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US 8,911,483 B2Granted
Compliant cervical screw locking mechanism
AssigneeNexus Spine, LLC
InventorMichael D. Ensign
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one exemplary embodiment, an expandable ring is provided including a continuous ring member having no splits or breaks. According to one exemplary embodiment, the expandable ring is a compliant mechanism configured to expand and contract due to a relative movement of related sections of the continuous ring member.
Claims12
An orthopedic device comprising:
- a screw assembly configured to be coupled to a bore of an implant member, said screw assembly including;
- a bone screw having a head section, a thread section, and a central bore;
- an expandable ring coupled to said head section;
- and
- a pin at least partially disposed in said central bore;
- wherein
- said pin includes a varying outer profile that engages said expandable ring to vary an outer diameter of said expandable ring to couple said screw assembly in said bore of said implant member;
- and
- wherein said expandable ring comprises a continuous outer member.
6 more elements
An orthopedic device comprising:
- an implant member including a thru-bore having an entry diameter, an intermediate diameter, and an exit diameter, wherein said intermediate diameter is larger than said entry diameter and said exit diameter;
- and
- a screw assembly including:
- wherein said screw assembly further comprises:
- a bone screw having a head section, a thread section, and a central bore;
- an expandable ring coupled to said head section;
- and
- a pin at least partially disposed in said central bore;
- wherein said pin includes a varying outer profile that engages said expandable ring to vary an outer diameter of said expandable ring to couple said screw assembly in said thru-bore of said implant member;
- and
- wherein said expandable ring comprises a continuous outer member.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.