Adjustable fixation device
AssigneePioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
InventorsGregory Berrevoets, Frankie Morris, Frederick E. Finger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulated fixation device is provided having a high degree of adjustability for securing a plate member thereof to a skull and at least one spinal rod thereof to a vertebral bone. In one form, an adjustable bridge member is provided that is adjustably connected to both the plate member and the spinal rod. The adjustable connections can include an upper and rearward pivot connection between the plate member and the bridge member and a lower and forward pivot connection between the spinal rod and the bridge member.
Claims7
A method of fixing an articulated fixation device to a patient, comprising:
- securing a plate member to the patient's skull;
- selecting one of a plurality of bridge members having a longitudinal axis, wherein each of the plurality of bridge members has a different size or configuration for accommodating different patients;
- forming a first adjustable connection between the plate member and the one bridge member to allow for relative pivoting therebetween about a first lateral pivot axis extending in the lateral direction transverse to the one bridge member longitudinal axis;
- forming a second adjustable connection between the one bridge member and a rod coupling device to allow for relative pivoting therebetween about a second lateral pivot axis extending in the lateral direction transverse to the one bridge member longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the first lateral pivot axis and longitudinally spaced therefrom;
- and
- fixing the plate member and the one bridge member to each other against pivoting about the first lateral pivot axis at the first adjustable connection by applying a clamping force in a direction aligned with portions of the plate member and the bridge member to be clamped together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.