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US 7,621,912 B2Granted
Rod-shaped implant element with flexible section
AssigneeBiedermann Motech GmbH
InventorsJürgen Harms, Lutz Biedermann, Wilfried Matthis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rod-shaped implant element for the connection of bone anchoring elements includes at least one rigid section that is configured to be placed in a receiver member of a bone anchoring element and a flexible section that is adjacent to the rigid section. The flexible section and the rigid section are formed as a continuous one-piece element.
Claims22
An elongated rod-shaped implant element for connecting at least two bone anchoring elements, each of which comprise an anchoring section to be anchored in the bone and a receiver member to be connected to the rod-shaped implant element, the elongated rod-shaped implant element comprising:
- a longitudinal axis and an outer surface;
- a first length of a rigid section extending along the longitudinal axis that is configured to cooperate with and be received in the receiver member;
- a second length of a flexible section extending along the longitudinal axis adjacent to the rigid section, the second length having a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the rod-shaped implant element, the slot extending radially inward, wherein the first length of the rigid section and the flexible section are a continuous one-piece element
- a third length of a rigid section extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the flexible section has two opposite ends, the first length of rigid section being adjacent one end and the third length of rigid section being adjacent the opposite other end;
- and
- a core within the flexible section and extending along substantially the entire second length of the flexible section.
3 more elements
A stabilization apparatus for bones comprising:
- at least two bone anchoring elements and a rod-shaped implant element connecting the bone anchoring elements,
- each bone anchoring element comprising a bone anchoring section to be anchored to the bone and a receiver member for receiving the rod-shaped implant element, and the rod-shaped implant element comprising:
- a bore along a longitudinal axis and an outer surface;
- at least one first length of a rigid section that is configured to cooperate with and be received in the receiver member, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the rigid section;
- a second length of a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, the second length having a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the rod-shaped implant element, the slot extending radially inward, wherein the rigid section and the flexible section are a continuous one-piece element, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the flexible section;
- and
- a core removably secured within the bore of the rigid section and the bore of the flexible section.
4 more elements
A method for the production of a rod-shaped implant element having a flexible section, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing a rigid rod having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface and having a free end that is configured to cooperate with and be received in a receiver member of a bone anchoring element;
- producing a helical slotted opening in at least one section of the outer surface of the rod at a predefined distance from the free end of the rod, the slot extending radially inward, thereby providing a flexible section, wherein the free end and the flexible section are a continuous one-piece element;
- producing a longitudinal bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the free end of the rod and throughout the flexible section;
- and
- inserting and removably securing a core within the bore of the rigid section and the bore of the flexible section, the core extending alone substantially the entire flexible section.
2 more elements
A method for stabilizing vertebrae, the method comprising:
- providing a stabilization apparatus for bones comprising at least two bone anchoring elements and a rod-shaped implant element connecting the bone anchoring elements, each bone anchoring element comprising a bone anchoring section to be anchored to the bone and a receiver member for receiving the rod-shaped implant element, and the rod-shaped implant element comprising:
- a bore along a longitudinal axis and an outer surface;
- at least one first length of a rigid section that is configured to cooperate with and be received in the receiver member, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the rigid section;
- a second length of a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, the second length having a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the rod-shaped implant element, the slot extending radially inward, wherein the rigid section and the flexible section are a continuous one-piece element, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the flexible section;
- and
- a core removably secured within the bore of the rigid section and the bore of the flexible section;
- fixing one bone anchoring element to each of at least two vertebrae;
- and
- inserting the rod-shaped implant element into the receiver member of each respective bone anchoring element and fixing the rod-shaped implant element therein.
6 more elements
A method for stabilizing a broken or fractured bone, the method comprising:
- providing a stabilization apparatus for bones comprising at Least two bone anchoring elements and a rod-shaped implant element connecting the bone anchoring elements, each bone anchoring element comprising a bone anchoring section to be anchored to the bone and a receiver member for receiving the rod-shaped implant element, and the rod-shaped implant element comprising:
- a bore along a longitudinal axis and an outer surface;
- at least one first length of a rigid section that is configured to cooperate with and be received in the receiver member, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the rigid section;
- a second length of a flexible section adjacent to the rigid section, the second length having a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the rod-shaped implant element, the slot extending radially inward, wherein the rigid section and the flexible section are a continuous one-piece element, the bore extending along the longitudinal axis into the flexible section;
- and
- a core removably secured within the bore of the rigid section and the bore of the flexible section;
- fixing one bone anchoring element to a first portion of bone on one side of the break or fracture and fixing a second bone anchoring element to a second portion of bone on another side of the break or fracture;
- and
- inserting the rod-shaped implant element into the receiver member of each respective bone anchoring element and fixing the rod-shaped implant element therein.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.