Spinal fixation apparatus and method

A spinal fixation apparatus for implantation on a spine comprising:

• a first longitudinal rod for placement on the spine at one side of and generally parallel to the spinous process of the spine;
• a second longitudinal rod for placement on the spine at the other side of and generally parallel to the spinous process of the spine;
• a plurality of stem clamps mounted to said first longitudinal rod and said second longitudinal rod;
• a plurality of C-clamps mounted to said stem clamps and to said first longitudinal rod and to said second longitudinal rod, said C-clamp comprising a clamp body having an upper law and a lower jaw with a lateral throughbore passing between said upper jaw and said lower jaw, said clamp body having a transverse throughbore passing orthogonally through said upper jaw and said lower jaw with the portion of said transverse throughbore in said lower jaw having threads therein, said C-clamp further including engagement means for engaging said C-clamp with said bone screw, said bone screw comprising a bolt head at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end, said bone screw having a threaded shaft between said proximal end and said distal end with said threaded shaft having a threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder adjacent said bolt head and a threaded, diametrally reduced screw body between said shoulder and said tip, the thread pitch for said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder being identical to said threaded, diametrally reduced screw body, said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder threadedly engaging said threads in said transverse throughbore in said lower jaw of said C-clamp thereby providing said engagement means for said C-clamp;
• a plurality of bone screws mounted to said C-clamps, said bone screws being operable to secure said C-clamps to the spine;
• and
• at least one cross-link plate interconnecting said first longitudinal rod to said second longitudinal rod.

A method for providing fixation of a spine comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a longitudinal rod;
• preparing a plurality of stem clamps with stems extending therefrom;
• mounting said stem clamps to said longitudinal rod;
• fabricating a plurality of C-clamps;
• affixing said C-clamps to said longitudinal rod and to said stems of said stem clamps;
• forming a plurality of bone screws;
• securing said C-clamps to a spine with said bone screws;
• and
• tightening said stem clamps and said C-clamps thereby providing spinal fixation with said longitudinal rod.

A method for providing fixation of a spine comprising the steps of:

• obtaining a longitudinal rod;
• preparing a plurality of stem clamps with stems extending therefrom;
• mounting said stem clamps to said longitudinal rod;
• fabricating a plurality of C-clamps, said fabricating step including forming said plurality of bone screws with a first threaded section and a second threaded section, said first threaded section having a smaller diameter sufficient to pass through said transverse throughbore in said C-clamp, said second threaded section threadedly engaging said set of threads in said C-clamp thereby selectively clamping said C-clamp to said longitudinal rod and said stem;
• affixing said C-clamps to said longitudinal rod and to said stems of said stem clamps;
• forming a plurality of bone screws;
• securing said C-clamps to a spine with said bone screws;
• and
• tightening said stem clamps and said C-clamps thereby providing spinal fixation with said longitudinal rod.

A spinal fixation apparatus comprising:

• a first elongate support member having a right-angle bend formed therein such that said support member assumes an “L” shape having a first, longer portion and a second, shorter portion extending at a substantially right angle with respect to said longer portion;
• and
• attaching means for releasably attaching the first elongate support member to at least two vertebrae of a human spine to thereby intercouple said vertebrae to one another;
• wherein the attaching means further comprises means for intercoupling the first elongate support member to at least three different vertebrae of the spine;
• wherein the first, longer portion is at least three times the length of the second, shorter portion;
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a second elongate support member with a means for attaching in a substantially parallel fashion the second elongate support member parallel to and apart from the first elongate support member on the spine, said second elongate support member having a right-angle bend formed therein such that said second elongate support member assumes an “L” shape having a first, longer portion and a second, shorter portion extending at a substantially right angle with respect to said longer portion;
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a means for intercoupling the first elongate support member with the second elongate support member, such that the longer portion of said first elongate support member is spaced apart from the longer portion of said second elongate support member;
• wherein the means for attaching in a substantially parallel fashion comprises at least one stem clamp that is releasably mountable to the corresponding first elongate support member or the second elongate support member, the stem clamp comprising a concave sidewall, a body and a stem, said concave sidewall having a limited degree of resiliency and defining a lateral throughbore for holding the first elongate support member and the second elongate support member in place, said concave sidewall interconnecting with said body, said body comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said upper jaw having a transverse, non-threaded throughbore formed therein, said lower jaw having a transverse, threaded throughbore formed therein such that a fastener may pass through the upper jaw unobstructed while threadedly engaging the lower jaw such that said threaded engagement operates to compress the concave sidewall, said upper jaw being attached to the stem;
• wherein the means for intercoupling the first elongate support member with the second elongate support member comprises the stem clamp and a cross-link member, wherein the cross-link member extends between the first elongate support member and the second elongate support member interconnecting said first elongate support member and said second elongate support member providing additional stabilization of the apparatus;
• wherein the cross-link member is fastened to the stem clamp by the fastener of the stem clamp, at least one of said stem clamp corresponding to the first elongate support member and the second elongate support member, wherein said first eyelet and said second eyelet of said cross-link member are aligned along the top of the transverse throughbore of the upper jaw of the stem clamp such that the fastener may pass therethrough thereby causing attachment of said cross-link member to said stem clamp interconnecting the first elongate support member and the second elongate support member for increased stabilization;
• wherein the stem of the stem clamp is attached to the body of said stem clamp independently of the fastener;
• wherein the stem clamp is configured and arranged to permit the first elongate support member to pass through space surrounded by the concave sidewall such that the concave sidewall compressibly grips upon the first elongate support member;
• wherein the lateral throughbore of the stem clamp has an interior diameter that is greater than the diameter of the first elongate support member when said stem clamp resides in a natural unbiased state to thereby allow said first elongate support member to slide through the lateral throughbore prior to the fastener engaging the threaded lower jaw compressing the concave sidewall and gripping the first elongate support member;
• wherein the stem of the stem clamp extends laterally from the upper jaw of the body of the stem clamp;
• and
• wherein the stem clamp having an angular offset of said lower jaw from said upper jaw, said angular offset having an angle between the range of approximately one to ten degrees.

A spinal fixation apparatus for implantation on a spine comprising:

• at least one longitudinal rod comprising a first end and a second end, said longitudinal rod further comprises at least one bend located between the first end and the second end of said longitudinal rod forming a side arm;
• at least one stem clamp releasably mountable to said longitudinal rod, said stem clamp comprising a concave sidewall, a body and a stem, said concave sidewall having a limited degree of resiliency and defining a lateral throughbore for holding the longitudinal rod in place, said concave sidewall interconnecting with said body, said body comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said upper jaw having a transverse, non-threaded throughbore formed therein, said lower jaw having a transverse, threaded throughbore formed therein such that a fastener may pass through the upper jaw unobstructed while threadedly engaging the lower jaw such that threaded engagement operates to compress the concave sidewall, said upper jaw being attached to the stem;
• and
• at least one C-clamp mounted to at least one of the group consisting of the stem of the stem clamp and the longitudinal rod, said C-clamp comprising a clamp body having an upper jaw and a lower jaw with a lateral throughbore passing between said upper jaw and said lower jaw, said clamp body having a transverse throughbore passing through said upper jaw and said lower jaw with the transverse throughbore in said lower jaw having threads therein, said C-clamp further including engagement means for engaging said C-clamp with a bone screw, said bone screw comprising a bolt head at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end, said bone screw having a threaded shaft between said proximal end and said distal end with said threaded shaft having a threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder adjacent said bolt head and a threaded, diametrally reduced screw body between said shoulder and said tip, the thread pitch for said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder being identical to said threaded, diametrally reduced screw body, said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder threadedly engaging said threads in said transverse throughbore in said lower jaw of said C-clamp thereby providing said engagement means for said C-clamp.

A spinal fixation apparatus for implantation on a spine comprising:

• at least one longitudinal rod comprising a first end and a second end, said longitudinal rod further comprises at least one bend located between the first end and the second end of said first longitudinal rod forming a side arm;
• and
• at least one C-clamp mounted to said longitudinal rod, said C-clamp comprising a clamp body having an upper jaw and a lower jaw with a lateral throughbore passing between said upper jaw and said lower jaw, said clamp body having a transverse throughbore passing through said upper jaw and said lower jaw, said transverse throughbore in said lower jaw having threads therein;
• and
• a bone screw comprising a bolt head at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end, said bone screw having a threaded shaft between said proximal end and said distal end with said threaded shaft having a threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder adjacent said bolt head and a threaded, diametrally reduced screw body between said shoulder and said tip, the thread pitch for said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder being identical to said threaded, diametrally reduced screw body, said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder threadedly engaging said threads in said transverse throughbore in said lower jaw of said C-clamp thereby providing said engagement means for said C-clamp;
• wherein the C-clamp further including engagement means for engaging said C-clamp with a bone screw.

A spinal fixation apparatus for implantation on a spine comprising:

• a longitudinal rod comprising a first end and a second end, said longitudinal rod comprising at least one bend located between the first end and second end of said longitudinal rod forming a side arm;
• a stem clamp having a concave sidewall, a body and a stem, said concave sidewall having a limited degree of resiliency for holding the longitudinal rod in place, said concave sidewall interconnecting with said body defining a lateral throughbore for engaging said longitudinal rod, said body comprising an upper jaw and a lower jaw, said upper jaw having a transverse throughbore formed therein, said lower jaw having a transverse throughbore formed therein, wherein a fastener may pass through the upper jaw while engaging the lower jaw such that the fastener urges the upper jaw and the lower jaw together through compression forces to thereby fasten the stem clamp to the longitudinal rod;
• and
• attaching means for attaching said stem of said stem clamp and said longitudinal rod to the spine thereby immobilizing at least two vertebrae of the spine increasing the rigidity of the spine for the stabilization and subsequent fusion of the vertebrae.

A spinal fixation apparatus comprising:

• an elongate support member having a right-angle bend formed therein such that said support member assumes an “L” shape having a first, longer portion and a second, shorter portion extending at a substantially right angle with respect to said longer portion;
• attaching means for releasably attaching the elongate support member to at least two vertebrae of a human spine to thereby intercouple said vertebrae to one another;
• and
• a second elongate support member with a means for attaching in a substantially parallel fashion the second elongate support member parallel to and apart from the first elongate support member on the spine, said second elongate support member having a right-angle bend formed therein such that said second elongate support member assumes an “L” shape having a first, longer portion and a second, shorter portion extending at a substantially right angle with respect to said longer portion;
• wherein the apparatus further comprises a means for intercoupling the first elongate support member with the second elongate support member, such that the longer portion of said first elongate support member is spaced apart from the longer portion of said second elongate support member;
• wherein the attaching means further comprises means for intercoupling the elongate support member to at least three different vertebrae of the spine;
• wherein the attaching means further comprises at least one C-clamp having a clamp body, the clamp body having an upper jaw and a lower jaw with a lateral throughbore passing between said upper jaw and said lower jaw;
• wherein the clamp body of the C-clamp further having a transverse throughbore passing through the upper jaw and the lower jaw with the transverse throughbore in said lower jaw having threads therein, said C-clamp further including engagement means for engaging said C-clamp with a bone screw, said bone screw comprising a bolt head at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end, said bone screw having a threaded shaft between said proximal end and said distal end with said threaded shaft having a threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder adjacent said bolt head and a threaded, diametrally reduced screw body between said shoulder and said tip, the thread pitch for said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder being identical to said threaded, diametrally reduced screw body, said threaded, diametrally enlarged shoulder threadedly engaging said threads in said transverse throughbore in said lower jaw of said C-clamp thereby providing said engagement means for said C-clamp;
• wherein the C-clamp is releasably mountable to the second, shorter portion of the elongate support member to thereby anchor the elongate support member to the spine;
• wherein the C-clamp having an angular offset of said lower jaw from said upper jaw, said angular offset having an angle between the range of approximately one to ten degrees;
• and
• wherein the first, longer portion is at least three times the length of the second, shorter portion.

A method for providing fixation of a spine comprising the steps of:

• obtaining at least one longitudinal rod having a right-angle bend formed therein such that said support member assumes an “L” shape having a first, longer portion and a second, shorter portion extending at a substantially right angle with respect to said longer portion;
• providing at least one C-clamp having an upper jaw, a lower jaw, and a lateral throughbore, the lower jaw having a threaded transverse throughbore;
• affixing said C-clamp to said longitudinal rod such that the longitudinal rod is located within the lateral throughbore;
• providing at least one bone screw having a head and a shaft with a threaded shoulder disposed between the head and the shaft for matingly engaging the threaded transverse throughbore of the lower jaw;
• securing said C-clamp to a spine with said bone screw;
• and
• tightening said bone screw such that the head contacts the upper jaw causing the upper jaw to move to a position closer in proximity with respect to the lower jaw, such that the C-clamp provides spinal fixation with said longitudinal rod.

A method for providing fixation of a spine comprising the steps of:

• obtaining at least one longitudinal rod having a right-angle bend formed therein such that said support member assumes an “L” shape having a first, longer portion and a second, shorter portion extending at a substantially right angle with respect to said longer portion;
• fabricating at least one stem clamp;
• affixing said stem clamp to said longitudinal rod;
• forming at least one bone screw;
• securing said stem clamp to a spine with said bone screw;
• and
• tightening said stem clamp thereby providing spinal fixation with said longitudinal rod.

A spinal fixation apparatus comprising:

• a first elongate support member;
• a clamping member comprising a clamp body, the clamp body having an upper jaw and a lower jaw, with a lateral throughbore defined by a sidewall passing between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, the lateral throughbore being configured and dimensioned to receive therein the first elongate support member;
• and
• a slit comprising a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is formed between the upper jaw and the lower jaw adjacent the lateral throughbore, and wherein the second opening is formed between the upper jaw and the lower jaw opposite the first opening;
• wherein the second opening is larger than the first opening in an uncompressed, relaxed state, such that a lever is created to efficiently clamp the sidewall of the lateral throughbore against the first elongate support member as a compression force is applied to the clamping member, when the first elongate support member is located within the lateral throughbore;
• wherein the clamping member comprises a stem clamp having a stem extending from and being attached to the upper jaw.

A spinal fixation apparatus comprising:

• a clamping member comprising a clamp body, the clamp body having an upper jaw and a lower jaw with a lateral throughbore defined by a sidewall passing between the upper jaw and the lower jaw, the lateral throughbore being configured and dimensioned to receive therein an elongate support member;
• wherein the upper jaw of the clamping member comprises a top and bottom surface, and the lower jaw of the clamping member comprises a top and bottom surface;
• wherein the top surface of the upper jaw is angularly offset from and with respect to the bottom surface of the lower jaw;
• wherein the clamping member is a stem clamp, wherein the stem clamp further comprises a stem extending outwardly from the upper jaw.