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US 8,940,020 B2Granted
Rod connector
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorDavid S. Rathbun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector for engaging two or more rods is disclosed. The connector includes a main body, at least two medial bodies and a compression mechanism. Generally, the connector provides for easy “snap-fit” lateral insertion of the rods into rod openings defined between the medial bodies and the main body. The snap-fit is achieved through a spring bias exerted by the compression mechanism. The compression mechanism may also be configured to lock the rods within the openings, such as through the use of a fastener.
Claims23
A connector for engaging a pair of rods, the connector comprising:
- a main body including opposite upper and lower sides, the upper and lower sides extending in a direction transverse to a vertical axis of the connector, each of the opposite upper and lower sides defining a first rod gripping surface configured to extend at least partially over an outside surface of one of the rods;
- at least two medial bodies, each of the medial bodies having a free end and defining a second rod gripping surface configured to extend at least partially over an outside surface of one of the rods;
- and
- a compression mechanism configured to hold each of the medial bodies against a respective one of the opposite upper and lower sides of the main body so that each pair of first and second rod gripping surfaces defines a rod opening having an opening axis and wherein the free end is spaced away from the main body a distance less than or equal to a diameter of the one of the rods;
- wherein the rod openings include an upper rod opening and a lower rod opening oriented on opposite sides of a plane defined transverse to the vertical axis of the connector,
- wherein the compression mechanism is further configured to simultaneously urge the free end of each of the medial bodies toward the main body so as to shrink the distance.
3 more elements
A connector for engaging a pair of rods, the connector comprising:
- a main body including opposite upper and lower sides, the upper and lower sides extending in a direction transverse to a vertical axis of the connector, each of the opposite upper and lower sides defining a first rod gripping surface configured to extend at least partially over an outside surface of one of the rods;
- at least two medial bodies, each of the medial bodies having a free end and defining a second rod gripping surface configured to extend at least partially over an outside surface of one of the rods;
- and
- a compression mechanism configured to hold each of the medial bodies against a respective one of the opposite upper and lower sides of the main body so that each pair of first and second rod gripping surfaces defines a rod opening having an opening axis and wherein the free end is spaced away from the main body a distance less than or equal to a diameter of the one of the rods;
- wherein the rod openings include an upper rod opening and a lower rod opening oriented on opposite sides of a plane defined transverse to the vertical axis of the connector,
- wherein the compression mechanism is further configured to simultaneously urge the medial bodies along vectors extending at an angle to a plane falling between or containing the opening axis of each pair of first and second rod gripping surfaces.
3 more elements
A method of engaging a pair of rods, the method comprising:
- holding a pair of medial bodies against opposite upper and lower sides of a main body to form a pair of rod openings on opposite upper and lower sides of the main body, where the upper and lower sides of the main body extend in a direction transverse to a vertical axis of the main body, where the pair of rod openings including an upper rod opening and a lower rod opening oriented on opposite sides of a plane defined transverse to the vertical axis of the main body;
- urging the medial bodies against the opposite upper and lower sides of the main body;
- receiving pressure from a lateral portion of a first one of the rods between a free end of a first one of the medial bodies and the main body;
- and
- responding to the pressure by sliding the first medial body along a first ramp surface oriented at an angle to a plane passing through axes of the rod openings and widening a distance between the free end of the first medial body and the main body.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.