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US 10,368,915 B2Granted
Press-on pedicle screw assembly
OwnerMichael D. Ensign, David T. Hawkesinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tulip assembly configured to be coupled to a screw head having a first diameter includes a housing, wherein the housing defines an inner diameter configured to engage the first diameter of the screw head. The exemplary inner diameter of the housing being smaller than the first diameter of the screw head.
Claims18
An implant assembly configured to be coupled to and extend between heads of two pedicle screws, each pedicle screw comprising a head having a head diameter and an elongate threaded portion coupled to and extending from the head, the implant assembly comprising:
- a first tulip assembly having a first cylindrical bore extending into the first tulip assembly, the first cylindrical bore having a first inner diameter defined by an inner wall of the first tulip assembly, the first inner diameter being smaller than the head diameter of the pedicle screws;
- a second tulip assembly having a first cylindrical bore extending into the second tulip assembly, the first cylindrical bore having a first inner diameter defined by an inner wall of the second tulip assembly, the first inner diameter being smaller than the head diameter of the pedicle screws;
- and
- a rod permanently connected to and extending between the first tulip assembly and the second tulip assembly;
- wherein the first tulip assembly, the second tulip assembly, and the rod are permanently coupled prior to coupling of the implant assembly to the two pedicle screws.
2 more elements
An implant assembly comprising:
- a pedicle screw comprising a head having a head diameter and an elongate threaded portion coupled to and extending from the head;
- a first tulip assembly and a second tulip assembly, each tulip assembly comprising:
- a housing defining an engagement orifice and a bore extending into the housing from the engagement orifice, the engagement orifice and the bore having a fixed shape and an inner diameter that is smaller than the head diameter of the pedicle screw;
- wherein head-first introduction of the head of the pedicle screw through the engagement orifice and into the bore with the screw head in the bore creates a compression fit between the housing and the head of the pedicle screw due to the head diameter of the pedicle screw being larger than the inner diameter of the engagement orifice and the bore;
- and
- a rod connected to and extending between the first tulip assembly and the second tulip assembly, wherein the rod is permanently coupled to the two tulip assemblies prior to implantation of the implant assembly by introduction of the pedicle screw into the cylindrical bore of either tulip assembly.
3 more elements
A method for affixing a press-on pedicle screw assembly to a spine, comprising:
- inserting a first pedicle screw having a head portion with a head diameter into a first desired bone of a patient's spine;
- inserting a second pedicle screw having a head portion with a head diameter into a second desired bone of a patient's spine;
- after the first and second pedicle screws are inserted into the bones of the patient's spine, guiding a tulip assembly having a housing defining an engagement orifice and a bore extending into the housing from the engagement orifice, the engagement orifice and the bore having a fixed shape and an inner diameter defined by an inner wall of the housing that is smaller than the head diameter of the pedicle screws, until the engagement orifice is proximate the head portion of the first pedicle screw;
- and
- applying a force between the first pedicle screw and the tulip assembly whereby the head portion of the pedicle screw is drawn into the bore of the tulip assembly, thereby creating a compression fit between the inner wall of the housing and the head of the pedicle screw due to the head diameter of the pedicle screw being larger than the inner diameter of the engagement orifice and the bore;
- wherein the tulip assembly is a first tulip assembly of an implant assembly comprising two tulip assemblies connected together by a rod, the connection of the two tulip assemblies to the rod occurring before engaging either tulip assembly to the first pedicle screw.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.