Vertebral clamp
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorThomas A. Duff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vertebral clamp adapted to control the spatial relationship between two vertebrae by attachment to the laminae thereof. The vertebral clamp includes a longitudinally extending body divided into first and second halves. The halves are fastened together by fastening means that allow for adjustment of the length of the body. Two laminar clamps are attached to the body, one at each end thereof. Each laminar clamp is adapted to rigidly and securely clamp from opposed sides to a lamina of one of the vertebrae with the other laminar clamp similarly clamped to a lamina of the other vertebra.
Claims12
A vertebral clamp adapted to control the spatial relationship between two vertebrae by attachment to the laminae thereof comprising:
- (a) a longitudinally extended body having ends, the body being divided into a first half and a second half and having fastening means for adjusting the length of the body and fastening the first and second halves together;
- and
- (b) two laminar clamps, one attached to each end of the body, each laminar clamp having means to rigidly and securely clamp to a lamina of one of the vertebrae with the other laminar clamp similarly clamped to a lamina of the other vertebra, each laminar clamp including
- (i) a hook attachment member adjustably attached to an end of the body and adapted to be adjusted in its angular orientation thereto, the hook attachment member having a threaded hole extending therethrough;
- (ii) at least two hooks pivotably mounted on the hook attachment member at a point of attachment thereto, each hook curving generally toward an opposing hook to form a hook floor presented toward the point of attachment such that a line drawn from a selected location on the hook floor to the point of attachment is normal to the hook floor, whereupon a vertebral lamina may be held between the opposing hooks with a reduced tendency to be released by the hooks as a consequence of pressure exerted by the lamina in a direction away from the hook attachment member;
- and
- (iii) a clamping screw threadedly engaged in the threaded hole of the hook attachment member and adapted to be turned down onto and pressed against a vertebral lamina held between the hooks to securely and rigidly hold the lamina within the laminar clamp.
A vertebral clamp adapted to control the spatial relationship between two vertebrae by attachment to the laminae thereof comprising:
- (a) a longitudinally extended body having ends, the body being divided into a first half and a second half and having fastening means for adjusting the length of the body and fastening the first and second halves together, the fastening means including means to align the longitudinal axes of the first and second halves of the body and leave them free to be turned relative to each other about their longitudinal axes to facilitate surgical attachment of the clamp to the vertebrae;
- and
- (b) two laminar clamps, one attached to each end of the body, each laminar clamp having means to rigidly and securely clamp to a lamina of one of the vertebrae with the other laminar clamp similarly clamped to a lamina of the other vertebra, each laminar clamp including
- (i) a hook attachment member adjustably attached to an end of the body and adapted to be adjusted in its angular orientation thereto, the hook attachment member having a threaded hole extending therethrough;
- (ii) at least two hooks pivotably mounted on the hook attachment member at a point of attachment thereto, each hook curving generally toward an opposing hook to form a hook floor presented toward the point of attachment such that a line drawn from a selected location on the hook floor to the point of attachment is normal to the hook floor, whereupon a vertebral lamina may be held between the opposing hooks woth a reduced tendency to be released by the hooks as a consequence of pressure exerted by the lamina in a direction away from the hook attachment member;
- and
- (iii) a clamping screw threadedly engaged in the threaded hole of the hook attachment member and adapted to be turned down onto the pressed against a vertebral lamina held between the hooks to securely and rigidly hold the lamina within the laminar clamp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.