# US 2010/0168796 A1 · Bone anchoring member with clamp mechanism

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- Number: US 2010/0168796 A1
- Document ID: US20100168796A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/653,086
- Filed: 2009-12-08
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-07-29
- Inventors: Kenneth Arden Eliasen; Mark Ettlinger; Kamran Aflatoon
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100168796A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/7037: {wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped}
- A61B 17/7035: {Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other}
- A61B 17/705: {for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements}
- A61B 17/7005: {Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit in the screw or hook heads}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A pedicle screw for insertion into the pedicle portion of a vertebra and having at its exposed end a threaded rod connected in a generally parallel orientation to the longitudinal axis of the pedicle screw but laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the pedicle screw. The threaded rod may be secured directly to the screw but is preferable provided with a collar that is captured by an enlarged screw head to seat, orient and retain the threaded rod in position. A locking arm and retaining nut are provided over the threaded rod for affixing a spinal rod to the pedicle screw substantially over and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the screw. A yoke may be provided in the collar also to receive and secure the rod. An alternate cap and clamping elements enable the incorporation of cross links between multiple screws and/or rods.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anchoring member for attachment to a bone and retention of a rod, the anchoring member comprising:
a first shaft having a threaded first end for insertion into a vertebra and a second end;
a head affixed to the second end of said first shaft, the diameter of said head being greater than the diameter of the first shaft;
a second shaft affixed to the head so as to be substantially parallel to but laterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the first shaft;
a cap having a retaining arm and a collar, said collar adapted for receiving said second shaft; and
a nut for threaded engagement with said second shaft whereby said cap may be advanced down said second shaft to retain said rod positioned between said head and said retaining arm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The anchoring member of claim 1 further comprising a cup, said cup comprising
a body having a hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, said hole having a minimum diameter greater than the diameter of said first shaft and less than the diameter of said head such that said cup is captured at said second end of said first shaft when said first end is inserted through said hole; and
wherein said second shaft extends from said top surface of said cup.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The anchoring member of claim 2 wherein said head further comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses spaced around a circumference of said head; and
wherein the surface of said body within said hole comprises an annular tapered region wherein the diameter tapers to said minimum diameter such that said head engages said tapered region at said circumference;
whereby said tapered region is deformed into said recesses when compressed against said head.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The anchoring member of claim 3 wherein said tapered region is tapered at an angle of from 18-22 degrees.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The anchoring member of claim 2 further comprising a yoke in said hole of said cup, said yoke having a concave upper surface for engaging said rod and a concave lower surface for engaging said head.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The anchoring member of claim 5 wherein said head further comprises a plurality of longitudinal recesses spaced around a circumference of said head; and
wherein said concave lower surface of said yoke comprises a peripheral annular tapered region such that said head engages said tapered region at said circumference;
whereby said tapered region is deformed into said recesses when compressed against said head.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The anchoring member of claim 6 wherein said tapered region is tapered at an angle of from −36-40 degrees.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The anchoring member of claim 5 wherein said concave upper surface of said yoke comprises
a peripheral tapered region at each longitudinal edge such that said tapered region engages said rod;
whereby said tapered region is deformed when compressed against said rod.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The anchoring member of claim 8 wherein said tapered region is tapered at an angle of from 36-40 degrees.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The anchoring member of claim 1 wherein said cap receives said second shaft through a non-round hole in said collar, said shaft having a cooperative non-round cross-section for positive alignment of the said cap with said rod.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The anchoring member of claim 1 wherein said retaining arm has a concave lower surface for engaging said rod.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The anchoring member of claim 11 wherein said concave lower surface of said retaining arm comprises a peripheral tapered region at each longitudinal edge such that said tapered region engages said rod;
whereby said tapered region is deformed when compressed against said rod.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The anchoring member of claim 12 wherein said tapered region is tapered at an angle of from 36-40 degrees.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The anchoring member of claim 2 wherein said cup further comprises at least one counter bore extending from an outside surface of said body to an inside surface of said hole.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The anchoring member of claim 14 wherein said retaining arm of said cap further comprises a semispherical recess for receiving a ball end of a cross-link and at least one though-hole extending from a lower surface of said cap to an upper surface of said cap; and
wherein said anchoring member further comprises
a clamping member engaging said at least one counter bore of said cup and having at least one threaded distal arm extending though said through-hole of said cap,
a locking plate having at least one aperture for receiving said at least one threaded distal arm, and
at least one nut for threaded engagement with said at least one threaded distal arm of said clamping member whereby said locking plate may be advanced down said clamping member to retain said ball end positioned in said recess.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The anchoring member of claim 15 wherein said at least one though-hole extending from a lower surface of said cap to an upper surface of said cap comprises two through-holes; and
wherein said clamping member comprises a U shaped clamp having a proximal base joining a first threaded distal arm and a second threaded distal arm, said first threaded distal arm extending through a first of said two through-holes of said cap and said second threaded distal arm extending through a second of said two though-holes.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The anchoring member of claim 16 wherein
said first threaded distal arm and a second threaded distal arm of said U shaped clamp are substantially parallel and have cooperatively threaded opposing inner surfaces; and
wherein said at least one nut is a single externally threaded nut for engagement between first threaded distal arm and a second threaded distal arm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The anchoring member of claim 15 wherein said locking plate further defines at least one internal void for rotatably containing said at least one nut.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The anchoring member of claim 15 wherein said clamping member further comprises a pin engaging said at least one counter bore of said cup by friction fit.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The anchoring member of claim 15 wherein said clamping member is inclined from the vertical plane through said rod from 20° and 35°.

### Claim 21

A spinal cross-link connector for joining two cross-link rods comprising
a U shaped clamp having a proximal base joining a first threaded distal arm and second threaded distal arm extending there from in a parallel fashion;
an upper locking plate in sliding engagement between said first and second distal arms;
an intermediate locking plate in sliding engagement between said first and second distal arms comprising a first detent on an upper surface extending toward said upper locking plate and a second detent on a lower surface extending toward said base;
at least one nut for threaded engagement with at least one of said first threaded distal arm and said second threaded distal arm;
whereby said upper locking plate may be advanced toward said base by said nut to compress said medial locking plate between a first cross-link rod positioned between said upper and medial locking plates and a second cross-link rod positioned between said base and said medial locking plate such that said first and second detents engage said first and second cross-link rods respectively.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The spinal cross-link connector of claim 21 wherein said at least one nut is a single nut externally threaded nut; and
wherein said first and second threaded distal arms are each cooperatively threaded on an opposing surface to engage said externally threaded nut there between.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The spinal cross-link connector of claim 21 wherein said upper locking plate further defines at least one internal void for rotatably containing said at least one nut.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The spinal cross-link connector of claim 22 wherein said upper locking plate further defines an internal void for rotatably containing said nut.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The spinal cross-link connector of claim 22 further comprising a first indent formed in a surface of said first cross-link rod and a second indent formed in a surface of said second cross-link rod.