Orthopedic connector system
AssigneeAcumed LLC
InventorsDavid G. Jensen, Steven P. Horst
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
System, including methods, apparatus and components thereof, and kits, for connecting to bone using an anchor element configured to be anchored in bone and having a selectively bendable hinge region. In some embodiments, the system may connect the anchor element to connective tissue, a bridge member, and/or to another anchor element by bending the hinge region while the anchor element is disposed in bone, thereby connecting bone to the connective tissue or bridge member, and/or connecting bone members.
Claims20
An orthopedic connector device, comprising:
- an anchor element configured to be anchored in a bone and including a gripping structure and a predefined hinge region at which the anchor element is configured to be bent selectively to operate the gripping structure;
- and
- a bridge member,
- wherein the gripping structure is configured to receive at least a section of the bridge member and then grip the bridge member when the anchor element is selectively bent at the hinge region, to fasten the bone to the bridge member.
A device for connection of bone members, comprising:
- first and second anchor elements configured to be anchored in respective bone members, the first anchor element including jaws and a predefined hinge region at which the first anchor element is configured to be bent selectively to operate the jaws;
- and
- a bridge portion coupled to the second anchor element,
- wherein the jaws are configured to receive at least a section of the bridge portion and then grip the bridge portion when the first anchor element is selectively bent at the hinge region, to connect the first and second anchor elements via the bridge portion, thereby connecting the respective bone members in which the first and second anchor elements are anchored.
A method of fastening to bone, comprising:
- disposing an anchor element in a bone member, the anchor element including a gripping structure and a predefined hinge region at which the anchor element is configured to be bent selectively to operate the gripping structure;
- placing a section of a manufactured bridge member or of connective tissue in the gripping structure;
- and
- bending the anchor element selectively in the hinge region such that the gripping structure grips the bridge member or the connective tissue, thereby fastening the bone member to the bridge member or connective tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.