Orthopaedic rod/plate locking mechanisms and surgical methods
First Claim
1. An anchor assembly for spinal fixation, comprising an anchor plate configured to anchor centrally on a skull below the external occipital protuberance and having first and second arms extending to sides thereof, and at least one bolt having a slot configured to capture and clamp a fixation member, the bolt being affixed to an arm forming a unitary and non-separating assembly with said anchor plate for one piece installation, the bolt being freely rotatable before clamping for positioning to receive the fixation member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An orthopaedic method and anchor assemblies for anchoring a linkage such as a rod or cable used for fixation or reduction. One assembly includes an anchor plate and a slotted anchor bolt that captures the plate in a one-piece assembly for convenient installation. The base of the anchor bolt lies below the plate, and a cap or nut tightens down to secure a linking member, e.g., a rod or cable, in the slot, simultaneously clamping the bolt to fix both its position and its orientation on the plate. One occipital plate has lateral arms that hold the anchor bolts, and a Y-shaped embodiment is mounted in an inverted orientation to position the anchor bolts well down in soft tissue for more effective wound closure. A cable connector is used together with an anchor plate, vertebra anchor screws and fixation rods to secure ends of a cable at the level of one or more vertebrae, providing a versatile and highly stable system for alignment, fixation and fusing of the cervical and thoracic spine. The cable connectors have an open-sided channel that fits onto and securely clamps to an already-positioned fixation rod, with an eyelet or other structure providing a rigid and fixed securing point for a cable that is threaded about the vertebrae under tension. Methods of fixation are described.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An anchor assembly for spinal fixation, comprising
an anchor plate configured to anchor centrally on a skull below the external occipital protuberance and having first and second arms extending to sides thereof, and at least one bolt having a slot configured to capture and clamp a fixation member, the bolt being affixed to an arm forming a unitary and non-separating assembly with said anchor plate for one piece installation, the bolt being freely rotatable before clamping for positioning to receive the fixation member.
-
9. The anchor assembly of 7, wherein said support platform sleeve portion extends partially through said plate.
-
12. A spinal fixation system comprising
a first anchor element in the form of an occipital plate having at least one anchor screw hole disposed therein and at least one bolt-receiving aperture disposed therein; -
at least one anchor bolt adapted to seat in the bolt-receiving aperture of the first anchor element, the anchor bolt having a slot extending transversely through a portion thereof;
a linking member having a proximal end portion clamped in said slot and having a distal end anchored to a vertebra; and
at least one cable connector fastened to the linking member at a selected position between said proximal and said distal end portions, said cable connector including an eyelet defining a connection point to secure a spinal fixation cable at said selected position.
-
-
16. A cable connector, said cable connector comprising
a body having a generally elongated channel extending therethrough sized to receive a fixation rod therein, said channel being open sided such that the body may be placed from a side onto a fixation rod at a selected position while the rod is at least partly anchored in position; -
the body further having an eyelet portion adapted to receive a cable; and
a clamping screw fitted in said body adjacent said channel such that the clamping screw locks the fixation rod, securely fixing position of the cable connector on the rod whereby the eyelet secures the cable at said selected position.
-
Specification