BONE SCREW ASSEMBLY

• US 20110184470A1
• Filed: 08/06/2009
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Josef Gorek
• Original Assignee: K2M, Inc (Stryker Corporation)
• Inventors: Jones, Scott, Gorek, Josef
• Application Number:
  US13/057,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20110184470A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/279
• 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 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7059 Cortical plates A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7067 Devices bearing against one or more spinous processes and also attached to another part of the spine; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8605 Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone

Abstract

A bone screw assembly includes a first bone screw, second bone screw, and a coupler. The first bone screw defines a first axis and the second bone screw defines a second axis. The coupler is operably associated with the first bone screw and the second bone screw. The coupler is adapted to mount the first bone screw and the second bone screw to adjacent bone structures. The first axis of the first bone screw and the second axis of the second bone screw define an angle therebetween. The first bone screw and the second bone screw are securable to each other.

Claims

1. A bone screw assembly comprising:

a first bone screw defining a first axis;

a second bone screw defining a second axis; and

a coupler operably associated with the first bone screw and the second bone screw, the coupler being adapted to mount the first bone screw to the second bone screw, wherein the first axis of the first bone screw and the second axis of the second bone screw define an angle therebetween.

2. The bone screw assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bone screw is oriented orthogonally to the second bone screw.

3. The bone screw assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupler is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the first bone screw.

4. The bone screw assembly of claim 3, wherein the coupler is adapted to accommodate the second bone screw such that when the first bone screw is threaded through the coupler, the first and second bone screws are threadably locked to each other.

5. The bone screw assembly of claim 1, wherein the first axis and the second axis define an angle between about 0″

and about 180°

.

6. The bone screw assembly of claim 3, wherein the coupler defines at least one coupler axis such that the at least one coupler axis and the first axis of the first bone screw define an angle between about 0°

and about 180°

.

7. The bone screw assembly of claim 6, wherein the coupler axis and the at least one second axis of the second bone screw are disposed in substantial axial alignment.

8. The bone screw assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one bore extends through the coupler that is adapted to accommodate the at least one second bone screw.

9. The bone screw assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the bone screw assembly is made of commercially pure titanium and a portion of the bone screw assembly is made of titanium alloy.

10. A method of mounting a bone screw assembly comprising:

providing a first bone screw, a second bone screw, and a coupler defining at least one bore extending therethrough, wherein the coupler is operably associated with at least one of the first and second bone screws;

mounting the first bone screw to a first vertebral body;

mounting the second bone screw to a second vertebral body; and

coupling the first bone screw and the at least one second bone screw via the coupler.

11. The method of claim 10, further including:

positioning a first axis of the first bone screw and a second axis of the second bone screw at an angle of between about 0° and

about 180°

with respect to one another.

12. The method of claim 10, further including:

mounting at least one of the first and second bone screws to an interbody cage implant.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein mounting the first bone screw includes mounting the first bone screw into a pars articularis of one vertebral body.

14. A method of spinal fixation comprising:

(a) inserting a first bone screw having a head including a bore into a facet joint;

(b) inserting a second bone screw through the bore and into bone adjacent to the facet joint;

(c) threading the second bone screw into the head of the first bone screw;

(d) attaching a coupling member to the second bone screw;

(e) repeating (a) though (d) on an opposing side of the same spinal level; and

(f) positioning a portion of the coupling member around a spinous process;

(g) securing the coupling member to the construct on the opposing side of the spine.

15. A method of treating bone comprising:

providing a first bone screw having a threaded shaft configured and dimensioned to engage bone and further having a coupler including a bore,

providing a second bone screw having a threaded shaft configured and dimensioned to engage bone, and further including a screw head having threads thereon;

mounting the first bone screw into bone;

mounting the second bone screw to bone by inserting the second screw threaded shaft through the bore and into bone; and

coupling the first bone screw to the second bone screw by engaging the threads of the second screw head with the coupler.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of mounting the first bone screw comprises mounting the first bone screw to a facet joint.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of mounting the second bone screw comprises mounting the second screw threaded shaft into the pars articularis adjacent the facet joint.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of coupling includes engaging the second screw head threads with threads in the bore of the coupler.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of coupling includes engaging the second screw head threads with a lip in the bore of the coupler, the coupler being formed of a softer material than the second screw.

20. A bone screw assembly comprising:

a first bone screw having a threaded shaft defining a first axis;

a second bone screw having a threaded shaft defining a second axis; and

a coupler operably associated with the first bone screw, the coupler being flexibly attached to the head of the first bone screw and having a bore configured and dimensioned to receive the second bone screw shaft therethrough.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the bore includes threads and the second screw head includes threads configured and dimensioned to engage the bore threads.

22. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the bore includes a lip and the coupler is formed of a softer material than the second screw head, such that the threads of the second screw head are configured to deform the lip when rotatably engaged with the bore lip,

23. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the coupler is rotatably mounted to the first screw.

24. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the coupler is hingedly mounted to the first screw.