Device for securing spinal rods
AssigneeHowmedica Osteonics Corp.
InventorsHansen Yuan, David Nichols, Eric Finley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device is disclosed for securing a spinal rod to the spine which includes a head portion configured to receive a spinal rod, a locking cap configured to engage the head portion and the spinal rod upon rotation of the locking cap relative to the head portion to secure the position of the head portion relative to the spinal rod, and a fastener portion depending from the head portion and configured to engage the spine.
Claims42
A device for securing a spinal rod to the spine, comprising:
- a) a head portion arranged to receive a spinal rod;
- b) a locking cap arranged to engage the head portion and the spinal rod and defining a predetermined unlocked position, a predetermined intermediate position, and a predetermined locked position with respect to the head portion;
- and
- c) a fastener portion for engaging the spine.
A device for securing a spinal rod to the spine, comprising:
- a) a head portion arranged to receive a spinal rod, the head portion defining a vertical axis;
- b) a locking cap arranged to engage the head portion and the spinal rod and having a predetermined locked position with respect to the vertical axis of the head portion, the position of the head portion with respect to the spinal rod being secured in the locked position;
- and
- c) a fastener portion for engaging the spine.
A method of securing a spinal rod, comprising:
- a) rotating a locking cap to an intermediate position with respect to a head portion of a device for securing the spinal rod to a spine, the locking cap being partially engaged with the head portion and partially engaged with the spinal rod;
- and
- b) after the step of rotating, moving the spinal rod and the head portion with respect to one another.
A method of providing a variable-position locking cap in a device for securing a spinal rod to a spine, in which the device includes a head portion arranged toreceive the spinal rod connected to a fastener portion for engaging the spine, and a locking cap having an unlocked position, an intermediate position, and a locked position, arranged to engage the head portion and the spinal rod in the intermediate and locked positions, the method comprising rotating the locking cap from an intermediate position to an unlocked position and then positioning the spinal rod to a desired position with respect to the spine while the locking cap is in the unlocked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.