Apparatus and methods for spinal implant with variable link mechanism

• US 20070083201A1
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Published: 04/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Robert, Forton, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,226,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/252
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A spinal implant provides support for desired parts of the spine. The implant can provide support in fusion situations. The spinal implant includes a pair of longitudinal rods and a transverse rod. A pair of variable cross-link devices couple the transverse rod, respectively, to the first and second longitudinal rods. Each variable cross-link device includes a body, having a curved member, a plug, and a rod engaging member. Fastening the plug into the body of the respective variable cross-link device causes application of force that couples the plug and the rod engaging member to the respective longitudinal rod. Fastening the plug also causes application of force that couples the rod engaging member to the transverse rod. Furthermore, fastening the plug causes application of force that couples the respective longitudinal rod to couple to the variable cross-link device. The surgical procedure may use minimally invasive surgery or non-minimally invasive surgery, as desired.

Claims

1. An implant, comprising a locking mechanism that includes a rod engaging member, the rod engaging member configured to facilitate a compression fit to both a first implant rod and to a second implant rod.

2. The implant according to claim 1, further comprising a plug configured to couple to a body, wherein fastening the plug to the body causes the rod engaging member to couple to the first implant rod.

3. The implant according to claim 2, wherein the body comprises a curved member, wherein the second implant rod couples to the curved member.

4. The implant according to claim 3, wherein the curved member forms an opening, and wherein fastening the plug causes the second implant rod to push against the curved member.

5. The implant according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second implant rods comprises a longitudinal rod.

6. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the first implant rod comprises a transverse rod, and the second implant rod comprises a longitudinal rod.

7. The implant according to claim 6, further comprising a third implant rod, wherein the third implant rod comprises a longitudinal rod, and wherein the second and third implant rods are skewed vertically with respect to each other.

8. The implant according to claim 6, further comprising a third implant rod, wherein the third implant rod comprises a longitudinal rod, and wherein the second and third implant rods are skewed horizontally with respect to each other.

9. The implant according to claim 1, used in a minimally invasive surgery procedure.

10. The implant according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism provides five variations of movement.

11. A system for supporting a spine, comprising:

first and second longitudinal rods;

a transverse rod; and

a first variable cross-link device having a body, the first variable cross-link device configured to simultaneously couple the transverse rod to the first longitudinal rod when a first plug is engaged with the body of the first variable cross-link device.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a second variable cross-link device having a body, the second variable cross-link device configured to simultaneously couple the transverse rod to the second longitudinal rod when a second plug is engaged with the body of the second variable cross-link device.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first variable cross-link device further comprises a first rod engaging member, the rod engaging member configured to couple to the transverse rod as the first plug is engaged with the body of the first variable cross-link device.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the first rod engaging member comprises a slot configured to couple to the transverse rod.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the rod engaging member is further configured to couple to the first longitudinal rod as the first plug is engaged with the body of the first variable cross-link device.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first plug is engaged with the body of the first variable cross-link device when the plug is fastened into the body of the first variable cross-link device.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the rod engaging member comprises a beveled face configured to couple to the first longitudinal rod.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the body of the first variable cross-link device comprises a hook member formed to provide an opening.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein engaging the first plug with the body of the first variable cross-link device pushes the first longitudinal rod into the opening.

20. The system according to claim 12, wherein the first and second longitudinal rods are fastened to the spine using screws, caps, or hooks.

21. The system according to claim 11, wherein the first and second longitudinal rods, the transverse rod, and the first variable cross-link device are positioned using minimally invasive surgery.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the second variable cross-link device is positioned using minimally invasive surgery.

23. The system according to claim 11, wherein each of the first and second variable cross-link devices provides five degrees of freedom of movement.

24. A method of coupling first and second longitudinal rods of a spinal implant by using a transverse rod with first and second poly-axial connectors, the method comprising:

tightening a fastener in the first poly-axial connector in order to couple the first poly-axial connector to the first longitudinal rod and to the transverse rod; and

tightening a fastener in the second poly-axial connector in order to couple the second poly-axial connector to the second longitudinal rod and to the transverse rod.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein tightening the fastener in the first poly-axial connector causes application of force that couples a rod engaging member in the first poly-axial connector to couple to the transverse rod.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein tightening the fastener in the first poly-axial connector further causes application of force that couples the rod engaging member to the first longitudinal rod.

27. The method according to claim. 26, wherein tightening the fastener in the first poly-axial connector further causes application of force that couples the first longitudinal rod to the first poly-axial connector.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein tightening the fastener in the second poly-axial connector causes application of force that couples a rod engaging member in the second poly-axial connector to couple to the transverse rod.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein tightening the fastener in the second poly-axial connector further causes application of force that couples the rod engaging member to the second longitudinal rod.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein tightening the fastener in the second poly-axial connector further causes application of force that couples the second longitudinal rod to the second poly-axial connector.

31. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first and second poly-axial connectors are implanted using minimally invasive surgery.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein the first and second longitudinal rods and the transverse rod are implanted using minimally invasive surgery.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein each of the first and second poly-axial connectors provides five variations of movement.