Spinal column rod fixation system
OwnerTibor Koros, Gabriel Korosinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implantable vertebrae prosthesis for use in aligning and strengthening the adjacent vertebrae in the lumbar region of the spinal column is disclosed. After implantation, the prosthesis maintains a low profile and is usually not felt by the patient after healing. The prosthesis is designed to provide support to the degenerative lumbar region of the spine. The spinal fixation apparatus includes a cortical screw, a connecting rod, a cylindrical plug, an adjustable cap, a block, and a retaining nut which will lock together when the retaining nut is tightened to lock all of the components together as a unit after implantation. The prosthesis is self-locking.
Claims6
A spinal fixation apparatus for permanently holding a spinal rod in place, comprising:
- a cortical screw having a lower screw portion, a medial head, and a threaded upper stem, said medial head having a top surface and a bottom surface:
- a cylindrical plug having a circular-to-oval-shaped axial bore cooperating with said upper stem and resting on said medial head of said cortical screw, said plug having an indentation in an outer wall;
- an adjustable cap having a vertical cylindrical chamber open at the bottom for holding said cylindrical plug and an oval slot at the top for allowing said upper stem of said cortical screw to extend upwardly through said oval slot, said cap having a bore perpendicular to said cylindrical chamber;
- a block having a transverse arm, a bore, and an internally threaded hole perpendicular to and cooperating with said bore in said block;
- and
- a retaining nut for cooperating with the threaded upper stem so that said retaining nut, said cap, said plug, and said cortical screw form a clamping assembly for said transverse arm;
- wherein said bore in said cad and said indentation in said plug are alignable so that said transverse arm can slide into and through said bore in said cap and fix said plug in a position to superimpose said circular-to-oval-shaped axial bore in said plug with said oval slot in said cap, and wherein tightening of said retaining nut against said cap clamps said transverse arm and prevents rotational and longitudinal movement of said transverse arm relative to said clamping assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.