Polyaxial screw
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
- a fastener member including a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends along a longitudinal axis from the head and at least a portion of the shaft includes a thread, wherein at least a portion of the head comprises a rounded surface and a recess formed through a top of the head capable of receiving a driving tool;
a coupling element for receiving the fastener, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion including a clamp element having a lower clamp portion, wherein the lower clamp portion has an inner surface that clamps around at least a portion of an outer surface of the head, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first arm and a second arm opposing the first arm, wherein a first channel is formed between the first and second arms for passing a rod member therethrough, wherein the first arm includes a first exterior sidewall and the second arm includes a second exterior sidewall, wherein each of the first and second exterior sidewalk has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis in each of the first and second exterior sidewalk, wherein the engagement channel comprises an upper boundary and a lower boundary, wherein the upper boundary of the engagement channel comprises a first planar portion, a second planar portion and a curved portion located between the first and second planar portions, the planar portions and the curved portion define a portion of the engagement channel within each of the first and second exterior sidewalls;
a rod member received in the first channel between the first and second arms, wherein the rod member is capable of being seated in the first channel, wherein the rod member includes a first end and a second end and a generally cylindrical body between the first end and the second end that is received in the first channel; and
a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention generally is directed toward a spinal fixation system whereby a coupling element allows the physician to selectively lock or unlock either the connection between the coupling element and a fastener, such as to allow for repositioning of the coupling element, or the connection between the coupling element and an elongate rod. The locking or unlocking of these connections may be made independently and as desired by the physician.
319 Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
-
a fastener member including a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends along a longitudinal axis from the head and at least a portion of the shaft includes a thread, wherein at least a portion of the head comprises a rounded surface and a recess formed through a top of the head capable of receiving a driving tool; a coupling element for receiving the fastener, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion including a clamp element having a lower clamp portion, wherein the lower clamp portion has an inner surface that clamps around at least a portion of an outer surface of the head, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first arm and a second arm opposing the first arm, wherein a first channel is formed between the first and second arms for passing a rod member therethrough, wherein the first arm includes a first exterior sidewall and the second arm includes a second exterior sidewall, wherein each of the first and second exterior sidewalk has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis in each of the first and second exterior sidewalk, wherein the engagement channel comprises an upper boundary and a lower boundary, wherein the upper boundary of the engagement channel comprises a first planar portion, a second planar portion and a curved portion located between the first and second planar portions, the planar portions and the curved portion define a portion of the engagement channel within each of the first and second exterior sidewalls; a rod member received in the first channel between the first and second arms, wherein the rod member is capable of being seated in the first channel, wherein the rod member includes a first end and a second end and a generally cylindrical body between the first end and the second end that is received in the first channel; and a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
-
a fastener member including a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion extends from the head portion, wherein at least a portion of the head portion comprises a rounded surface; a coupling element for receiving the fastener member, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first extension and a second extension opposing the first extension, wherein a channel is formed between a first inner surface of the first extension and a second inner surface of the second extension for passing a rod member therethrough, wherein the first extension includes a first end and a second end and a first exterior sidewall formed between the first end and the second end, wherein the second extension includes a third end and a fourth end and a second exterior sidewall formed between the third end and the fourth end, wherein the first exterior sidewall has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis in the first exterior sidewall, wherein the engagement channel comprises a recessed channel having an upper boundary and a lower boundary, wherein a distance between the upper boundary and the lower boundary changes along a length of the channel such that (1) at a first point along the second axis that is closer to the first end than a second point along the second axis, the distance between the upper boundary and lower boundary is greater at the first point than the second point and (2) at a third point along the second axis that is farther from the first end than the second point along the second axis, the distance between the upper boundary and the lower boundary is greater than at the second point; a rod member received in the channel between the first and second extensions, wherein the rod member includes a proximal end and a distal end and a cylindrical body between the proximal end and the distal end that is capable of being received in the channel; and a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
-
a fastener member including a head and a shaft, wherein the shaft extends along a longitudinal axis from the head, wherein at least a portion of the shaft is threaded, wherein at least a portion of the head comprises a rounded surface; a coupling element for receiving the fastener member, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first extension and a second extension opposing the first extension, wherein a channel is formed between a first inner surface of the first extension and a second inner surface of the second extension for passing a rod member therethrough, wherein the first and second extensions each include an exterior sidewall, wherein the exterior sidewall has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis, wherein the engagement channel comprises a channel having an upper boundary and a lower boundary that is recessed within the exterior sidewall, wherein the upper boundary of the engagement channel comprises an arcuate portion that partially encloses a recessed area, wherein each of the first and second extensions further includes a hole formed along a third axis substantially transverse to the first axis, wherein the hole is a blind hole such that the hole is formed through the exterior sidewall of each of the first and second extensions but does not extend into the inner surfaces of the first and second extensions, a rod member passed through the channel between the first and second extensions, wherein the rod member includes a first end and a second end and a cylindrical body between the first end and the second end that is capable of being received in the channel; and a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
-
a fastener member including a head, wherein the fastener member is configured to engage a bone member; a coupling element for receiving the fastener member, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first extension and a second extension opposing the first extension, wherein a channel is formed between a first inner surface of the first extension and a second inner surface of the second extension for passing an elongate member therethrough, wherein the first and second extensions each include an exterior sidewall, wherein the exterior sidewall has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis, wherein the engagement channel comprises a channel having an upper boundary and a lower boundary that is recessed within the exterior sidewall, wherein the upper boundary of the engagement channel comprises an arcuate portion that partially encloses a recessed area, wherein each of the first and second extensions further includes a hole formed along a third axis substantially transverse to the first axis, wherein the hole is a blind hole such that the hole is formed through the exterior sidewall of each of the first and second extensions but does not extend into the inner surfaces of the first and second extensions, an elongate member passed through the channel between the first and second extensions, wherein the elongate member includes a first end and a second end and a body between the first end and the second end that is capable of being received in the channel; and a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
-
a fastener member including ahead, wherein the fastener member is configured to engage a bone member; a coupling element for receiving the fastener member, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion including a clamp element that engages the head of the fastener member, wherein the fastener is capable of polyaxial movement relative to the coupling element until a downward force is applied to the clamp element, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first extension and a second extension opposing the first extension, wherein a channel is formed between a first inner surface of the first extension and a second inner surface of the second extension for passing an elongate member therethrough, wherein the first and second extensions each include a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface, wherein the first exterior surface has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis, wherein the engagement channel comprises a channel having an upper boundary and a lower boundary that is recessed within the first exterior surface, wherein the upper boundary of the engagement channel comprises an arcuate portion that partially encloses a recessed area within the first exterior surface, wherein the second exterior surface includes a recessed engagement area; an elongate member passed through the channel between the first and second extensions, wherein the elongate member includes a first end and a second end and a body between the first end and the second end that is capable of being received in the channel; and a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
-
a fastener member including a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the shaft portion extends from the head portion, wherein at least a portion of the head portion comprises a rounded surface; a coupling element for receiving the fastener member, the coupling element comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion of the coupling element includes a first extension and a second extension opposing the first extension, wherein a channel is formed between a first inner surface of the first extension and a second inner surface of the second extension for passing a rod member therethrough, wherein the first extension includes a first end and a second end and a first exterior sidewall formed between the first end and the second end, wherein the second extension includes a third end and a fourth end and a second exterior sidewall formed between the third end and the fourth end, wherein the first exterior sidewall has a first axis that extends substantially in a direction from a top of the coupling element to a bottom of the coupling element, wherein an engagement channel is formed along a second axis substantially transverse to the first axis in the first exterior sidewall, wherein the engagement channel comprises a recessed channel having an upper boundary and a lower boundary, wherein a distance between the upper boundary and the lower boundary changes along a length of the channel such that at a first point along the second axis that is closer to the first end than a second point along the second axis, the distance between the upper boundary and lower boundary is greater at the first point than the second point; a rod member received in the channel between the first and second extensions, wherein the rod member includes a proximal end and a distal end and a cylindrical body between the proximal end and the distal end that is capable of being received in the channel; and a locking cap attachable to the coupling element, the locking cap comprising an upper surface and a lower surface that faces the rod member. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
-
Specification