EP0878170A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Transverse spinal rod connector clip
Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp
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Filing: 1998-05-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2018-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A device for connecting two elongated spinal rods to one another in a spinal fixation system comprising a clip body including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the clip body configured to receive and engage a first elongated spinal rod, the second portion of the clip body having a transverse bore therein for receiving a second elongated spinal rod extending transverse to the first elongated spinal rod; and a locking member dimensioned and configured for mounting in the transverse bore in the second portion of the clip body so as to fix the position of the second elongated spinal rod with respect to the first elongated spinal rod.
Inventors
- 👤 Chih-I Lin
- 👤 David Nichols
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7049; A61B17/7052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A device for connecting two elongated spinal rods to one another in a spinal
fixation system comprising: a clip body including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the
clip body configured to receive and engage a first elongated spinal rod, the second
portion of the clip body having a transverse bore therein for receiving a second elongated
spinal rod extending transverse to the first elongated spinal rod; and a locking member dimensioned and configured for mounting in the transverse
bore in the second portion of the clip body so as to fix the position of the second
elongated spinal rod with respect to the first elongated spinal rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as recited in Claim 1, wherein the first portion of the clip body
includes a pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate rod engaging hooks for receiving and
engaging the first elongated spinal rod.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
24 words
A device as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein each arcuate rod
engaging hook defines a curve having a common central axis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
32 words
A device as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the second
elongated spinal rod has a generally semi-circular transverse cross-section for reception
by the lower portion of the U-shaped opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: a first elongated spinal rod having a first transverse cross-section; a second elongated spinal rod having a second transverse cross-section different
than the transverse cross-section of the first elongated spinal rod; and a connector having a first portion configured to engage the first elongated spinal
rod and a second portion configured to engage the second elongated spinal rod, the first
portion and the second portion so configured such that the first spinal rod and the second
spinal rod are oriented transverse to one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in 5, wherein the first elongated spinal rod
has a circular transverse cross-section and wherein the second elongated spinal rod has a
generally semi-circular transverse cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
second elongated spinal rod includes a planar surface for contacting a substantially planar
surface of the second portion of the connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein the
connector defines a clip body including a first portion and a second portion, the first
portion of the clip body having a pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate rod engaging
hooks depending therefrom configured to receive and engage the first elongated spinal
rod, the second portion of the clip body having a transverse bore extending therethrough
configured to receive the second elongated spinal rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, further
comprising a locking member dimensioned and configured to mount within the transverse
bore in the second portion of the clip body so as to fix the position of the second
elongated spinal rod with respect to the first elongated spinal rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the transverse bore is defined at least in part by a generally U-shaped opening having a
pair of spaced apart side walls and a substantially planar lower portion extending between
the side walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
each side wall has a tapered engagement slot formed therein, and the locking member
includes a top portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having a pair of opposed
tapered retention members each for engaging a respective one of the tapered engagement
slots in the side walls, and a hemi-cylindrical groove in a bottom surface thereof for
accommodating a portion of the second elongated spinal rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the top portion of the locking member includes a pair of opposed supplemental retention
members spaced from the opposed tapered retention members on the bottom portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
110 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: a first clip body having a pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate rod engaging hooks
depending from a first side thereof for engaging a first elongated spinal rod, and a
transverse connector extending laterally from a second side thereof; a second clip body having a pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate rod engaging
hooks depending from a first side thereof for engaging a second elongated spinal rod, and
a transverse connector extending laterally from a second side thereof; and a fastener for securing the transverse connector of the first elongated clip body
and the transverse connector of the second elongated clip body to one another.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in Claim 13, wherein the transverse
connector extending from the first clip body and the transverse connector extending from
the second clip body have complementary cross-sectional configurations such that
together the pair of transverse connectors define a circular cross-section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the fastener is defined by a third clip body having a pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate
engaging hooks,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the fastener is defined at least in part by a cylindrical compression sleeve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the transverse connector extending from the first clip body and the transverse connector
extending from the second clip body have complementary mating surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
the complementary mating surfaces are substantially planar and wherein the
complementary mating surfaces have interlocking teeth formed thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
51 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in any of the preceding claims, wherein
each elongated clip body has a second pair of opposed arcuate engaging hooks depending
from a second side thereof, and the transverse connector includes a perpendicular rod
portion for reception by the second pair of arcuate engaging hooks.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: a first clip body having a first pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate engaging
hooks depending from a first side thereof for engaging a first elongated spinal rod, and a
second pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate engaging hooks depending from a second
side thereof for engaging an elongated transverse connector; and a second clip body having a first pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate engaging
hooks depending from a first side thereof for engaging a second elongated spinal rod, and
a second pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate engaging hooks depending from a second
side thereof for engaging the elongated transverse connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
64 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in Claim 20, wherein the elongated
transverse connector includes a first rod portion at a first end thereof for engaging the
second pair of opposed arcuate engaging hooks on the first clip body and a second rod
portion at a second end thereof for engaging the second pair of opposed arcuate engaging
hooks on the second clip body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in Claim 20 or 21, wherein the elongated
transverse connector includes a first elongated portion and a second elongated portion,
the first and second elongated portions connected to one another by a fastener.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: an elongated spinal rod; a transverse member; and a connector having a pair of opposed spaced apart arcuate rod engaging hooks for
receiving and engaging the elongated spinal rod, the connector securing the elongated
spinal rod and the transverse member in a transverse orientation in which the elongated
spinal rod and transverse member are substantially coplanar.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in Claim 23, wherein the connector has a
transverse bore therein for receiving transverse member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in Claim 23 or 24, further comprising a
locking member dimensioned and configured for mounting in the transverse bore of the
connector so as to fix the position of the transverse member with respect to the elongated
spinal rod.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A spinal fixation system as recited in Claim 23 or 25, wherein the transverse
member comprises an elongated rod having a generally semi-circular transverse cross-section.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5084049A
Cited
US5275600A
Cited
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