Multi-axial bone anchor system
First Claim
1. An orthopedic implant system, comprising:
- a plate member for placement adjacent and along one or more bones and having a longitudinal axis, said plate member including a slot substantially parallel to said plate axis therethrough, said slot including a channel portion that extends through substantially the entire longitudinal dimension of said plate member;
a stabilizer, said stabilizer including an opening therethrough substantially bounded by a wall, said opening having a longitudinal axis, said stabilizer further including at least one finger portion extending laterally with respect to said opening axis, wherein said finger portion is received within said channel so that said opening communicates with said slot;
a bone bolt, said bone bolt having a bone engaging portion, an intermediate portion and a threaded post portion, said bolt extending through said opening of said stabilizer and said slot of said plate member so that said intermediate portion is adjacent said wall of said stabilizer;
a washer having a rounded top surface, a bottom surface, and an aperture therethrough adapted for fitting around a portion of said bolt; and
a nut separate from said washer and having a body portion and a skirt portion, a threaded hole extending through said body portion for threaded engagement with said bolt, wherein said nut and said washer are coupled together prior to engagement with said bolt.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-axial bone fixation implant includes an elongated member, one or more bone anchor assemblies, and stabilizer members which are fitted within the elongated member. A bone bolt having cancellous threads on one end and machine threads at the opposing end and an enlarged portion between these sections is also provided. The bone bolt is anchored into a bone via the cancellous thread end. The machine threaded end passes through an opening of the elongated member and the stabilizer, and is engaged by a coupled washer and nut. The washer includes an undercut within its oblong aperture, and the nut includes a projecting sleeve. The sleeve is inserted into the washer aperture and expanded, so that the undercut retains the sleeve within the washer without impairing the rotatability or translatability of the nut and washer with respect to each other. When locked by the nut and washer atop the elongated member, the enlarged portion of the bolt is forced against an inside wall of the stabilizer, which is in turn locked against the elongated member. Accordingly, the elongated member is fixed with respect to the bone anchor at one of an infinite number of multi-axial angles.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An orthopedic implant system, comprising:
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a plate member for placement adjacent and along one or more bones and having a longitudinal axis, said plate member including a slot substantially parallel to said plate axis therethrough, said slot including a channel portion that extends through substantially the entire longitudinal dimension of said plate member;
a stabilizer, said stabilizer including an opening therethrough substantially bounded by a wall, said opening having a longitudinal axis, said stabilizer further including at least one finger portion extending laterally with respect to said opening axis, wherein said finger portion is received within said channel so that said opening communicates with said slot;
a bone bolt, said bone bolt having a bone engaging portion, an intermediate portion and a threaded post portion, said bolt extending through said opening of said stabilizer and said slot of said plate member so that said intermediate portion is adjacent said wall of said stabilizer;
a washer having a rounded top surface, a bottom surface, and an aperture therethrough adapted for fitting around a portion of said bolt; and
a nut separate from said washer and having a body portion and a skirt portion, a threaded hole extending through said body portion for threaded engagement with said bolt, wherein said nut and said washer are coupled together prior to engagement with said bolt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
providing the apparatus of claim 13;
placing said bones in said desired relationship;
threading said bolts into said bones;
placing said plate member with said stabilizers over said bolts, wherein said post portions of said bolts extend outside said plate member and said intermediate portions of said bolts are retained in respective ones of said openings in said stabilizers;
orienting said plate member with respect to said bolts so that said plate member is positioned to stabilize said bones;
threading said coupled washers and nuts on respective post portions of said bolts;
tightening said nuts on said post portions to lock said bolts and said plate member together.
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15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of rotating one or more of said washers relative to a respective bolt to accommodate angular offset of the bolt relative to said elongated member.
Specification