Orthopedic clamping hook assembly

• US 20070016189A1
• Filed: 06/30/2005
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Spine Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Spine Sarl (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hall, Mark, Konieczynski, David, Lake, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,177,823 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 17/7035 Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7044 also having plates, staples or washers bearing on the vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7047 Clamps comprising opposed elements which grasp one vertebra between them
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7056 Hooks with specially-designed bone-contacting part

Abstract

An occipital clamping hook assembly includes a hook for engaging a first side of an occipital bone and a compressor movable relative to the hook for applying a compressive force to the occipital bone from a second side of the occipital bone. The occipital clamping assembly further includes a rod-receiving portion coupled to the hook for coupling a rod to the occipital bone engaged by the hook.

Claims

1. An orthopedic clamping hook assembly comprising:

a body having a longitudinal axis;

a rod-receiving portion disposed at a first end of the body;

a hook for engaging a first side of a bone, wherein the hook is disposed at a second end of the body; and

a compressor coupled to the body for engaging a second side of the bone and applying a compressive force to the bone disposed between the hook and the compressor.

2. The occipital clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the compressor is axially movable relative to the body.

3. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the compressor and hook are separated by a variable separation distance.

4. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first set of threads for mating with a second set of threads on the compressor to movably couple the body and the compressor.

5. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the first set of threads is located on an outer surface of the body.

6. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 4, wherein the body includes an axially extending inner passageway, and the first set of threads is located on an interior surface of the axially extending inner passageway of the body.

7. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the compressor comprises a flange encircling the body.

8. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the compressor comprises a substantially cylindrical-shaped object disposed in and axially movable along an axially extending passageway firmed in the body.

9. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the rod-receiving portion is movable relative to the hook.

10. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a drive shaft having the rod-receiving portion movably mounted thereto, a cylinder for receiving the drive shaft and the hook coupled to a bottom surface of the cylinder.

11. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 10, wherein the hooks moves from an non-engaging position on the bottom surface of the cylinder to an engaging position extending from the bottom surface of the cylinder when the shaft is rotated about the longitudinal axis.

12. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein the hook is movable relative to the body.

13. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for locking the compressor in an engaged position where the compressor engages and compresses the bone.

14. The orthopedic clamping hook assembly of claim 1, wherein body includes a plurality of hooks.

19. The occipital fixation system of claim 1, wherein the occipital clamping hook assembly comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, a rod-receiving portion disposed at a first end of the body, the hook disposed at a second end of the body and a compressor coupled to the body for engaging an outward surface of the plate opposing the bone and applying the compressive force to the plate and occipital bone disposed between the hook and the compressor.

20. The occipital fixation system of claim 19, wherein the system comprises a plurality of occipital clamping hook assemblies, each inserted through a hole in the plate and engaging and applying a compressive force to the occipital bone.

15. A method of inserting an occipital clamping hook assembly in a body, comprising the steps of:

inserting a hook through a hole in an occipital bone and into engagement with a first side of the occipital bone; and

moving a compressor coupled to the hook towards a second side of the occipital bone to apply a compressive force to the bone.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of moving comprises rotating the compressor about a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hole, causing mating threads to push the compressor towards the bone.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of locking the compressor in a locked position.

18. An occipital fixation system, comprising:

an occipital fixation plate including a body for stabilizing a spine of a patient and having at least one hole extending therethrough; and

an occipital clamping hook assembly having a hook inserted through a first hole of the plate configured to engage a first side of an occipital bone, wherein the occipital clamping hook assembly apples a compressive force to the plate and occipital bone.