Occipito-cervical stabilization system and method
First Claim
1. A system for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine, the system comprising:
- a plate configured to contact the region of the skull and be secured thereto;
a spinal rod configured to extend from a first location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a second location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto, the rod and the plate forming an angle Φ
with respect to one another about a transverse axis relative to the spine; and
a variable connection configured to secure the rod to the plate, the variable connection having;
a first mode connecting the rod and the plate and allowing continuous movement of the rod relative to the plate in a range defined by the angle Φ
, wherein the angle Φ
can be freely varied relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate; and
a second mode connecting the rod and the plate wherein the rod and the plate are locked at a particular value of the angle Φ
selected to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises;
a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and
a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises;
a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and
a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (10) and associated method are provided for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine. A plate (20) is provided to contact a region of the skull and be secured thereto. A spinal rod (22) is configured to extend from a location adjacent the plate (20) to a location adjacent at least one vertebra (30). A variable connection (24) is provided to secure the rod (22) to the plate (20). The variable connection (24) has a first mode wherein the relative position of the rod (22) to the plate (20) can be adjusted and a second mode wherein the relative position of the rod (22) to the plate (20) is locked at a particular value selected to maintain a desired curvature of the spine.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A system for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine, the system comprising:
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a plate configured to contact the region of the skull and be secured thereto; a spinal rod configured to extend from a first location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a second location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto, the rod and the plate forming an angle Φ
with respect to one another about a transverse axis relative to the spine; anda variable connection configured to secure the rod to the plate, the variable connection having; a first mode connecting the rod and the plate and allowing continuous movement of the rod relative to the plate in a range defined by the angle Φ
, wherein the angle Φ
can be freely varied relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate; anda second mode connecting the rod and the plate wherein the rod and the plate are locked at a particular value of the angle Φ
selected to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises;a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises; a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine, the system comprising:
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a plate configured to contact the region of the skull and be secured thereto; a spinal rod configured to extend from a first location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a second location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto; a variable connection configured to secure the rod to the plate, the variable connection having first and second modes connecting the rod and the plate; in the first mode the rod being freely rotatable relative to the plate in a range defined by an angle Φ
formed by the rod relative to the plate, a relative position of the rod and the plate being adjustable with respect to at least four degrees of freedom of motion without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate; andin the second mode the rod and the plate being locked in a particular relative position with respect to the at least four degrees of freedom of motion to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises; a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises; a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of coupling a plate to a rod in a system where the plate is to be secured to a region of a skull and the rod is to be secured to at least one vertebra of a spine, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting the rod and a portion of the plate via a variable connection to form a relative angle Φ
between the rod and a plane defined by the plate;in a first mode of the variable connection, freely rotating the rod relative to the plate in a range defined by the angle Φ
, thereby adjusting the relative angle Φ
about a transverse axis relative to the spine to a particular value of the angle Φ
selected to position the skull relative to the spine and define a desired curvature of the spine without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate; andin a second mode of the variable connection, locking the rod and the plate to maintain the particular value of the angle Φ
between the rod and the plane defined by the plate, wherein the variable connection comprises;a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises; a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of coupling a plate to a rod in a system where the plate is to be secured to a region of a skull and the rod is to be secured to at least one vertebra of a spine, the method comprising the steps of:
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connecting the rod and a portion of the plate via a variable connection to form a relative position between the rod and a plane defined by the plate; in a first mode of the variable connection, adjusting the relative position of the rod and the plate with respect to at least four degrees of freedom of motion comprising; a rotation of the variable connection about a laterally extending axis relative to the spine; a rotation of the variable connection about an axis that is perpendicular to the laterally extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis relative to the spine; a translation of the variable connection along the laterally extending axis; and a translation of the rod along the longitudinally extending axis; and in a second mode of the variable connection, locking the rod and the plate via the variable connection at a particular relative position with respect to the at least four degrees of freedom of motion to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises; a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises; a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.
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Specification