Spinal stabilizing system

• US 20060089644A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brent A. Felix
• Original Assignee: Brent A. Felix
• Inventors: Felix, Brent A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,691,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/250
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7049 Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone

Abstract

A spinal stabilizing system includes a collar having a tubular sidewall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface at least partially bounding a longitudinal passage extending therethrough. A shoulder radially inwardly projects from a second end of the sidewall so as to at last partially encircle the longitudinal passage. A pair of spaced apart channels transversely extend through the sidewall at the first end thereof. The system further includes a screw having a threaded portion and an enlarged head mounted on the end thereof, the head of the screw resting against the shoulder of the collar so that the head can pivot on the shoulder, a locking slot being formed on the head of the screw. A pin is secured to the collar and projects into the locking slot on the head of the screw such rotation of the collar facilitates rotation of the screw.

Claims

1. A spinal stabilizing system comprising:

a collar comprising;

a tubular sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the interior surface at least partially bounding a longitudinal passage extending therethrough;

a shoulder radially inwardly projecting from the second end of the sidewall so as to at last partially encircle the longitudinal passage, the shoulder having an interior surface at least partially forming a seat; and

a pair of spaced apart channels transversely extending through the sidewall at the first end thereof;

a screw having a threaded portion and an enlarged head mounted on the end thereof, the head of the screw resting on or adjacent to the seat of the collar so that the head can pivot relative to the seat; and

means for locking the screw to the collar so that the collar can freely pivot relative to the head of the screw and so that rotation of the collar facilitates rotation of the screw.

2. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall has a non-circular transverse cross section.

3. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall has a polygonal transverse cross section.

4. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising threads from on the interior surface of the sidewall.

5. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a fastener removably engaging the interior surface of the sidewall.

6. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

the spaced apart channels at least partially bounding a transverse passage that transversely extends through the collar and intersects with the longitudinal passage;

a stabilizing rod disposed within the transverse passage so as to extend through the spaced part channels; and

the fastener biasing against the stabilizing rod so that the stabilizing rod biases against the head of the screw.

7. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein means for locking the screw to the collar comprises:

a locking slot formed on the head of the screw; and

a pin being secured to the collar and projecting into the locking slot on the head of the screw.

8. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 7, further comprising a collet disposed between the head of the screw and the seat of the collar.

9. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a pair of spaced apart engagement slots being formed on the head of the screw, each engagement slot being spaced apart from a central longitudinal axis of the screw.

10. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an engagement socket having a polygonal transverse cross section formed on the head of the screw, the engagement socket intersecting with a central longitudinal axis of the screw.

11. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 1, wherein the collar can pivot relative to the head of the screw over an angle of at least 10°

.

12. A spinal stabilizing system comprising:

a collar comprising;

a tubular sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the interior surface at least partially bounding a longitudinal passage extending therethrough;

a shoulder radially inwardly projecting from the second end of the sidewall so as to at last partially encircle the longitudinal passage, the shoulder having an interior surface at least partially forming a seat; and

a pair of spaced apart channels transversely extending through the sidewall at the first end thereof;

a screw having a threaded portion and an enlarged head mounted on the end thereof, the head of the screw resting against the seat of the collar so that the collar can pivot on the head, a locking slot being formed on the head of the screw; and

a pin being secured to the collar and projecting into the locking slot on the head of the screw such rotation of the collar facilitates rotation of the screw.

13. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall has a non-circular transverse cross section.

14. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall comprises a plurality of planar surfaces.

15. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a fastener threadedly engaging the interior surface of the sidewall.

16. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

the spaced apart channels at least partially bounding a transverse passage that transversely extends through the collar and intersects with the longitudinal passage;

a stabilizing rod disposed within the transverse passage so as to extend through the spaced part channels; and

the fastener biasing against the stabilizing rod so that the stabilizing rod biases against the head of the screw.

17. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 16, further comprising a cross link mounted on the stabilizing rod, the cross link comprising:

a cross bar having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface that each extend between a first end and an opposing second end;

a first retainer having a first leg that projects downwardly away from the bottom surface of the cross bar at the first end of the cross bar and a second leg that projects from the first leg toward the second end of the cross bar in generally parallel alignment with the cross bar, the first retainer and cross bar bounding a first locking channel, the stabilizing rod being disposed within the first locking channel; and

a second retainer having a first leg that projects down from the bottom surface of the cross bar at a location between the first end and the second end of the cross bar and has a second leg that projects from the first leg toward the second end of the cross bar in generally parallel alignment with the cross bar, the second retainer and cross bar bounding a second locking channel.

18. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 12, further comprising a pair of spaced apart engagement slots being formed on the head of the screw, each engagement slot being spaced apart from a central longitudinal axis of the screw.

19. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 12, wherein the collar can pivot on the head of the screw over an angle of at least 15°

.

20. A spinal stabilizing system comprising:

a collar comprising;

a tubular sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a first end and an opposing second end, the interior surface at least partially bounding a longitudinal passage extending therethrough;

a shoulder radially inwardly projecting from the second end of the sidewall so as to at last partially encircle the longitudinal passage, the shoulder having an interior surface at least partially forming a seat; and

a pair of spaced apart channels transversely extending through the sidewall at the first end thereof; and

a screw comprising;

an elongated shaft having a first end and an opposing second end with a central longitudinal axis extending along the length thereof;

a helical thread encircling the shaft along a least a portion of the length thereof; and

an enlarged head mounted on the first end of the shaft, the head having an rounded crown on a side opposite the shaft through which the central longitudinal axis extends, a pair of spaced apart engagement slots being formed on the head at locations spaced apart from the central longitudinal axis, the head of the screw resting on or adjacent to the seat of the collar so that the collar can pivot relative to the head of the screw.

21. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

a locking slot formed on the head of the screw; and

a pin secured to the collar and projecting into the locking slot on the head of the screw.

22. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall has a polygonal transverse cross section.

23. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, further comprising a fastener removably secured within the longitudinal passage of the collar.

24. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, wherein the collar can pivot relative to the head of the screw over an angle of at least 10°

.

25. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, wherein the crown has an exterior surface with a domed, convex curvature.

26. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, wherein the head of the screw is substantially spherical.

27. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 20, further comprising a collet disposed between the head of the screw and the seat of the collar.

28. A spinal stabilizing system comprising:

a collar comprising;

a tubular sidewall having an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending a first end and an opposing second end, the exterior surface having a non-circular transverse cross section, the interior surface at least partially bounding a longitudinal channel extending therethrough; and

a shoulder radially inwardly projecting from the second end of the sidewall so as to at last partially encircle the longitudinal passage, the shoulder having an interior surface at least partially forming a seat; and

a pair of spaced apart channels transversely extending through the sidewall at the first end thereof; and

a screw having a threaded portion and an enlarged head mounted on the end thereof, the head of the screw resting on or adjacent to the seat of the collar so that the collar can pivot relative to the head of the screw.

29. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall has a polygonal transverse cross section.

30. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, wherein the exterior surface of the sidewall comprises a plurality of planar surfaces.

31. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, further comprising threads from on the interior surface of the sidewall.

32. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

the spaced apart channels at least partially bounding a transverse passage that transversely extends through the collar and intersects with the longitudinal passage;

a stabilizing rod disposed within the transverse passage so as to extend through the spaced part channels; and

a fastener secured to the collar and biasing against the stabilizing rod so that the stabilizing rod biases against the head of the screw.

33. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, further comprising means for locking the screw to the collar so that the head of the collar can freely pivot relative to the head of the screw and so that rotation of the collar facilitates rotation of the screw.

34. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 33, wherein the means for locking the screw to the collar comprises:

a locking slot formed on the head of the screw; and

a pin being secured to the collar and projecting into the locking slot on the head of the screw.

35. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, further comprising a collet disposed between the head of the screw and the seat of the collar.

36. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, further comprising a pair of spaced apart engagement slots being formed on the head of the screw, each engagement slot being spaced apart from a central longitudinal axis of the screw.

37. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, further comprising an engagement socket having a polygonal transverse cross section formed on the head of the screw, the engagement socket intersecting with a central longitudinal axis of the screw.

38. The spinal stabilizing system as recited in claim 28, wherein the collar can pivot relative to the head of the screw over an angle of at least 15°

.