Enhanced pedicle rod clamp device
AssigneeSpineWorks, LLC
InventorsDouglas Wayne Neary, Roger Denis Sung, Gerald John Alexander, Susan Kay Bain, James Monroe Davenport
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An enhanced pedicle rod clamp device for connecting two or more pedicle rods in spinal surgery is disclosed. The device may include an arm, an upper clamp, and a lower clamp, which are configured for coupling to a pedicle rod. The upper clamp may be coupled to the arm, and the lower clamp may be coupled to the upper clamp. The upper clamp may be rotationally and/or translationally movable with respect to at least one of the arm and the lower clamp. The lower clamp may be rotationally and/or translationally movable with respect to at least one of the arm and the upper clamp.
Claims14
A pedicle rod clamp device, comprising, in combination:
- at least one arm, an upper clamp, a lower clamp, and a nut, wherein said upper clamp forms a collet portion configured to partially surround a single pedicle rod, wherein said lower clamp forms a collet portion configured to partially surround said single pedicle rod;
- wherein said upper clamp is coupled to said arm and said lower clamp is coupled to said upper clamp;
- wherein said lower clamp is configured to rotate about an axis with respect to said upper clamp when said lower clamp is coupled to said upper clamp;
- wherein said upper clamp is configured to limit rotation of said lower clamp beyond a certain rotation about said axis;
- and wherein a threaded upper portion of the lower clamp extends through openings in said arm and said upper clamp, and wherein said threaded upper portion is engaged with the nut.
A pedicle rod clamp device, comprising, in combination:
- at least one arm, an upper clamp forming a collet portion configured to partially surround a single pedicle rod, and a lower clamp forming a collet portion configured to partially surround the single pedicle rod;
- wherein said upper clamp is coupled to said arm;
- wherein said lower clamp is coupled to said upper clamp;
- wherein a threaded upper portion of the lower clamp extends through openings in said arm and said upper clamp, and wherein said threaded upper portion is engaged with a nut;
- wherein said upper clamp is movable with respect to said arm;
- and
- wherein said lower clamp is movable with respect to said arm independently of said upper clamp and said lower clamp is rotatable with respect to said upper clamp when said lower clamp is coupled to said upper clamp, wherein the upper clamp is configured to limit rotation of said lower clamp beyond a certain rotation;
- and wherein at least ¼ rotation of said nut causes the pedicle rod to be emplaced by closing a collet around the pedicle rod and wherein further rotation of said nut closes the clamping space.
A method of cross connecting pedicle rods, the method comprising:
- closing a collet around a pedicle rod by rotating a nut coupled to a lower clamp to produce at least a ¼ turn of the lower clamp portion and then preventing further rotation of the lower clamp to form a clamping space with the pedicle rod emplaced therein;
- and closing the clamping space by continuing to rotate the nut to raise the lower clamp to secure the pedicle rod within the clamping space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.