Spinal fixation system and method

• US 8,236,035 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bernard M. Bedor
• Original Assignee: Bernard M. Bedor
• Inventors: Bedor, Bernard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robert, Eduardo C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahmud, Atiya
• Application Number:
  US12/485,426
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 606246-279, 606300-303, 606305-309, 606/319, 606/320, 606/322, 606/328, 411/437
• US Class Current: 606/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped

Abstract

A spinal fixation system (1) for use in the fixation of a spine comprising: a coupling element (2) having a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures (17) through a wall (35) thereof; a longitudinal slot (8) in a coupling element (2) interior surface (3); a hole (13) through the bottom end (5) of the coupling element (2); and a securing element (18) dimensioned for insertion into the coupling element (2), the securing element (18) having an outwardly extending wing (26) dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot (8), for preventing a rotation of the securing element (18) about a longitudinal axis (7) thereof.

Claims

1. A spinal fixation system for use in the fixation of a spine comprising:

a coupling element having;

a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures through a wall thereof extending from a top end of the coupling element to an aperture bottom in spaced relation from a bottom end of the coupling element, the wall defining an interior space dimensioned for admitting a bone fixation element thereinto, the apertures dimensioned for admitting a fixation rod diametrically through the interior space;

a longitudinal slot in an interior surface of the coupling element extending from the coupling element top end to a slot bottom in spaced relation from the coupling element bottom end; and

a hole through the bottom end dimensioned for admitting a shank of the elongated bone fixation element therethrough and smaller than a head of the bone fixation element for retaining the head within the interior space, the shank extending downwardly from the bone fixation element;

a securing element dimensioned for vertical slidable insertion into the coupling element interior space atop the fixation rod, the securing element having an outwardly extending wing dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot, for preventing a rotation of the securing element about a longitudinal axis thereof, an upwardly extending arm dimensioned for insertion into a locking element;

a locking element comprising a mating element located circumferentially about an external surface thereof, a wall defining a locking element interior space, the space further comprising a groove therein for rotatably receiving and retaining the upwardly extending arm of the securing element, the mating element configured to mate with a complimentary mating element located on an interior surface of the coupling element; and

a retaining element dimensioned for insertion into the coupling element interior space atop the bone fixation element head, the retaining element for retaining the fixation rod within the interior space, wherein the retaining element has an outwardly extending wing dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot, for preventing a rotation of the retaining element about a longitudinal axis thereof.

2. The spinal fixation system of claim 1 wherein:

the retaining element has a substantially concave top surface dimensioned for at least partially circumscribing the fixation rod.

3. The spinal fixation system of claim 1 wherein:

the retaining element has a substantially concave top surface dimensioned for at least partially circumscribing the fixation rod.

4. The spinal fixation system of claim 1 wherein:

the securing element has a substantially concave bottom surface dimensioned for at least partially circumscribing the fixation rod.

5. The spinal fixation system of claim 1 wherein:

the securing element has a substantially concave bottom surface dimensioned for at least partially circumscribing the fixation rod.

6. The spinal fixation system of claim 1 wherein:

the hole is dimensioned for housing a substantially round bone fixation element head, for permitting rotational movement of the bone fixation element.

7. The spinal fixation system of claim 1 wherein:

the retaining element has a bottom surface dimensioned for housing a substantially round bone fixation element head, for permitting rotational movement of the bone fixation element.

8. A spinal fixation system for use in the fixation of a spine comprising:

a coupling element having;

a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures through a wall thereof extending from a top end of the coupling element to an aperture bottom in spaced relation from a bottom end of the coupling element, the wall defining an interior space dimensioned for admitting a bone fixation element thereinto, the apertures dimensioned for admitting a fixation rod diametrically through the interior space;

a longitudinal slot in an interior surface of the coupling element extending from the coupling element top end to a slot bottom in spaced relation from the coupling element bottom end; and

a hole through the bottom end dimensioned for admitting a shank of the elongated bone fixation element therethrough and smaller than a head of the bone fixation element for retaining the head within the interior space, the shank extending downwardly from the bone fixation element;

a mating element located on an interior surface of the coupling element adapted for mating with a locking element, the locking element for retaining the fixation rod within the interior space and comprising a wall defining a locking element interior space, the wall further comprising a grove therein;

a securing element dimensioned for vertical slidable insertion into the coupling element interior space atop the fixation rod, the securing element having an outwardly extending wing dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot, for preventing a rotation of the securing element about a longitudinal axis thereof, and an upwardly extending arm dimensioned for rotatable insertion into the groove of the locking element interior space; and

a retaining element dimensioned for insertion into the coupling element interior space atop the bone fixation element head, the retaining element for retaining the fixation rod within the interior space, having;

an outwardly extending wing dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot, for preventing a rotation of the retaining element about a longitudinal axis thereof;

a substantially concave top surface dimensioned for at least partially circumscribing the fixation rod; and

a bottom surface dimensioned for housing the substantially round bone fixation element head, for permitting rotational movement of the bone fixation element.

9. The spinal fixation system of claim 8 wherein:

the hole is dimensioned for housing a substantially round bone fixation element head, for permitting rotational movement of the bone fixation element.

10. A method for fixating a spine comprising:

positioning a bottom end of coupling element having a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures through a wall thereof extending from a top end of the coupling element to an aperture bottom in spaced relation from the bottom end of the coupling element, the wall defining an interior space dimensioned for admitting a bone fixation element thereinto, the apertures dimensioned for admitting a fixation rod diametrically through the interior space;

a longitudinal slot in an interior surface of the coupling element extending from the coupling element top end to a slot bottom in spaced relation from the coupling element bottom end; and

a hole through the bottom end dimensioned for admitting a shank of the elongated bone fixation element therethrough and smaller than a head of the bone fixation element for retaining the head within the interior space, the shank extending downwardly from the bone fixation element adjacent to a bone in a spine;

inserting a bone fixation element into the coupling element such that a shank of the bone fixation element is located within the interior space and the tip extends into the hole and is adjacent to the bone;

driving the bone fixation element into the bone such that at least a portion of a shank of the bone fixation element extends through the hole and into the bone;

inserting an outwardly extending wing of a retaining element into the coupling slot and atop the bone fixation element head, the retaining element for retaining the bone fixation rod within the interior space

admitting a fixation rod into a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures though a wall of the coupling element;

inserting an outwardly extending wing of a securing element into the coupling element slot, wherein the outwardly extending wing is dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot; and

securing the securing element within the coupling element to prevent rotation of the securing element about a longitudinal axis thereof and mating a locking element comprising a wall defining an internal locking space and grove therein with an upwardly extending arm of the securing element such that the upwardly extending arm is secured within the groove; and

mating the locking element with a mating element located on an interior surface of the coupling element, for retaining the fixation rod within the interior space.