US 6,602,254 B2Granted

Spinal rod transverse connectors

AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.

InventorsStanley Gertzbein, Michael C. Sherman

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A transverse fixator assembly for spanning between a number of longitudinal members situated adjacent a patient's vertebrae and methods for fixation of the spine which allow variation of the distance between two or more vertebrae. The assembly includes a number of connectors configured to span the distance between and engage the longitudinal members. The connectors define a thru-hole for engaging a bone bolt which is engaged to a vertebra plus a number of spikes projecting from the connector. A locking mechanism is configured to prevent the bolt from rotating relative to the connector when the nut is being tightened. One or more of the connectors may be a dynamic connector which is slidably engaged to the longitudinal members to vary the distance between the vertebrae for compression or distraction.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A spinal fixation system, comprising:

two longitudinal members;
a first connector to interconnect said longitudinal members to a first vertebral body of a spine, said first connector including an upper surface integrally connected to a lower surface, two passages positioned between said upper surface and said lower surface to each receive a corresponding one of said longitudinal members, a first thru-hole extending through said connector from said upper surface to said lower surface, and a plurality of projections integrally connected to said first connector and extending away from said lower surface to engage the spine;
a second connector to interconnect said longitudinal members to a second vertebral body of the spine, said second connector including a second thru-hole;
a first threaded fastener to extend through said first thru-hole to connect said first connector to the first vertebral body;
and
a second threaded fastener to extend through said second thru-hole to connect said second connector to the second vertebral body.

3 more elements

A spinal fixation system, comprising:

two longitudinal members;
a first connector to interconnect said longitudinal members to a first vertebral body of a spine, said first connector including a connector body defining two passages positioned between an upper surface and a lower surface to each receive a corresponding one of said longitudinal members, a first thru-hole extending through said connector body, and a plurality of projections attached to and carried with said connector body and extending away from said lower surface to engage the spine;
a second connector to interconnect said longitudinal members to a second vertebral body of the spine, said second connector including a second thru-hole;
a first threaded fastener to extend through said first thru-hole to connect said first connector to the first vertebral body;
and
a second threaded fastener to extend through said second thru-hole to connect said second connector to the second vertebral body.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/159,665Filed 31 May 2002 · continuation
Priority: 25 Jan 1995
Published: US 2002/0193795 A119 Dec 2002
Granted: 5 Aug 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

A61B 17/7041
Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae: with single longitudinal rod offset laterally from single row…
A61B 17/7044
Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae: also having plates, staples or washers bearing on the vertebrae
A61B 17/7049
Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant: connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking…
A61B 17/809
Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates:…

Family

Application08/377,658Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Jan 1995
Application08/743,901Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Nov 1996
Application09/159,923Parent of this continuation · filed 24 Sep 1998
Application09/506,283Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Feb 2000
Application09/804,277Parent of this continuation · filed 12 Mar 2001
US 2002/0193795 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Dec 2002
US 6,471,704 B2Parent of this continuation
US 6,254,603 B1Parent of this continuation
US 6,066,140 AParent of this continuation
US 6,083,224 AParent of this continuation
US 5,620,443 AParent of this continuation
US 2001/0010000 A1Published application
US 6,602,254 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.