System and method for installing a spinal fixation system at variable angles
AssigneeAMEI Technologies Inc.
InventorErik J. Wagner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal fixation system is provided for installing spinal instrumentation (18) posterior to a patient's spine to fuse selected vertebrae. The spinal fixation system (10) includes a plurality of connectors (12) and associated bushings (16). The connectors (12) comprise a first portion (20) canted at an angle of 7.5.degree. relative to a second portion (22). The connectors (12) secure the spinal instrumentation (18) to the pedicle screws (14). Each bushing (16) contains an angled borehole (28). The combination of the angles produced by the connectors (12) and the borehole (28) of each of the bushings (16) allows the installation of pedicle screws (14) at various angles relative to the patient's spine.
Claims21
A spinal fixation system for fusing selected portions of a patient's spine comprising:
- an instrumentation;
- a plurality of connectors for attaching the instrumentation to the selected portions of the patient's spine;
- each connector having a body with a first opening extending radially therethrough and a second opening extending at least partially therethrough;
- the first opening having an axis formed at an angle relative to an axis of the second opening;
- a bushing within the first opening and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough;
- the bore having an axis disposed at an angle relative to the first opening axis;
- a pedicle screw within the bore of the bushing;
- and
- a fastening assembly engaging the second opening of the connector with the instrumentation.
A spinal fixation system for posterior installation to fuse selected portions of a patient's spine comprising:
- a rigid instrumentation;
- a plurality of connectors for attachment of the rigid instrumentation to selected vertebrae of the patient's spine;
- each connector having a body with a first opening with an axis extending radially therethrough and a second opening extending at least partially through the body;
- the first opening having an axis formed at an angle relative to an axis of the second opening;
- a bushing having a bore with an axis extending longitudinally therethrough and the bushing received within the first opening;
- the axis of the first opening disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the bore in the bushing;
- a pedicle screw received within the bore of the bushing;
- and
- a fastening assembly engaging the second opening of each connector with the rigid instrumentation.
A method for assembling a spinal fixation system for installing instrumentation for fusing selected portions of a patient's spine, comprising the steps of:
- providing a plurality of connectors, the connectors having a first opening extending radially therethrough and a second opening extending at least partially therethrough, with the first opening having an axis formed at an angle relative to an axis of the second opening;
- providing a plurality of bushings having bores extending longitudinally therethrough, each bore having an axis;
- placing the bushings within the first openings of the plurality of connectors, with the axis of the bores of the bushings disposed at an angle relative to the axis of the first openings of the plurality of connectors;
- providing an instrumentation;
- coupling the second openings of the connectors to the instrumentation;
- rotating the bushings to achieve a desired angle of each of the bores relative to the instrumentation;
- and
- coupling a plurality of bores to the bushings proximate the bores of the bushings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.