Bone fixation system with low profile fastener
AssigneeSpinal LLC
InventorsJohn E. Hammill, Sr., Robert Doubler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A low profile orthopedic device is used to fix and stabilize bones to correct anomalies in skeletal structure occurring naturally or by trauma. Bone screws are screwed into bones by application of torque. Clamps are movably attached to the screws. Each clamp includes a compression ring. A connecting rod connects several screws through slots in the clamps. The clamps are tightened to hold the rod and the heads in a pre-selected position by linear movement of the compression rings.
Claims73
An orthopedic device for stabilizing bones including at least one bone pin, at least one elongated connector rod and at least one link interconnecting the elongated connector rod and bone pin, each bone pin comprising a shank for penetrating a bone with a head on one end, a clamp universally connected to said head for locking said pin to a link, said clamp having a body including exterior walls forming an inner receptacle enclosing said head, a first compression ring surrounding the outside of said exterior walls in one position, a slot through said exterior walls of said body opposite said receptacle, said slot slidably contacting said link, said first compression ring linearly movable along said outside of said exterior walls to a second position by application of a force consisting of a linear force along a longitudinal axis of said body whereby said exterior walls of said receptacle and said slot exert compressive force securely locking said clamp about said head and said link, said link having an arm with one end and a journal at the other end, said journal has a split sleeve and a second compression ring surrounding the outside of said split sleeve, said second compression ring being movable linearly along said split sleeve by application of a force consisting of a linear force along an axis of said link to move said sleeve from an open position to a closed position, said open position permitting adjustment of said connector rod in said journal and said closed position securing said connector rod and journal together.
In an orthopedic system for stabilizing and fixing bones across a discontinuity, at least two bone screws, an elongated connector rod of a length to span the discontinuity, and at least one link, each said bone screw comprising a threaded shank with a head, said head including a means for applying torque to said shank and a means for attaching one end of said link, the other end of said link formed as a clamp, said clamp having an elongated body with exterior walls, a slot extending across said exterior walls of said clamp, said connector rod movably disposed in said slot, a compression ring surrounding said exterior walls in one position linearly along said exterior walls to a second position by application of a force consisting of a linear force along a longitudinal axis of said link whereby said exterior walls exert a compressive force in said slot when said compression ring is moved by said linear force to said second position.
In an orthopedic device for stabilizing bones comprising in combination a bone pin having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion, a clamp universally connected to said head portion of said bone pin, said clamp having an elongated body with exterior walls, a slot extending across said exterior walls, said slot constructed and arranged to accept a rod member, a compression ring surrounding said exterior walls, said compression ring linearly traversable along said exterior walls between a first position and a second position by a force consisting of a linear force, whereby traversal of said compression ring from said first position to said second position compresses said clamp to substantially fix said clamp and said rod to said bone pin in a predetermined orientation, the improvement comprising:
- at least one annular bulge positioned along the length of said exterior walls of said clamp to provide a change in the external diameter along the length thereof, said at least one annular bulge constructed and arranged to cooperate with said compression ring to apply compressive forces to said clamp for immobilizing at least one of the connections between said clamp and said rod or said clamp and said bone pin.
An orthopedic device for stabilizing bones comprising:
- a bone pin having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for penetrating securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion;
- a clamp universally connected to said head portion of said bone pin for securing said bone pin to a rod or link member, said clamp having an elongated body with exterior walls, said exterior walls including at least one annular bulge to provide a change in the external diameter of said exterior walls, a slot extending across said exterior walls, said slot constructed and arranged to accept said rod or said link member;
- a compression ring surrounding said exterior walls, said compression ring linearly traversable along said exterior walls between a first position and a second position by application of a force consisting of a linear force along a longitudinal axis of said clamp, whereby traversal of said compression ring from said first position to said second position causes said compression ring to cooperate with said at least one annular bulge to apply compressive forces to said clamp to immobilize at least one of the connections between said clamp and said rod or link member or said clamp and said bone pin.
An orthopedic kit for stabilizing bones comprising:
- at least one bone pin having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for penetrating securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion;
- a clamp universally connected to said head portion of each said bone pin for securing said bone pin to a rod or a link, said clamp having an elongated body with exterior walls, a slot extending across said exterior walls, said slot constructed and arranged to slidably accept said rod or said link;
- a first compression ring surrounding said exterior walls of said clamp, said first compression ring linearly traversable along said exterior walls between a first position and a second position by a force consisting of a linear force along a longitudinal axis of said clamp, said first position permitting adjustment of said rod or link, said second position compressing said clamp to immobilize said rod or link with respect to said bone pin;
- at least one link having an arm on one end and a journal at the other end, said journal having a split sleeve and a second compression ring surrounding an outer surface of said split sleeve, said second compression ring being movable linearly along said split sleeve by application of a force consisting of a linear force along a longitudinal axis of said link to move said sleeve from an open position to a closed position, said open position permitting adjustment of said connector rod in said journal and said closed position securing said connector rod and said journal together;
- at least one elongated connector rod constructed and arranged to cooperate with said slot or said journal.
A method of using an orthopedic device to stabilize bones across a discontinuity comprising the steps of:
- providing a first bone pin having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for penetrating securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion;
- connecting a first clamp member to said head portion of said first bone pin for universal movement therebetween, said first clamp member having an elongated body with exterior walls, a first compression ring surrounding said exterior walls, said first compression ring located in a first position, a first slot extending across said exterior walls, said first slot constructed and arranged to accept a rod member;
- securing said shank portion of said first bone pin to a first bone portion on a first side of said discontinuity;
- providing a second bone pin having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for penetrating securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion;
- connecting a second clamp member to said head portion of said second bone pin for universal movement therebetween, said second clamp member having an elongated body with exterior walls, a second compression ring surrounding said exterior walls, said second compression ring located in a first position, a second slot extending across said exterior walls, said second slot constructed and arranged to accept a rod member;
- securing said shank portion of said second bone pin to a second bone portion on a second side of said discontinuity;
- placing a rod member in said first and said second slots, whereby said rod member extends across said discontinuity;
- applying a force consisting of a linear force along the longitudinal centerline of said first clamp member for traversing said first compression ring to a second position along said exterior walls of said first clamp member to compress said first clamp member to substantially fix said first clamp and said rod member in a predetermined orientation with respect to said first bone pin;
- applying a force consisting of a linear force along the longitudinal centerline of said second clamp member for traversing said second compression ring to a second position along said exterior walls of said second clamp member to compress said second clamp member to substantially fix said second clamp member and said rod member in a predetermined orientation with respect to said first bone pin;
- whereby said bones are stabilized across said discontinuity.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bone screw having a threaded shaft and a screw head;
- a clamp body having a receptacle sized to accommodate the head of the bone screw with the threaded shaft extending downwardly out of the receptacle;
- and
- a compression ring around exterior walls of the clamp body and movable along the exterior walls from an open position to a closed position, the compression ring including an annular flange at the upper edge thereof, the open position defined when the compression ring is moved towards the receptacle.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bone screw having a threaded shaft and a screw head;
- a clamp body having a receptacle sized to accommodate the head of the bone screw with the threaded shaft extending out the bottom of the clamp body, the clamp body having a slot to receive a rod;
- a compression ring around exterior walls of the clamp body and movable along the exterior walls from an open position in which the position of the screw relative to the clamp body is adjustable to a closed position in which the position of the screw relative to the clamp body is fixed;
- and
- a retainer which extends across and covers the slot, the retainer remaining rotationally stationary with respect to the clamp body during relative movement of the clamp body and the compression ring.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bone screw having a threaded shaft and a screw body;
- a clamp body having a lower portion defining a receptacle sized to accommodate the head of the bone screw and an upper portion sized to accommodate a rod, the clamp body defining a first diameter near the receptacle and a second diameter near the upper portion, the first diameter being less than the second diameter;
- a compression ring around exterior walls of the clamp body and movable along the exterior walls from an open position in which the orientation of the screw is adjustable relative to the clamp body and a closed position in which the orientation of the screw is fixed relative to the clamp body, the open position defined when the compression ring is moved towards the receptacle;
- and
- a retainer for holding a connector rod and the clamp body together.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bone screw having a head at one end thereof;
- a clamp body having a receptacle for receiving the head of the bone screw, the receptacle being transitionable between a first state and a second state;
- a retainer engageable with the clamp body to hold a connector rod in a relative position with respect to the clamp body;
- and
- a ring member operably associated with the clamp body and repositionable from a first position to a second position, the first position defined when the ring member is adjacent the receptacle wherein:
- when the ring member is in the first position, the receptacle is in the first state and the bone screw is axially adjustable relative to the receptacle, and
- when the ring member is in the second position, the receptacle is in the second state and the bone screw is fixed relative to the receptacle.
An apparatus comprising:
- a bone screw having a head at one end thereof;
- a clamp body having a receptacle for receiving the head of the bone screw, the receptacle transitionable between a first state and a second state;
- a retainer engageable with the clamp body;
- a slot defined between the receptacle and the retainer for receiving a connector rod, the retainer holding the connector rod in the slot;
- and
- a ring member operably associated with the clamp body such that when the ring member is in a first position the bone screw is axially adjustable relative to the receptacle, and when the ring member is in a second position the bone screw is fixed relative to the receptacle, the first position defined when the ring member is adjacent the receptacle of the clamp body.
A method of using an orthopedic device to stabilize bones across a discontinuity, comprising:
- providing a first bone pin assembly, the first bone pin assembly including a first bone screw having a threaded shaft and a screw head, a first clamp body having a receptacle at one end and a first slot at an opposing end, the receptacle sized to accommodate the head of the first bone screw with the threaded shaft extending downwardly out of the receptacle, and a first compression ring around exterior walls of the first clamp body and movable along the exterior walls between an open position and a closed position, the first compression ring including an annular flange at the upper edge thereof, the open position defined when the first compression ring is adjacent the receptacle such that the first bone screw is pivotable relative to the first clamp body;
- securing the threaded shaft of the first bone pin assembly to a first bone portion on a first side of the discontinuity;
- placing a rod member in the first slot, whereby the rod member extends across the discontinuity;
- and
- repositioning the first compression ring from its open position to its closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.