ROD INSERTER AND ROD WITH REDUCED DIAMETER END

• US 20100145389A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings, LLC (Stryker Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stryker Spine
• Inventors: Fallin, T. Wade, Triplett, Daniel, Mohr, Karen, Millard, Thierry
• Granted Patent: US 8,771,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7004 with a cross-section which varies along its length A61B17/7019 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7011 Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7083 Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7085 for insertion of a longitudinal element down one or more hollow screw or hook extensions, i.e. at least a part of the element within an extension has a component of movement parallel to the extension's axis

Abstract

A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.

Claims

1. A pedicle screw assembly comprising:

a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end;

a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener;

a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein both of the first and second ends of said spinal rod have reduced diameter sections.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a first diameter and the reduced diameter first and second ends of said spinal rod have second diameters that are smaller than the first diameter.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first and second ends of said spinal rod has a spherical surface.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second ends of said spinal rod have a spherical surface.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spinal rod is curved between the first and second ends thereof and the outer surface of said spinal rod has at least one alignment marker for identifying an axis of curvature of said spinal rod.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the at least one alignment marker is a line that extends along the axis of curvature of said spinal rod.

8. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof, wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.

9. The spinal rod as claimed in claim 8, wherein said spinal rod has reduced diameter sections at both the first and second ends thereof.

10. The spinal rod as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reduced diameter section comprises a spherical surface.

11. The spinal rod as claimed in claim 8, wherein said spinal rod is curved between the first and second ends thereof.

12. The spinal rod as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has at least one alignment marker for identifying an axis of curvature of said spinal rod.

13. The spinal rod as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reduced diameter sections have spherical surfaces and the outer surface of said spinal rod extending between the reduced diameter sections has a cylindrical surface.

14. The spinal rod as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end, and a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener adapted for seating the spinal rod.