Apparatus for retaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
- a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column;
a hook connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion; and
a fastener for preventing movement of said second portion relative to said first portion.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10, 110) for use in retaining vertebrae (V) of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship includes a longitudinal member (12, 112) having a longitudinal axis (13, 113) extendable along the spinal column. A hook (14, 114) connects the longitudinal member (12, 112) to a vertebra (V) of the spinal column. The hook (14, 114) is connectable with the longitudinal member (12, 112) and engageable with the vertebra (V). The hook (14, 114) has a first portion (16, 116) which extends adjacent a first surface (64, 164) of the vertebra (V) when the hook is connected with the vertebra. A second portion (18, 118) of the hook (14, 114) extends adjacent a second surface (62, 162) of the vertebra (V) when the hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between the first and second portions (14, 114 and 18, 118). The second portion (18, 118) is movable relative to the first portion (14, 114) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (13, 113) of the longitudinal member (12, 112) to adjust a distance between the first portion (14, 114) and the second portion (18, 118).
113 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
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a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column;
a hook connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion; and
a fastener for preventing movement of said second portion relative to said first portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
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a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column;
a hook connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion, said first portion of said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and said second portion of said hook extending from said first portion and being engageable with the vertebra, said second portion having a connecting portion extending from said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member and an end portion extending from said connecting portion and transverse to said connecting portion, said end portion of said second portion extending adjacent the second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra; and
a fastener engaging said connecting portion to clamp said connecting portion to said first portion and prevent movement of said second portion relative to said first portion. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
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a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column; and
a hook which connects said longitudinal member to a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with the vertebra, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion, said first portion of said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and said second portion of said hook extending from said first portion and being engageable with the vertebra, said second portion having a connecting portion extending from said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member and an end portion extending from said connecting portion and transverse to said connecting portion, said end portion of said second portion extending adjacent the second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra, said first portion having a groove extending transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member into which said connecting portion extends to guide movement of said second portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member relative to said first portion, said first portion having first and second surfaces extending parallel to each other and defining said groove, said first and second surfaces being engageable with first and second surfaces on said connecting portion extending parallel to each other to prevent pivoting of said second portion relative to said first portion.
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21. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
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a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column; and
a hook which connects said longitudinal member to a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with the vertebra, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion, said first portion of said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and said second portion of said hook extending from said first portion and being engageable with the vertebra, said second portion having a connecting portion extending from said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member and an end portion extending from said connecting portion and transverse to said connecting portion, said end portion of said second portion extending adjacent the second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra, said connecting portion including two arms extending parallel to each other engageable with opposite sides of said first portion, said end portion extending between said arms.
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22. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
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a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column;
a hook which connects said longitudinal member to a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with the vertebra, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion, said second portion being pivotable relative to said first portion, said first portion of said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and said second portion having a connecting portion extending from said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member and an end portion extending transverse to said connecting portion, said end portion of said second portion extending adjacent the second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra; and
a fastener engaging said connecting portion to clamp said connecting portion to said first portion and prevent movement of said second portion relative to said first portion, said second portion being pivotable about said fastener relative to said first portion. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for use in retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprising:
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a longitudinal member having a longitudinal axis extendable along the spinal column; and
a hook which connects said longitudinal member to a vertebra of the spinal column, said hook being connectable with said longitudinal member and engageable with the vertebra, said hook having a first portion which extends adjacent a first surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra and a second portion which extends adjacent a second surface of the vertebra when said hook is connected with the vertebra so that the vertebra is received between said first and second portions, said second portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member to adjust a distance between said first portion and said second portion, said second portion including a connecting portion engageable with said first portion, said entire second portion including said connecting portion being movable relative to said first portion transverse to said longitudinal axis of said longitudinal member.
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Specification