# US 5,702,394 A · Assembly piece for an osteosynthesis device

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- Number: US 5,702,394 A
- Document ID: US5702394A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/535,278
- Filed: 1995-10-19
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1993-04-20
- Assignees: Stryker Corporation
- Inventors: Patrick Henry; Philippe Lapresle; Gilles Missenard
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702394A

## CPC

- A61B 17/7049: {Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/645: {comprising a framework (A61B17/6425, A61B17/6441 take precedence)}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

An assembly piece for assembling together two rods (T.sub.1, T.sub.2) of an osteosynthesis device, in particular for osteosynthesis of the spine. According to the invention, the assembly piece comprises: a body (1) of generally rounded shape having a slot (2) separating the body into two portions (1a, 1b), and two bores (5, 6) on transverse axes (A, B) passing obliquely through the slot, each adapted to receive a respective rod to be assembled; and a clamping screw (3) interconnecting said portions so that tightening the screw locks the two rods in place by clamping them between said portions (1a, 1b).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly piece for assembling together two rods of an osteosynthesis device, comprising:
a body of biologically compatible material and of generally rounded shape, said body having a slot separating said body into two portions and having two bores on transverse axes passing obliquely through said slot, each of said bores being adapted to receive a respective rod to be assembled; and
a clamping screw interconnecting said portions so that tightening said screw locks the two rods in place by clamping them between said portions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An assembly piece according to claim 1, wherein said body is generally spherical in shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An assembly piece according to claim 1, wherein said axes are orthogonal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An assembly piece according to claim 1 wherein said portions are interconnected by a bridge of material having a flat outside surface; and wherein a bottom of said slot extends parallel to the plane of said flat outside surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An assembly piece according to claim 1 wherein said screw includes a screw head for coming into axial abutment against a shoulder formed in one of said portions; and wherein said screw includes a thread for engaging in a tapping formed in the other portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

An assembly piece according to claim 5, wherein said screw extends along an axis perpendicular to said slot.

### Claim 7

An assembly piece for an osteosynthesis device, comprising:
a rounded body of biologically compatible material having a slot which separates said body into first and second portions and which extends in a plane and having first and second bores extending along axes which are transverse to one another and which pass through said slot at acute angles to said plane, each of said bores being at least partially located in each of said portions;
first and second rods received in said first and second bores, respectively, each of said rods directly engaging each of said portions; and
a clamping screw interconnecting said portions, and locking and clamping said rods in place between said portions upon tightening said screw.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

An assembly piece according to claim 7, wherein said body is generally spherical in shape.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

An assembly piece according to claim 7, wherein said axes are orthogonal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

An assembly piece according to claim 7 wherein said portions are interconnected by a bridge of material unitarily formed therewith having a flat outside surface; and wherein a bottom of said slot extends parallel to said flat outside surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

An assembly piece according to claim 7 wherein said screw includes a screw head axially abutting a shoulder formed in said first portion; and wherein said screw includes a thread for engaging in a tapping formed in said second portion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

An assembly piece according to claim 11, wherein said screw extends along an axis perpendicular to said slot.