Spinal locking sleeve assembly

• US 5,201,734 A
• Filed: 05/14/1991
• Issued: 04/13/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cozad, Trent E., Lozier, Antony J., Lower, Jerry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAHR, JENNIFER DOYLE
• Application Number:
  US07/700,224
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/61, 606/62, 128/69, 403/371, 403/342, 403/290, 403/367, 403/368
• US Class Current: 606/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7008 with parts of, or attached to, the longitudinal elements, bearing against an outside of the screw or hook heads, e.g. nuts on threaded rods A61B17/7007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7047 Clamps comprising opposed elements which grasp one vertebra between them
• 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

The present invention relates to a locking sleeve assembly for use in a posterior spinal system including components designed to be affixed to the spinal column of a person to correct for various lateral and sagittal deformities. The locking sleeve assembly is for interconnecting an elongated rod with another structure. The locking sleeve assembly includes an elongated sleeve having a bore therethrough. The sleeve has a tapered first end and a second end having a lock member thereon. The sleeve includes at least one split extending into the sleeve. The bore is sized to slidably receive the rod. The tapered surface of the sleeve is insertable into a tapered passage of the other structure with the rod in the bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces. The locking sleeve assemblies are used in conjunction with the spinal system which also includes a pair of smooth surfaced rods mounted in spaced relation to one another on the spinal column in conjunction with various fixation devices such as clamps with hook bodies, hooks, screws with hook bodies, and couplers. Each such fixation device utilizes locking sleeve assemblies at each connection point to secure the respective fixation device to the respective rod or rods. The coupler assemblies are provided to maintain the spacing of the rods. The method of performing surgery using the posterior spinal system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A spinal locking sleeve assembly and an elongated spinal rod and another structure for use in a spinal implant system, wherein said assembly interconnects the elongated rod with the structure, wherein said structure has a tapered passage therethrough and a sidewall adjacent to a terminus of said passage, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongated sleeve having a continuous bore therethrough, said sleeve having a first end with a tapered outer surface and a

b) at least one split in said sleeve extending into at least a portion of each of said first and second ends thereof;

c) a lock nut having an internal passageway with threads complementary to the threads of said second end;

d) said bore being sized to slidably receive said rod therethrough;

e) said tapered outer surface of said sleeve being insertable into said tapered passage of said structure with said rod in said bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces, and wherein said passage includes an open back wherein the open back has a width greater than the diameter of said elongated spinal rod.

11. The invention of claim 1, wherein said structure comprises a hook having an extending hook shoe.

2. A spinal locking sleeve assembly and an elongated spinal rod and another structure for use in a spinal implant system, wherein said assembly interconnects the elongated rod with the structure, wherein said structure has a tapered passage therethrough and a sidewall adjacent to a terminus of said passage, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongated sleeve having a continuous bore therethrough, said sleeve having a first end with a tapered outer surface and a second threaded end;

b) at least one split in said sleeve extending into at least a portion of each of said first and second ends thereof;

c) a lock nut having an internal passageway with threads complementary to the threads of said second end;

d) said bore being sized to slidably receive said rod therethrough;

e) said tapered outer surface of said sleeve being insertable into said tapered passage of said structure with said rod in said bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces, and wherein said lock nut is threaded onto said second end of said sleeve until said lock nut engages said sidewall, and wherein further rotation of the lock nut causes said at least one split to narrow to cause said sleeve to frictionally grip said rod, to interconnect said rod and structure.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said passage is tapered in the same direction as the taper of said tapered outer surface as placed in said passage.

4. The invention of claim 2, wherein said lock nut includes a radially outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said sidewall of said structure.

5. The invention of claim 2, wherein said at least one split comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced splits, one of said splits extending the entire longitudinal extent of said sleeve.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein said sleeve has a longitudinal axis, said splits being at an oblique angle to said axis.

7. The invention of claim 2, further including a shoulder separating said first and second ends of said sleeve.

8. The invention of claim 2, wherein said passage is open backed.

9. The invention of claim 2, wherein said structure comprises a hook body.

10. The invention of claim 2, wherein said structure comprises a coupler assembly.

12. The invention of claim 8, wherein said structure comprises a hook body.

13. The invention of claim 8, wherein said structure comprises a coupler assembly.

14. The invention of claim 8, wherein said structure comprises a hook.

15. A spinal locking sleeve assembly and an elongated spinal rod and another structure for use in a spinal implant system, wherein said assembly interconnects the elongated rod with the structure, wherein said structure has a tapered passage therethrough and a sidewall adjacent to a terminus of said passage, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongated sleeve having a continuous bore therethrough, said sleeve having a first end with a tapered outer surface and a second end with a securing means thereon;

b) at least one split extending into said sleeve;

c) a lock means having an internal passageway with a mating securing means complementary to the securing means on the sleeve;

d) said bore being sized to slidably receive said rod therethrough;

e) said tapered outer surface of said sleeve being insertable into said tapered passage of said structure with said rod in said bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces, and wherein said passage includes an open back wherein the open back has a width greater than the diameter of said elongated spinal rod.

17. The invention of claim 15, wherein said passage is tapered in the same direction as the taper of said tapered outer surface as placed in said passage.

19. The invention of claim 15, wherein said at least one split comprises a plurality of circumferentially-spaced splits, one of said splits extending the entire longitudinal extent of said sleeve.

20. The invention of claim 19, wherein said sleeve has a longitudinal axis, said splits being at an oblique angle to said axis.

23. The invention of claim 15, wherein the securing means on the sleeve and the mating securing means on the lock means are mating threads.

16. A spinal locking sleeve assembly and an elongated spinal rod and another structure for use in a spinal implant system, wherein said assembly interconnects the elongated rod with the structure, wherein said structure has a tapered passage therethrough and a sidewall adjacent to a terminus of said passage, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongated sleeve having a continuous bore therethrough, said sleeve having a first end with a tapered outer surface and a second end with a securing means thereon;

b) at least one split extending into said sleeve;

c) a lock means having an internal passageway with a mating securing means complementary to the securing means on the sleeve;

d) said bore being sized to slidably receive said rod therethrough;

e) said tapered outer surface of said sleeve being insertable into said tapered passage of said structure with said rod in said bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces, and wherein said lock means is secured onto the second end of said sleeve so that said lock means engages said sidewall, and wherein this securement of the lock means causes said at least one split in the sleeve to narrow to cause the sleeve to frictionally grip said rod, to interconnect said rod and structure.

18. The invention of claim 16, wherein said lock means includes a radially outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said sidewall of said structure.

21. The invention of claim 16, further including a shoulder separating said first and second ends of said sleeve.

22. The invention of claim 16, wherein said passage is open backed.

24. A spinal locking sleeve assembly and an elongated spinal rod and another structure for use in a spinal implant system, wherein said assembly interconnects the elongated rod with the structure, wherein said structure has a tapered passage therethrough and a sidewall adjacent to a terminus of said passage, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongated sleeve having a continuous bore therethrough, said sleeve having a first end with a tapered outer surface and a second threaded end;

b) at least one split in said sleeve extending into at least a portion of each of said first and second ends thereof;

c) a lock nut having an internal passageway with threads complementary to the threads of said second ends;

d) said bore being sized to slidably receive said rod therethrough;

e) said tapered outer surface of said sleeve being insertable into said tapered passage of said structure with said rod in said bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces, and wherein said lock nut has an end face, and wherein the lock nut is threaded onto said second end of said sleeve, and wherein said lock nut is axially movable relative to the structure along said second end of said sleeve until said end face of the lock nut engages said sidewall, and wherein further rotation of the lock nut causes said at least one split to narrow to cause said sleeve to frictionally grip said rod, to interconnect said rod and structure.

25. A spinal locking sleeve assembly and an elongated spinal rod and another structure for use in a spinal implant system, wherein said assembly interconnects the elongated rod with the structure, wherein said structure has a tapered passage therethrough and a sidewall adjacent to a terminus of said passage, said assembly comprising:

a) an elongated sleeve having a continuous bore therethrough, said sleeve having a first end with a tapered outer surface and a second end with a securing means thereon;

b) at least one split extending into said sleeve;

c) a lock means having an internal passageway with a mating securing means complementary to the securing means on the sleeve;

d) said bore being sized to slidably receive said rod therethrough;

e) said tapered outer surface of said sleeve being insertable into said tapered passage of said structure with said rod in said bore, to form an interference fit between the two tapered surfaces, and wherein said lock means has an end face, and wherein the lock means is securable onto said second end of said sleeve, and wherein said lock means is axially movable relative to the structure along the second end of said sleeve until said end face of said lock means engages said sidewall, and wherein further advancement of the lock means causes said at least one split in the sleeve to narrow to cause the sleeve to frictionally grip said rod, to interconnect said rod and structure.