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US 7,678,112 B2Granted
Open dorsal adjusting connector
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorAlan Rezach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for connecting an implant with a rod comprises a body, a collet, an annular ring member, a washer, and a nut. The body defines a first channel to receive the rod and a second channel extending through the body. The collet is positionable in the second channel and defines an aperture for receipt of the implant. The ring member includes a gap and defines an aperture for receipt of the collet. The washer is positionable adjacent the second channel and is configured to translate along the body to allow pivoting of the collet relative to the body. The nut is operable to connect with the collet to move the collet within the second channel. Movement of the collet is operable to expand the ring member and contract the collet around the implant to secure the implant at a desired position.
Claims27
An apparatus for connecting an implant with a rod, comprising:
- a body defining a first channel configured for receipt of the rod, said body further defining a second channel extending through said body, wherein a longitudinal axis of said first channel and a longitudinal axis of said second channel are substantially perpendicular, said rod extending along said longitudinal axis of said first channel;
- a collet positioned in said second channel, wherein said collet includes a longitudinal axis and defines an aperture extending entirely therethrough along said longitudinal axis of said collet configured for receipt of at least a portion of the implant, said collet being substantially cylindrically shaped, said collet having a portion including a convex section and one or more slots, said collet having a threaded portion including at least one flat section;
- an annular slotted ring member positioned in said second channel in an unstressed position and defining an aperture sized to allow insertion of at least a portion of said collet therethrough, said ring member having an inner portion including threads and an inner portion including a concave section configured to contact said convex section of said collet;
- a washer adjacent said second channel defining an aperture sized to allow insertion of at least a portion of said collet therethrough, said washer including at least one flat section configured to be adjacent said at least one flat section of said collet, wherein said washer includes a concave lower surface at least partially contacting and translating along said body to allow pivoting of said collet and washer relative to said body, wherein said collet is configured to pivot with the implant in said second channel to create a desired angular position of the implant relative to said body;
- and
- a nut adjacent said washer, said nut having threads adapted to connect with said upper threaded portion of said collet, whereby turning said nut moves said collet within said second channel,
- wherein said ring member is expandable by passage of at least a portion of said convex section of said collet with respect to said ring member, to the extent allowed by said second channel, whereby further passage of said convex section of said collet with respect to said ring member contracts said toilet around at least a portion of the implant to substantially lock the implant at a desired position.
4 more elements
An apparatus for connecting an implant with a rod, comprising:
- a body defining a channel configured for receipt of the rod, said body further defining a hole extending through said body, wherein a longitudinal axis of said channel and a longitudinal axis of said hole are substantially perpendicular, said channel being at least partially open along said longitudinal axis of said channel;
- a collet, positionable in said hole, having a longitudinal axis and defining an aperture extending entirely therethrough along said longitudinal axis of said collet, the aperture being configured for receipt of at least a portion of the implant;
- an annular ring member, defining a gap, positionable in said hole in an unstressed position, said ring member further defining an aperture sized to allow insertion of at least a portion of said collet therethrough;
- a pivoting member, positionable adjacent said hole, including a concave lower surface configured to at least partially contact and translate along said body, said pivoting member being configured to allow pivoting of said collet relative to said body, wherein said collet is configured to pivot with the implant in said hole to create a desired angular position of the implant relative to said body;
- and
- a tightening member, positionable adjacent said pivoting member, adapted to connect with said collet to move said collet within said hole, whereby movement of said collet is operable to expand said ring member and contract said collet around at least a portion of the implant to secure the implant at a desired position.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- placing an annular ring member with a slot around a collet, said annular ring member including an inner threaded portion configured to connect with a threaded upper portion of said collet to allow positioning of said ring member about said collet, said collet being substantially cylindrically shaped extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a hollow interior along said longitudinal axis;
- inserting an implant in said hollow interior of said collet to a position where said collet encompasses a desired portion of the implant;
- inserting said collet inside a first channel in a body;
- inserting a distal threaded portion of the implant in a bony structure of a patient at a desired angular position;
- aligning the implant at a desired angular position relative to said body;
- placing a washer around said collet proximal said first channel of said body, wherein said washer includes a concave lower surface translatable along a set of convex extensions of said body to allow pivotal movement of said collet and said body, wherein said collet is configured to pivot with the implant in said first channel to create a desired angular position of the implant relative to said body;
- tightening a nut down on the threaded upper portion of said collet, said nut contacting an upper surface of said washer, whereby said tightening moves said collet within said first channel and secures contact of said washer against said body, said ring member being expandable to a limited position in response to movement of a convex section of said collet into said ring member, said collet being contractible around the implant in response to further movement of said convex section of said collet into said ring member, to secure said collet around the implant and lock the implant at the desired angular position;
- and
- placing a rod in a second channel of said body, wherein a longitudinal axis of said first channel and a longitudinal axis of said second channel are substantially perpendicular, wherein said second channel has a U-shaped cross-sectional dimension along said longitudinal axis of said second channel to accommodate placing the rod in said second channel.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- providing a connection apparatus to connect a bone anchor and a rod, said connection apparatus including a body having a first channel to receive the bone anchor and a second channel to receive the rod, said connection apparatus further including a collet encompassing a portion of the bone anchor, an annular ring member with a slot defining an aperture sized to allow insertion of at least a portion of said collet, a washer with a concave lower surface, and a nut, wherein:
- a longitudinal axis of said first channel and a longitudinal axis of said second channel are substantially perpendicular;
- and
- said second channel is at least partially open along said longitudinal axis of said second channel to accommodate loading of the rod into said second channel;
- placing said connection apparatus at a desired position on the bone anchor;
- creating the desired angular relationship between the bone anchor and said body by translating said concave surface of said washer along said body and pivoting of said collet with the bone anchor in said first channel relative to said body;
- and
- turning said nut along a threaded portion of said collet to move the collet within the first channel, whereby said body, said ring member, and said collet create an interference fit operable to lock the bone anchoring mechanism at a desired angular position relative to said body.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.