Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: at least two longitudinal members; a transverse connector defining a thru-hole and having a lower bone engagement surface, an opposite upper surface, and said connector defining a slot to receive said members, and a number of internal clamping surfaces surrounding said slot, said clamping surfaces configured to engage said members; a number of spikes projecting from said lower surface of said connector, said spikes configured to engage a vertebra; a bolt having a vertebra engaging portion on a first end, a post on a second end, said post insertable through said thru-hole of said connector, an integral flange between said vertebra engaging portion and said post for supporting said connector; and a fastener engageable to the post of said bolt to secure the connector to the bolt and to clamp said connector between said fastener aiid said flange of said bolt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the post of said bolt is threaded and the fastener is a threaded nut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the second end of said bolt is configured to receive a driving tool for driving the bolt into a vertebra.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the second end includes an external hex configured to receive a driving tool.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 3 wherein tlie second end includes an internal hex configured to receive a driving tool.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said thru-hole includes a recess defined in the upper surface of said connector and said fastener is sized to be received in a recess without extending above the upper surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said recess is concave and said fastener includes an arcuate underside, said recess configured to accept said fastener.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 further comprising a locking mechanism configured to prevent the bolt from rotating relative to said connector and the vertebra when the threaded nut is being threaded onto said post.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said locking mechanism includes: an annular ring defined on the lower surface of said connector and concentrically disposed around the thru-hole, said annular ring defining a number of radial splines; and a mating face affixed to said flange and concentrically disposed around said post of said bolt, said mating face defining a number of opposing radial splines for interdigitating engagement with the radial splines on said lower surface of said connector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the annular ring is integrally formed on the lower surface of said connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9 wherein the annular ring is a washer affixed to the lower surface of said connector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the clamping surfaces are defined by a number of scallops formed in said slot, said scallops shaped to receive aiid engage said members therein, said scallops surrounding and clamping a portion of said members after the nut has been tightened on tlie post of the bolt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: two parallel rods, each having a first end and a second end; a fixed rod connector having a lower surface and an upper surface and defining a thru-hole, said fixed rod connector fixed to the first end of both of said rods; a dynamic rod connector having a lower surface and an upper surface and defining a thru-hole, said dynamic rod connector slidably engaged to each of said rods; a number of spikes fixedly projecting from said lower surface of each of said connectors, said spikes configured to engage a vertebra; one bolt for each connector, each said bolt having a vertebra engaging portion oil a first end and a threaded post on a second end, said post insertable through said thru-holes of said connectors; an integral flange between said vertebra engaging portion and said post for supporting said connector; and a threaded nut for each of said bolts, said nut engageable to a bolt to secure a connector to a bolt.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the second end of said bolt is configured to receive a driving tool for driving the bolt into a vertebra.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
19 words
The system of claims 13 wherein the second end includes an external hex configured to receive a driving tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the second end includes an internal hex configured to receive a driving tool.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 13 wherein each said thru-hole includes recesses defined in the upper surface of said connector and said nut is sized to be received in a recess without extending above the upper surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 17 wherein said recess is concave and said nut includes an arcuate underside, said recess configured to accept said nut.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 13 further comprising a locking mechanism configured to prevent the bolt from rotating relative to said connector and the vertebra when the nut is being threaded onto said post.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said locking mechanism includes: an annular ring defined on the lower surface of said connector and concentrically disposed around the thru-hole, said annular ring defining a number of radial splines; and a mating face affixed to said flange and concentrically disposed around said post of said bolt, said mating face defining a number of opposing radial splines for interdigitating engagement with the radial splines on said lower surface of said connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 20 wherein the annular ring is integrally formed on the lower surface of said connector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 10 wherein the annular ring is a washer affixed to the lower surface of said connector.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the clamping surfaces are defined by a number of scallops formed in said slot, said scallops shaped to receive and engage said members therein, said scallops surrounding and clamping a portion of said members after the nut has been tightened on the post of the bolt.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
184 words
A transverse fixator assembly for spanning between a pair of longitudinal members situated adjacent a patient's vertebrae, comprising: a number of connectors each having a lower bone engagement surface and an upper surface, each of said connectors configured to span a distance between said members and engageable to said members, each of said connectors defining a thru-hole for engaging a bone bolt; and a number of spikes projecting from said lower surface of each said connector, said spikes configured to engage a vertebra; a bone bolt for each of said connectors, said bone bolt including, a vertebra engaging portion on a first end, a threaded post on a second end, said post insertable through said thru-hole of said connector, and an integral flange between said vertebra engaging portion and said post for supporting said connector; a threaded nut for each of said bolts, said nut engageable to a bolt to secure a connector to a bolt; and a locking mechanism configured to prevent the bolt from rotating relative to said connector and the vertebra when the threaded nut is being threaded onto said post.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 24 wherein each of said thru-holes includes recesses defined in the upper surface of said connector and said nuts are sized to be received in a recess without extending above the upper surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system of claim 24 wherein said locking mechanism includes: an annular ring defined on the lower surface of said connector and concentrically disposed around the thru-hole, said annular ring including a number of radial splines; a mating face affixed to said flange and concentrically disposed around said post of said bolt, said mating face having a number of opposing radial splines for interdigitating engagement with the radial splines on said lower surface of said connector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the annular ring is integrally formed on the lower surface of said connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the annular ring is a washer affixed to the lower surface of said connector.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
156 words
A method for fixation of the spine, comprising: drilling a first hole in a first vertebral body; drilling a second hole in a second vertebral body; engaging a first threaded bone bolt through the first hole; engaging a second threaded bone bolt through the second hole; supporting the vertebra with a fixation system, said system including; two longitudinal members, a fixed rod connector attached to a first end of each of said members, said fixed rod connector defining a first thru-hole, and a dynamic rod connector slidably engaged to said members, said dynamic rod connector defining a second thru-hole; engaging tire first bolt to the first thru-hole; situating the dynamic rod connector so that the second bolt engages the second thru-hole; sliding the dynamic rod connector along the longitudinal members to vary the distance between the vertebrae; and engaging each of said bone bolts with a threaded nut to secure the fixation system to tire vertebrae.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of the method claim 29, wherein the sliding of the dynamic rod connector along the members occurs in a direction towards the fixed connector to provide compression.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of the method of claim 29, wherein the sliding of the dynamic connector along the members occurs in a direction away from the vertebral bodies to provide distraction.