having a shank with a distal threaded portion and a proximal head portion, a ball having a spherical exterior surface and a central lumen sized to receive the head portion of the shank, and a clip configured to be engaged between the head portion and the ball such that the clip is effective to lock the ball in engagement with the shank.
Claims19
A bone anchor assembly, comprising:
- a single piece shank having a distal threaded portion and a proximal head portion;
- a tool receiving recess formed in the proximal head portion of the shank;
- a groove formed in the proximal head portion that intersects the tool receiving recess;
- and
- a clip configured to be disposed within the groove such that the clip bears against a driving tool in the tool receiving recess to retain the shank on the driving tool.
A method of assembling a bone anchor assembly, comprising:
- engaging a clip with a groove formed in a proximal head portion of a single piece shank, wherein the groove intersects a tool receiving recess formed in the proximal head portion;
- and
- inserting a driving tool into the tool receiving recess until the clip bears against the driving tool to retain the shank on the driving tool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.