Damping element and device for stabilization of adjacent vertebral bodies
AssigneeSynthes USA, LLC
InventorsArmin Studer, Robert Frigg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A damping element (1) includes: (a) two spring elements (2, 4) which are coaxial with or parallel to a longitudinal axis (3) and two axially end-side connectors (5, 6), where (b) the first spring element (2) exhibits a spring rate F, (c) the second spring element (4) exhibits a spring rate f, and (d) the spring rates F and f are different. A device stabilizing adjacent vertebras, comprising (a) N pedicle screws of hooks (12), where N≧3 and where (b) each pedicle screw or pedicle hook (12) includes a receiving device (13) receiving a longitudinal affixation device (7) and where (c) an element (14) acting as a spring is inserted between two adjacent pedicle screws (12) or pedicle hooks.
Claims14
A damping system comprising:
- a damping element including two spring elements coaxial with or parallel to a longitudinal axis of the damping element, and two axially mounted end connectors wherein:
- the first spring element comprises a helical spring having a helical slot and a central cavity,
- the second spring element is disposed within the cavity of the first spring element and comprises an elastically deforming, helical elevation which is received within the first spring element and a central borehole coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the damping element,
- the first end connector having a central borehole which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the damping element,
- the second end connector being linked to the first spring element;
- and
- at least two bone fixation elements selected from the group consisting of pedicle screws and pedicle hooks, wherein each of the bone fixation elements includes a duct for receiving the end-side connectors so that the damping element can span adjacent vertebra.
A system stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- at least one damping system comprising:
- two spring elements coaxial with or parallel to a longitudinal axis of the damping element, and two axially mounted end connectors wherein:
- the first spring element comprises a helical spring having a helical slot and a central cavity,
- the second spring element is disposed within the cavity of the first spring element and comprises an elastically deforming, helical elevation which is received within the first spring element and a central borehole coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the damping element,
- the first end connector having a central borehole which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the damping element,
- the second end connector being linked to the first spring element;
- at least one longitudinal support;
- and
- N bone fixation elements selected from the group consisting of pedicle screws and pedicle hooks, where N≦3, wherein each of the bone fixation elements includes a duct for receiving the end connectors or the longitudinal support.
A system stabilizing adjacent vertebrae, comprising:
- two devices, each device comprising:
- at least one damping system comprising:
- two spring elements coaxial with or parallel to a longitudinal axis of the damping system, and two axially mounted end connectors wherein:
- the first spring element comprises a helical spring having a helical slot and a central cavity,
- the second spring element is disposed within the cavity of the first spring element and comprises an elastically deforming, helical elevation which is received within the first spring element and a central borehole coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the damping system,
- the first end connector having a central borehole which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the damping system,
- the second end connector being linked to the first spring element;
- at least one longitudinal support;
- and
- N bone fixation elements selected from the group consisting of pedicle screws and pedicle hooks, where N≦5, wherein each of the bone fixation elements includes a duct for receiving the end connectors or the longitudinal support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.