Occipito fixation system and method of use

• US 20050288669A1
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M. S. Abdou
• Original Assignee: M. S. Abdou
• Inventors: Abdou, M. S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/246
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/6433 specially adapted for use on body parts other than limbs, e.g. trunk or head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/68 Internal fixation devices , including fasteners and spinal fixators, even if a part thereof projects from the skin bone staples A61B17/0642
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/705 for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull

Abstract

Disclosed is a multi-axial occipito-cervical connection system that enables an occipital rod to be coupled to a cervical rod in a manner that permits multi-axial, relative movement between the two rods about a predetermined location, such as the heads of the rods. The system includes a locking mechanism that can be actuated to lock the relative positions of the rods. The rods can provide an interconnection between one or more attachments on the skull (such as an occipital attachment) and one or more attachments to the spine (such as spine screws).

Claims

1. A skull-spine connection device, comprising:

a connector connecting a skull connection device to a spine connection device, wherein the connector permits multi-axial, relative movement between the skull connection device and the spine connection device, and wherein the connector is configured to lock the skull connection device and spine connection device in a predetermined orientation relative to one another.

2. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the skull connection device and the spine connection device each comprises an elongated member that extends along an axis.

3. The connection device of claim 2, wherein the connector movably connects the skull connection device to the spine connection device in a manner that permits the axes of the skull connection device and spine connection devices to be adjusted relative to one another.

4. The connection device of claim 2, wherein the connector comprises at least one housing attached to a head of the skull connection device and a head of the spine connection device.

5. The connection device of claim 4, wherein the connector includes a locking member that is actuated to lock the head of the skull connection device and the head of the spine connection device in a fixed position within the housing.

6. The connection device of claim 2, wherein either the skull connection device and the spine connection device comprise an elongated rod or a plate.

7. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the connector is integrally attached to either of the skull connection device or the spine connection device.

8. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises:

at least one housing connected to a first end of the skull connection device and a first end of the spine connection device;

a locking member coupled to the housing, the locking member configured to move into a locked position wherein the locking member lockingly engages the first ends of the skull connection device and the spine connection device to lock the skull connection device and the spine connection device in a predetermined orientation relative to the housing;

an actuator configured to actuate the locking member into the locked position.

9. A skull attachment device, comprising:

a skull attachment member configured to be attached to a skull;

a rod fixation assembly configured to attach a rod to the skull attachment member, comprising;

an inner saddle member having a ledge configured to engage a lower region of the skull attachment member and an extension that extends upwardly through an aperture in the skull attachment member, the extension having a slot sized to receive the rod;

an outer saddle member that concentrically fits over the inner saddle member on an upper region of the skull attachment member, the outer saddle member having a slot that aligns with the slot on the outer saddle member and that receives the rod; and

a locking member that engages the inner saddle member above the rod when the rod is positioned in the slots, wherein the locking member provides a force to the rod to secure the rod in the slots.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the inner saddle member includes a protrusion that mates with a complementary cavity in the outer saddle member to align the outer saddle member relative to the inner saddle member.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the skull attachment member comprises a central body and a pair of extensions that extend outwardly from the central body.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the extensions are substantially “

U”

shaped.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the curvilinear extensions include an elongated slot that receives the ledge of the inner saddle member.

14. A fastening button for fastening a device to a bone, comprising:

a base having an engagement surface for engaging a surface of the bone; and

a post extending outwardly from the base, an outer surface of the post configured to engage an edge of a hole in the bone, wherein the post is positioned in an off-center location relative to the base.

15. The fastening button of claim 14, wherein the base is circular.

16. The fastening button of claim 14, wherein the post is threaded and is configured to mate with threaded nuts for coupling the fastening button to a bone attachment.

17. A skull fixation assembly, comprising:

a first bone screw having a shank that extends along an axis, the shank configured to be lodged into a skull; and

a skull attachment device having a first borehole for receiving the shank of the bone screw, wherein the bone screw can be mounted in the first hole in a multi-axial configuration such that the axis of the shank can enter the skull at variety of angles.

18. The assembly of claim 17, further comprising a second bone screw having a shank that extends along an axis, the second bone screw being lodged through the skull attachment device into the skull in a polyaxial configuration such that the axis of the second bone screw can be oriented at an angle relative to a surface of the bone that is different than the angle of the first bone screw to provide a crossed-screw configuration.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the axis of the second bone screw and the axis of the first bone screw are non-parallel.

20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the axis of the second bone screw and the axis of the first bone screw are parallel.

21. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the borehole has a trajectory that is perpendicular relative to a surface of the skull.

22. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the borehole has a trajectory that is non-perpendicular relative to a surface of the skull.

23. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the skull attachment device has a plurality of holes that each receive a bone screw in a polyaxial configuration such that each of the bone screws can enter the skull at a variety of angles.

24. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the axis of the shank can enter the skull at a perpendicular or a non-perpendicular angle relative to a surface of the skull.