Method for spinal stabilization using a rod connector
AssigneeHowmedica Osteonics Corp.
InventorsDavid Nichols, Eric Finley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for connecting first and second elongated spaced apart spinal rods to one another which includes an elongated body portion, a clamp portion depending from the body portion for engaging a spinal rod, the clamp portion defining a deformable clamp body having opposed clamp arms configured for movement between a first position wherein a spinal rod is received between the opposed clamp arms of the clamp body and a second position wherein the spinal rod is securely engaged by the opposed clamp &ms &the clamp body, and structure operatively associated with the clamp body which h configured to effectuate movement of the opposed clamp arms of the clamp body between the first and second positions.
Claims21
A method of connecting spinal rods comprising:
- providing a rod connector having an elongated body with a first end and a second end, one of said first or second ends having a first deflectable rod clamp formed integral with the elongated body, said first clamp having opposed first clamp arms capable of moving between a first position and a second position and a first cam lug adapted for axial rotation within a first bore formed in said first clamp;
- inserting a first spinal rod between the first clamp arms when the first clamp arms are in the first position;
- and
- rotating the first cam lug within the first bore to impart a force on interior walls of the first bore thereby moving the first clamp arms of said first clamp to the second position to securely engage the first spinal rod therebetween.
A method of connecting spinal rods comprising:
- providing a rod connector having a first body member including a first clamp formed integral therewith, the first clamp having arms capable of moving between a rod receiving position and a rod clamping position, and a second body member including a second clamp formed integral therewith, the second clamp having arms capable of moving between a rod receiving position and a rod clamping position;
- engaging a first spinal rod with the first clamp and engaging a second spinal rod with the second clamp;
- positioning the first body member with respect to the second body member based on the position of the first and second spinal rods with respect to each other;
- locking a locking collet operatively associated with the first and second body members to prevent movement of the first body member with respect to the second body member;
- and
- securing the first and second clamps to the first and second spinal rods, respectively, the securing step including rotating a first cam lug adapted for axial rotation within a first bore formed in the first clamp, and rotating a second cam lug adapted for axial rotation within a second bore formed in the second clamp, the rotating of the first and second cam lugs imparting a force on interior walls of the first and second bores thereby causing the first and second clamp arms to move to the rod clamping position.
A method of immobilizing the spine comprising:
- implanting at least two bone screws in each of a plurality of vertebrae, each vertebrae having at least one screw on a first side and at least one screw on a second side;
- affixing a first spinal rod to the bone screws on the first side and a second spinal rod to the bone screws on the second side;
- connecting the first and second spinal rods with a rod connector having an elongated body portion with opposed ends and rod clamps formed integral with the elongated body portion and depending from each end, each rod clamp defining a deflectable clamp body having opposed clamp arms capable of moving between a first position for receiving the spinal rods and a second position for securely engaging the spinal rods;
- and
- allowing the rod connector to remain engaged with the first and second spinal rods,
- wherein said connecting step further includes rotating cam lugs adapted for axial rotation within bores formed in the clamp bodies, the rotating of each cam lug imparting a force on interior walls of each bore, respectively, thereby causing the clamp arms to move to the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.