Spine fixator for holding a vertebral column
AssigneeTornier SAS
InventorThierry Judet
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spinal fixator comprising two substantially parallel assemblies each which includes a slideway having an open slot therein, a plurality of rings which define a slideway opening having a profile corresponding to that of the slideway, each ring having a bore aligned with a hole in the bottom of the ring through which pedicular screws having a head and self-tapping threads are disposed, and caps secured in the bore of each ring.
Claims19
A spinal fixator for aligning and holding a vertebral column, comprising two spaced assemblies, each of the assemblies including:
- a. a slideway having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom portion, an open slot in said bottom portion;
- b. a plurality of first rings, each of said first rings having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said first rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, each of said first rings including a bore in said upper portion which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof and which hole is oriented generally perpendicularly to said slideway opening;
- c. a plurality of pedicular screws each having a self-tapping thread portion and a head portion, said self-tapping thread portion being of a size to extend through said hole in said lower portion of said first rings and said head portion being of a size to be receivable within said first rings through said bore in said upper portion thereof;
- and
- d. a plurality of cap means receivable within said bores of said first rings, whereby after said slideway is received through said slideway openings in a plurality of spaced first rings, pedicular screws are inserted with their self-tapping thread portions extending through said holes in said bottom portions of said first rings so that said head portions are seated within said slideway and said cap means are received in said bores to thereby secure said slideway relative to said first rings.
A spinal fixator for aligning and holding a vertebral column, comprising two spaced assemblies, each of the assemblies including:
- a. a slideway having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom portion, an open slot in said bottom portion;
- b. a plurality of first rings, each of said first rings having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said first rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, each of said first rings including a bore in said upper portion which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof;
- c. a plurality of pedicular screws each having a self-tapping thread portion and a head portion, said self-tapping thread portion being of a size to extend through said hole in said bottom portion of said first rings and said head portion being of a size to be receivable within said first rings through said bore in said upper portion thereof;
- d. a rod, and means for assembling said rod to one of said first rings of each of said assemblies;
- and
- e. a plurality of cap means receivable within said bores of said first rings, whereby after said slideway is received through said slideway openings in a plurality of spaced first rings, pedicular screws are inserted with their self-tapping thread portions extending through said holes in said bottom portions of said first rings so that said head portions are seated within said slideway and said cap means are received in said bores to thereby secure said slideway relative to said first rings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.