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US 12,714,474 B2Granted
Rod to rod connector implant
AssigneeGlobus Medical, Inc.
InventorAlexandru Balus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rod-to-rod connector implant is disclosed herein, the rod-to-rod connector implant being configured for joining a first rod and a second rod in a spinal fixation procedure. In various embodiments, disclosed herein are the rod-to-rod connector implant; a spinal fixation system comprising such a rod-to-rod connector implant, a first rod, and a second rod to be joined or coupled to the first rod by the connector implant; a method of inserting a rod-to-rod connector implant; and a kit comprising a rod-to-rod connector implant and a pair of forceps configured for use in inserting the connector implant into a patient.
Claims20
A rod-to-rod connector implant for joining a first rod and a second rod, the implant comprising:
- a connector body including:
- a first rod channel and a second rod channel, wherein the first rod channel opens to a lower side of the connector body and the second rod channel opens to an upper side opposite the lower side of the connector body, such that a first rod enters the first rod channel from the lower side and a second rod enters the second rod channel from the upper side, and wherein the first rod channel is laterally offset from the second rod channel;
- and
- a recess spanning between the first rod channel and the second rod channel through the connector body;
- a locking member pivotably coupled to the connector body via a pin, the pin located closer to the upper side of the connector body than the lower side of the connector body, the locking member being located at least partially within the recess and extending into the first rod channel and the second rod channel, wherein the second rod channel is configured to receive the second rod such that the second rod is seated on a contact surface of the locking member;
- and
- a closure member configured to be inserted from the upper side to engage a socket in the second rod channel,
- wherein in a locked position, the closure member acts as a single locking mechanism for retaining the first rod in the first rod channel and the second rod in the second rod channel.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first rod;
- a second rod;
- and
- a rod-to-rod connector implant coupling the first rod to the second rod, the connector implant comprising:
- a connector body including:
- a first rod channel and a second rod channel, wherein the first rod channel opens to a lower side of the connector body and the second rod channel opens to an upper side opposite the lower side of the connector body, such that the first rod enters the first rod channel from the lower side and the second rod enters the second rod channel from the upper side, and wherein the first rod channel is laterally offset from the second rod channel;
- and
- a recess spanning between the first rod channel and the second rod channel through the connector body;
- a locking member pivotably coupled to the connector body via a pin, the pin located closer to the upper side of the connector body than the lower side of the connector body, the locking member being located at least partially within the recess and extending into the first rod channel and the second rod channel, wherein the second rod channel is configured to receive a second rod such that the second rod is seated on a contact surface of the locking member;
- and
- a closure member configured to be inserted from the upper side to engage a socket in the second rod channel,
- wherein in a locked position, the closure member acts as a single locking mechanism for retaining the first rod in the first rod channel and the second rod in the second rod channel.
9 more elements
A method of inserting a rod-to-rod connector implant, comprising:
- providing a rod-to-rod connector implant including:
- a connector body having a first rod channel and a second rod channel, wherein the first rod channel opens to a lower side of the connector body and the second rod channel opens to an upper side opposite the lower side of the connector body, such that a first rod enters the first rod channel from the lower side and a second rod enters the second rod channel from the upper side, and wherein the first rod channel is laterally offset from the second rod channel;
- and
- a recess spanning between the first rod channel and the second rod channel through the connector body;
- a locking member pivotably coupled to the connector body, the locking member being located at least partially within the recess and extending into the first rod channel and the second rod channel;
- and
- a closure member for engaging a socket in the second rod channel;
- using forceps, inserting the connector body onto a first rod such that the first rod is disposed within the first rod channel, wherein the first rod is fixed in position in a patient,
- inserting a second rod into the second rod channel from the opposing side of the connector body,
- with the second rod, contacting a second rod contact surface of the locking member, and actuating movement of the locking member at least partially out of the second rod channel such that the first rod locking surface extends into the first rod channel, thereby retaining the first rod within the first rod channel;
- and
- inserting the closure member through the upper side and into the socket to lock the rod-to-rod connector implant onto the first and the second rods, with a single locking mechanism.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.