VARIABLE GEOMETRY OCCIPITAL FIXATION PLATE

• US 20100114177A1
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Piehl, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 8,007,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/286
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7044 also having plates, staples or washers bearing on the vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7055 connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8061 specially adapted for particular bones A61B17/70 and A61B17/74 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8085 with pliable or malleable elements or having a mesh-like structure, e.g. small strips A61B17/8071, A61B17/8076 take precedence

Abstract

A fixation device for connecting a stabilization device to a bone comprises a first member comprising a first portion for attachment to a bone; a second member comprising a second portion for attachment to a bone and connected to the first member by a pivotal connection such that the first and second portions are spaced apart by an adjustable distance, at least one of the first and second members further comprising a portion for mounting a connector adapted to secure a stabilization device.

Claims

1. An occipital fixation method, comprising:

providing a variable geometry occipital fixation device, wherein the variable geometry occipital fixation device comprises a first lateral member, a second lateral member, and a midline member, wherein the first lateral member comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot bore located at the proximal end, and an attachment bore located at the distal end, wherein the second lateral member comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot bore located at the proximal end, and an attachment bore located at the distal end, wherein the midline member comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot bore located at the proximal end, and a fixation bore located at the distal end, and wherein the first lateral member, the second lateral member, and the midline member are coupled together at their proximal ends along a common axis extending through their pivot bores;

positioning the variable geometry occipital fixation device in a location against an occiput;

rotating the first lateral member, the second lateral member, the midline member, or a combination thereof around the common axis; and

securing the variable geometry occipital fixation device to the occiput.

2. The occipital fixation method of claim 1, wherein the providing step further comprises:

inserting a fastener through the pivot bore of the midline member, the pivot bore of the first lateral member, and the pivot bore of the second lateral member to couple same together at their proximal ends.

3. The occipital fixation method of claim 1, wherein the securing step further comprises:

inserting a fastener through the fixation bore of the midline member; and

fastening the fastener to attach the midline member to the occiput.

4. The occipital fixation method of claim 3, wherein the securing step further comprises:

inserting attachment bosses in the attachment bores of the first and second lateral members.

5. The occipital fixation method of claim 4, further comprising:

rotating the attachment bosses in the attachment bores of the first and second lateral members.

6. The occipital fixation method of claim 4, further comprising:

attaching rods to the attachment bosses of the first and second lateral members.

7. The occipital fixation method of claim 3, the securing step further comprises:

inserting fasteners into the fixation bores of the first and second lateral members; and

fastening the fasteners to attach the first and second lateral members to the occiput.

8. The occipital fixation method of claim 1, wherein the providing step further comprises:

bending the first lateral member, the second lateral member, the midline member, or a combination thereof.

9. A variable geometry occipital fixation device, comprising:

a first lateral member having a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot bore located at the proximal end, and an attachment bore located at the distal end;

a second lateral member having a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot bore located at the proximal end, and an attachment bore located at the distal end; and

a midline member having a proximal end, a distal end, a pivot bore located at the proximal end, and a fixation bore located at the distal end, wherein the proximal ends of the first lateral member, the second lateral member, and the midline member are stacked on top of each other along a common axis extending through the pivot bores of the first lateral member, the second lateral member, and the midline member, and wherein the first lateral member, the second lateral member, the midline member, or a combination thereof is rotatable about the common axis.

10. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 9, wherein the first lateral member further comprises a fixation bore interposed between the attachment bore and the pivot bore.

11. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 10, wherein the second lateral member further comprises a fixation bore interposed between the attachment bore and the pivot bore.

12. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 11, wherein the fixation bore of the first lateral member is countersunk into the first lateral member, wherein the fixation bore of the second lateral member is countersunk into the second lateral member, and wherein the fixation bore of the midline member is countersunk into the midline member.

13. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 9, wherein the first lateral member further comprises one or more grooves interposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the first lateral member to facilitate bending of the first lateral member.

14. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 13, wherein the second lateral member further comprises one or more grooves interposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the second lateral member to facilitate bending of the second lateral member.

15. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 9, wherein the midline member further comprises one or more grooves interposed between the proximal end and the distal end of the midline member to facilitate bending of the midline member.

16. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 9, wherein the proximal end of the first lateral member, the proximal end of the second lateral member, and the proximal end of the midline member are swaged together or linked together through a fastener inserted into the pivot bore of the first lateral member, the pivot bore of the second lateral member, and the pivot bore of the midline member.

17. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 9, wherein the distal end of the first lateral member is thicker than the proximal end of the first lateral member, wherein the distal end of the second lateral member is thicker than the proximal end of the second lateral member, and wherein the distal end of the midline member is thicker than the proximal end of the midline member.

18. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 9, further comprising:

a first attachment boss inserted into the attachment bore of the first lateral member and having a slot for receiving a first spinal stabilization device; and

a second attachment boss inserted into the attachment bore of the second lateral member and having a slot for receiving a second spinal stabilization device.

19. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 18, wherein the first attachment boss comprises a threaded portion for receiving a first threaded fastener.

20. The variable geometry occipital fixation device of claim 18, wherein the first attachment boss inserted into the attachment bore of the first lateral member is free to rotate inside of the attachment bore of the first lateral member.