Spinal fixation system and methods
AssigneeAMEI Technologies Inc.
InventorErik J. Wagner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method to form a medical construct using surgical rods and connectors. A pair of surgical rods such as those used in fusing vertebrae of the spine are attached to each other with connectors to form a medical construct. The connector includes a plate with a pair of double hook bolts which are attached to the rods. The double hook bolts and rods may be used to provide a rigid or semi-rigid medical construct depending upon the attachment of the double hook bolts with the plate. The connector is assembled prior to the surgical procedure and eliminates any need for manipulating small washers, screws and bolts during installation of the medical apparatus within a patient.
Claims15
A connector for use in securing rods to each other during medical procedures comprising:
- a plate with a first elongated slot formed in a first end of said plate;
- a first double hook bolt extending through the first elongated slot for coupling to a first one of the rods, said double hook bolt including a first hook for partially encircling the first rod from a first direction and a second hook for partially encircling the first rod from a second direction opposite from said first direction;
- said first hook oriented in said first direction and said second hook spaced from said first hook and said second hook oriented in a second direction opposite from said first direction;
- and
- means for securing the first double hook bolt to the plate.
The method of connecting a pair of rods with each other comprising the steps of:
- forming a plate with an elongated slot means extending there through;
- forming a pair of double hook bolts, each of the bolts with a first hook for partially encircling a rod in a first direction and a second hook for partially encircling the rod from a second direction opposite from the first direction;
- the first hook oriented in the first direction and the second hook spaced from the first hook, and the second hook oriented in the second direction opposite from the first direction;
- securing the first double bolt and the second double hook bolt within the elongated slot means;
- placing the first double hook bolt over the first rod;
- placing the second double hook bolt over the second rod;
- and
- rotating the first hook bolt and the second hook bolt to securely anchor the plate to the pair of rods.
A connector for use in securing rods to each other during medical procedures comprising:
- a plate having multiple legs, each of the legs having an end with an elongated slot formed therein;
- a plurality of double hook bolts for coupling to the rods, each bolt extending through a corresponding elongated slot in one of the legs, each bolt including a first hook for partially encircling a rod in a first direction and a second hook for partially encircling the rod from a second direction opposite from the first direction;
- said first hook oriented in said first direction and said second hook spaced from said first hook and oriented in a second direction opposite from said first direction;
- and
- means for securing each of the double hook bolts to the plate.
A method of connecting a pair of rods with each other comprising the steps of:
- forming a plate having a plurality of legs extending therefrom;
- forming a plurality of elongated slots with one of said elongated slots extending through each of the legs;
- forming a plurality of double hook bolts, each of the bolts with a first hook for partially encircling a rod in a first direction and a second hook for partially encircling the rod from a second direction opposite from the first direction;
- said first hook oriented in said first direction and said second hook spaced from said first hook and said second hook oriented in a second direction opposite from said first direction;
- securing each of the double hook bolts respectively within one of the elongated slots;
- assigning a first number of said bolts to a first set and assigning a second number of said bolts to a second set;
- placing each bolt of the first set over the first rod;
- placing each bolt of the second set over the second rod;
- and
- rotating each of the bolts to secure the plate to the rods.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.