Slotted head pedicle screw assembly
First Claim
1. A pedicle screw assembly comprising:
- a. a fastener including a tip end for insertion into bone and an expandable head at the opposite end thereof, said head having an outer surface including a convex portion, and a recess having an inner surface and defining an inner dimension;
b. an insert which can be positioned at least partially in the recess, said insert having an outer surface and defining an outer dimension that is greater than the inner dimension of the recess;
c. a coupling element including a rod receiving opening, a bore for receiving said head of said fastener, and a seat for receiving said head of said fastener, said seat including a concave portion for receiving the convex portion of said head and allowing said fastener to pivot relative to said coupling element before being locked therein; and
d. a locking element associated with said coupling element, said locking element being adapted to be forced against an orthopedic rod arranged in said rod receiving opening, to in turn force said insert into the recess of said head so that the outer dimension of said insert bears against the inner dimension of said head, whereby said head expands against the seat of said coupling element for preventing said coupling element from moving pivotally relative to said fastener.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pedicle screw assembly includes a fastener having an expandable head. The expandable head has an outer surface including a convex portion, a recess having an inner surface and defining an inner dimension, and at least one slot extending between the inner and outer surfaces thereof. The assembly also has an insert positionable at least partially in the recess having an outer surface defining an outer dimension that is greater than the inner dimension of the recess. The assembly includes a coupling element including a rod receiving opening, a bore for the fastener, and a seat for receiving the head of the fastener and allowing the fastener and coupling element to pivot relative to one another before being locked in place. After an orthopedic rod is positioned within the coupling element, a locking element associated with the coupling element locks the orthopedic rod in the rod-receiving opening. The locking element applies a force onto the rod to in turn force the insert into the recess of the expandable head for expanding the outer surface of the head against the seat of the coupling element and locking the coupling element and fastener from further pivotal movement relative to one another.
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Citations
78 Claims
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1. A pedicle screw assembly comprising:
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a. a fastener including a tip end for insertion into bone and an expandable head at the opposite end thereof, said head having an outer surface including a convex portion, and a recess having an inner surface and defining an inner dimension;
b. an insert which can be positioned at least partially in the recess, said insert having an outer surface and defining an outer dimension that is greater than the inner dimension of the recess;
c. a coupling element including a rod receiving opening, a bore for receiving said head of said fastener, and a seat for receiving said head of said fastener, said seat including a concave portion for receiving the convex portion of said head and allowing said fastener to pivot relative to said coupling element before being locked therein; and
d. a locking element associated with said coupling element, said locking element being adapted to be forced against an orthopedic rod arranged in said rod receiving opening, to in turn force said insert into the recess of said head so that the outer dimension of said insert bears against the inner dimension of said head, whereby said head expands against the seat of said coupling element for preventing said coupling element from moving pivotally relative to said fastener. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A pedicle screw assembly comprising:
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a. a fastener including a tip end for insertion into bone and a head at the opposite end thereof, said head having an outer surface with a convex portion and said head having a recess defining an inner surface having an inner dimension;
b. an insert secured at least partially in said recess and having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of said recess, wherein said insert pivots simultaneously with said fastener after being secured at least partially therein;
c. a coupling element including a rod receiving opening, a bore for receiving said fastener, and a seat for receiving said head of said fastener, said seat including a concave portion for receiving the convex portion of said head and allowing said fastener to pivot relative to said coupling element before being locked therein; and
d. a locking element for locking an orthopedic rod in the rod receiving opening, said locking element being associated with said coupling element to force said insert into the recess of said head so that the outer surface of said insert bears against the inner surface of said head, wherein said head engages the seat of said coupling element for preventing said coupling element from moving pivotally relative to said fastener. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A pedicle screw assembly for use in conjunction with an orthopedic rod, said assembly comprising:
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a. a fastener including a tip end for insertion into bone and an expandable head at the opposite end thereof having an outer surface including a convex portion, a recess formed in said head defining an inner surface having an inner dimension; and
b. a coupling element including a rod receiving opening, a bore for receiving said fastener, and a seat for receiving said head of said fastener, said seat including a concave portion for receiving the convex portion of said head and allowing said fastener to pivot relative to said coupling element before being locked therein. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73)
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74. A pedicle screw assembly comprising:
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a. a fastener including a tip end for insertion into bone and an expandable head at the opposite end thereof, said head including an outer surface having an outer dimension and a recess having an inner surface, the inner surface defining an inner dimension of said head; and
b. a coupling element including a rod receiving opening, a bore having upper and lower ends for receiving said fastener, and a seat for receiving said head of said fastener, the bore having a minimum diameter section with an inner dimension that is less than the outer dimension of said head and defining an expansion cavity between the upper and lower ends thereof having an inner dimension greater than the outer dimension of said head, wherein said screw can be pivotally connected with said coupling element by passing the tip end of said fastener through the upper end of said bore toward the lower end thereof while compressing said head as said head passes through the minimum diameter section of said bore. - View Dependent Claims (75, 76, 77, 78)
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Specification