# US 2010/0160970 A1 · Anchoring device for posteriorly attaching adjacent verterbrae

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- Number: US 2010/0160970 A1
- Document ID: US20100160970A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/520,574
- Filed: 2007-12-26
- Published: 2010-06-24
- Earliest claimed: 2006-12-22
- Assignees: Lers Surgical, LLC
- Inventors: Lionel C. Sevrain
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100160970A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/7032: {Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass}
- A61B 17/683: {comprising bone transfixation elements, e.g. bolt with a distal cooperating element such as a nut}
- A61B 17/7064: {Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor}
- A61B 17/7047: {Clamps comprising opposed elements which grasp one vertebra between them}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An anchoring device for attaching an upper vertebra adjacent to a lower vertebra comprises a clamp having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, adapted to be positioned around upper and lower lateral masses of the adjacent vertebrae, and a fastener which in an installed position engages opposite ends of the clamp and which engages adjacent vertebrae thereby attaching the adjacent vertebrae together.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anchoring device for attaching an upper vertebra adjacent to a lower vertebra comprising, in combination:
a clamp having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, adapted to be positioned around upper and lower lateral masses of the adjacent vertebrae; and
a fastener which in an installed position engages opposite ends of the clamp and which engages adjacent vertebrae thereby attaching the adjacent vertebrae together.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the clamp has an opening at a first end and an opening at a second end, and the clamp holes are each one of threaded and unthreaded.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The anchoring device of claim 2, wherein the opening is formed as a pocket at the second end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the screw extends trans-articularly between adjacent vertebrae.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 further comprising an installation tool for use with the anchoring device, wherein the installation tool comprises a handle and a clamp-holding head adapted to retain the clamp until the clamp has been secured to the lateral masses by the fastener.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The anchoring device of claim 5 wherein the installation tool further comprises a bend between the handle and the clamp-holding head, wherein the bend provides clearance around the vertebrae allowing the head to hold the clamp in the installed position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The anchoring device of claim 5 wherein the installation tool defines a bore aligned with the openings defined at the opposite ends of the clamp, wherein the bore allows the fastener to be inserted therein.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the clamp defines a pair of grooves adapted to receive an alignment tool, wherein the grooves are positioned generally adjacent a pair of ends of the clamp.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a polyaxial screw.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 further comprising multiple fasteners and a rod connecting the multiple fasteners together.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The anchoring device of claim 1 wherein the adjacent vertebrae form a spinal column, the fastener is a screw having a head and an end opposite the head, and in the installed position the end of the screw extends in a downward direction such that the head of the screw extends from the upper vertebrae and the screw end extends from the lower vertebrae.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The anchoring device of claim 11 wherein each vertebrae has a spinous process and the screw is inserted into the upper vertebrae at an angle extending outwardly away from the spinous process.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The anchoring device of claim 11 wherein the spinal column has a posterior side and an anterior side, a spinous process of each vertebrae is on the posterior side, and the screw is inserted forwardly into the upper vertebrae from the posterior side.