Apparatus and method for maintaining vertebrae in a desired relationship
AssigneeAcroMed Corporation
InventorArthur D. Steffee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method is provided to maintain vertebrae in a desired relationship. The apparatus includes a rod, a plurality of clamps, and a plurality of fastener assemblies. The method involves inserting threaded members into openings in a displaced vertebra and at least one vertebra on each side of the displaced vertebra. A clamp is placed on each fastener. The rod is bent to correspond to a desired spinal curvature and inserted into the clamps. A nut is tightened on each threaded member to hold the clamp to each vertebra and to press the clamp against the rod to hold the rod against axial and rotational movement.
Claims8
An apparatus for maintaining vertebrae in a desired relationship, said apparatus comprising:
- a rod, said rod being deformable to a configuration which is a function of a desired curvature of a spine, said rod having a sufficient length and rigidity to maintain at least three adjacent vertebra in the desired relationship;
- clamp means for gripping a portion of said rod, said clamp means having a clamp portion which includes inner surfaces which circumscribe said rod, said clamp means also having a base portion projecting outwardly from one side of said clamp portion, said base portion includes surface means defining an opening which is offset to one side of said rod;
- and
- fastener means for securing said clamp means to a vertebra and for pressing said inner surfaces of said clamp means against an outer side surface of said rod to hold said rod against axial and rotational movement relative to said clamp means, said fastener means including an externally threaded member extending through the opening in said base portion and having a central axis extending transversely to a central axis of said rod, said externally threaded member including first thread means for engaging a vertebra disposed on a first side of said clamp means, second thread means extending outwardly of a second side of said clamp means, and internally threaded means for engaging said second thread means and applying force against said clamp means to press said clamp means against the vertebra engaged by said first thread means.
A method of maintaining vertebrae in a desired relationship, said method comprising:
- drilling at least one opening in a displaced vertebra;
- drilling an opening in a vertebra disposed on a first side of the displaced vertebra;
- drilling an opening in a vertebra and disposed on a second side of the displaced vertebra;
- threading fasteners into the openings in the vertebrae;
- placing base portions of clamps onto the fasteners;
- bending at least one rod to a curvature corresponding to the desired relationship of the vertebrae;
- inserting the bent rod into the clamps while maintaining the curvature of the rod constant;
- and
- holding the rod against axial and rotational movement by tightening the clamps to grip the rod while maintaining the curvature of the rod constant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.