Snap-on spinal rod connector
AssigneeDePuy Spine, Inc.
InventorsMichael Andrew Slivka, William Lansing Dunbar, Hassan Serhan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable medical connector device is provided that employs a snap-on technology to safely and easily mate with another device. The medical connector device generally includes an elongate member having first and second connectors members formed on opposed ends thereof. Each connector member includes an opening formed in a sidewall thereof and extending into a nesting seat. The nesting seat is adapted to seat and engage an implanted cylindrical element.
Claims37
An implantable medical connector device, comprising:
- an elongate member having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, and first and second ends;
- and
- first and second connector members formed on the first and second ends, each connector member having
- a width extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member,
- an opening formed in a sidewall thereof and oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, and
- a nesting seat formed in the connector member and in communication with the opening, the nesting seat having a substantially circular shape and being adapted to snap-on to and engage an implanted cylindrical element, and having a diameter greater than a dimension of the opening;
- wherein the elongate member is semi-flexible such that, upon rotation of a rigid elongate cylindrical rod disposed within the first and second connector members, the elongate member distorts to prevent the rigid elongate cylindrical rod from disengaging with the first and second connector members.
A spinal rod and connector system, comprising:
- at least one rigid elongate cylindrical rod;
- at least one connector member having an elongate portion with first and second ends, each end having a substantially C-shaped sidewall defining an opening extending into a nesting seat wherein the opening in each connector member has a dimension less than a diameter of the nesting seat, and each connector member being adapted to snap-on to and engage a rigid elongate cylindrical rod, and wherein the elongate portion of the connector member is semi-flexible such that, upon rotation of a rigid elongate cylindrical rod disposed within a connector member, the elongate portion distorts to prevent the rigid elongate cylindrical rod from disengaging with the connector member.
An implantable medical connector kit, comprising:
- a plurality of connector members having an elongate portion having a length and first and second ends, each end having a substantially C-shaped sidewall defining an opening extending into a nesting seat adapted to snap-on to and engage a rigid elongate cylindrical rod without the use of a locking mechanism, a least a portion of each connector member being semi-flexible such that, upon rotation of a rigid elongate cylindrical rod disposed within an end of the connector, the connector member distorts to prevent the rigid elonoate cylindrical rod from disengaging with the end of the connector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.