← Back to Patent Explorer
EP0954247B1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for connecting a longitudinal bar to a pedicle screw

Assignee: Synthes GmbH
•
Filing: 1997-01-22
•
Granted: 2005-11-23
•
Expires: 2017-01-22
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A device for connecting a longitudinal bar to a pedicle screw for fixation of the spine includes a body having an axis, an upper end, a lower end, a hole coaxial with the axis, and a through hole positioned perpendicular to the axis. The device also includes a collet chuck slidably disposed within the hole. The collet chuck includes a through hole substantially aligned with the through hole of the body for receiving the longitudinal bar. The collet chuck also includes a chamber defined by elastic tongues for receiving the head of the pedicle screw.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thomas Amrein
  • 👤 Martin Hess

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 19:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7035; A61B17/7037; A61B17/7032; A61B17/7034

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim 269 words
Device for connecting a longitudinal bar (1) to a pedicle screw (2) within a system for fixation of the spinal column, comprising A) a one-piece body (3) with an upper end (23), a lower end (24), a hole (25) which is open at least at the bottom and has the axis (4) and a through hole (6) provided through the hole (25) and runs across the axis (4) so that a longitudinal bar (1) running across this axis (4) can be inserted through this through hole; and B) a collet chuck (7) arranged coaxially in the interior of the body (3) so that it can slide along the axis (4), with a through hole (17) which is aligned with the through hole (6) of the body (3), and with a chamber (19) which is pointing downward at least and is bordered by tongues (8) which are designed to have a spring action against the cylinder axis (4), so that the head (9) of a pedicle screw (2) can be snapped into this chamber from below with a spring action; and C) a tensioning means (26;91) is provided which can move the collet chuck (7) relative to the body (3), characterised in that D) the through hole (6) in the body (3) is positioned with respect to the through hole (17) in the collet chuck (7) such that only the spherical head (9) is locked when the tensioning means (26;91) is tightened; and E) a set screw (12) is integrated into the tensioning means (26; 91) in such a way that it locks the longitudinal bar (1) when tightened down.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 18 words
Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the chamber (19) is designed as a hollow spherical cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the collet chuck (7) is conical in design on the outside, becoming wider toward the bottom, in the area of the chamber (19) which is designed as a hollow spherical cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 3, characterized in that a set screw (12) is integrated into the collet chuck (7) or into a tensioning means (91) so that it locks the longitudinal bar (1) when screwed down.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the collet chuck (7) is designed symmetrical to a plane of symmetry.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the body (3) is designed symmetrical to a plane of symmetry.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 60 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the body (3) is divided into a top part (53) and a bottom part (52), with the dividing surface running across the axis (4) in the area of the through hole (6), and the hole (25) is designed to be continuous at least in the bottom part (52).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 55 words
Device according to one of the claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the tensioning means (12; 56) presses on the longitudinal bar (1) and thereby pulls the collet chuck (7) into the body (3) and thus causes the head (9) of the pedicle screw (2) and the longitudinal bar (1) to be clamped securely.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 50 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 8, characterized in that the height of the through hole (6) is designed so that in any position of the tensioning means (12; 26; 56) the longitudinal bar (1) is always in contact with the lower edge of the through hole (6).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 9, characterized in that the body (3) and the collet chuck (7) are arranged so that they are rotationally locked but axially displaceable relative to one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 28 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 10, characterized in that the collet chuck (7) is arranged in the body (3) by means of a press fit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 63 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 11, characterized in that at its lower end (24) the body (3) has a conical inside surface (14) which becomes wider at the bottom, and a suitably designed conical outside surface (18) of the free ends of the tongues (8) of the collet chuck (7) can be brought into sliding contact with this inside surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 43 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 12, characterized in that the collet chuck (7) is designed in the contact area with the body (3) so that it is in contact tangentially with the conical inside surface (14) of the body (3).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 13, characterized in that it also includes a pedicle screw (2) with a preferably spherical head (9).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 32 words
Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the head (9) of the pedicle screw (2) is provided with a structuring (15), preferably in the form of transverse grooves or transverse ribs.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
Device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the head (9) of the pedicle screw (2) is provided with an hexagonal socket head (16).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 46 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 16, characterized in that the chamber (19) is designed as a hollow spherical cavity, preferably with a shape that is complementary to the shape of the head (9) of the pedicle screw (2) which is to be accommodated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 17, characterized in that the chamber (19) is provided with a structuring (21), preferably in the form of transverse grooves or transverse ribs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 22 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 18, characterized in that the body (3) is designed as a hollow cylindrical bushing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 16 words
Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the body (3) is designed in one piece.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 22 words
Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the body (3) consists of a bottom part (52) and a top part (53).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 29 words
Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the separation between the bottom part (52) and the top part (53) is in the area of the through hole (6).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 70 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 22, characterized in that the through hole (6; 80; 81) of the body (3) is positioned with respect to the through hole (17; 42; 54) of the collet chuck (7; 71; 72; 73; 74; 75; 76; 77) in such a way that the longitudinal bar (1) rests on the lower edge of the through hole (6; 80; 81) of the body (3).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 67 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 22, characterized in that the through hole (6; 80; 81) of the body (3) is positioned relative to the through hole (17; 42; 54) of the collet chuck (7; 71; 72; 73; 74; 75; 76; 77) so that the longitudinal bar (1) rests on the lower edge of the through hole (17; 42; 54) of the collet chuck (7).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 26 words
Device according to one of claims 21 through 24, characterized in that the top part (53) of the body (3) rests on the longitudinal bar (1).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 35 words
Device according to one of claims 20 through 24, characterized in that the upper edge of the through hole (6; 80; 81) of the body (3) does not come to rest against the longitudinal bar.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 35 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 25, characterized in that a channel (42) that is open at the side is provided on the collet chuck (74; 76) to accommodate the longitudinal bar (1).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 36 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 25, characterized in that a channel (54) that is open at the top is provided on the collet chuck (72; 75; 77) to accommodate the longitudinal bar (1).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 27 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 28, characterized in that the collet chuck (7;75) is provided with an outside thread (27) on the upper end.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 23 words
Device according to claim 29, characterized in that a set screw (56) with an outside thread (57) is used as the tensioning means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 34 words
Device according to claim 30, characterized in that the set screw (56) is provided with a flange (58) having an outside diameter which is preferably greater than the inside diameter of the body (3).
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 53 words
Device according to claim 29, characterized in that the through hole (6; 80; 81) in the body (3) is positioned with respect to the through hole (17; 42; 54) in the collet chuck (7; 73; 76; 77) such that only the spherical head (9) is locked when the tensioning means (91) is tightened.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 18 words
Device according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that the body (3) is designed in one piece.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 24 words
Device according to claim 31 or 32, characterized in that the body (3) consists of a bottom part (52) and a top part (53).
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 69 words
Device according to one of claims 31 through 34, characterized in that the through hole (6; 80; 81) is positioned in the body (3) with respect to the through hole (17; 42; 54) in the collet chuck (7; 71; 72; 74; 75) such that the longitudinal bar (1) rests on the lower edge of the through hole (6; 80; 81) before and after tightening the tensioning means (26; 91).
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 75 words
Device according to one of claims 31 through 35, characterized in that the through hole (6; 80; 81) is positioned in the body (3) with respect to the through hole (17; 42; 54) in the collet chuck (7; 73; 76; 77) such that the longitudinal bar (1) rests on the lower edge of the through hole (17; 42; 54) in the collet chuck (7; 73; 76; 77) even after tightening the tensioning means (26; 91).
Claim 37
Dependent Claim 21 words
Device according to one of claims 31 through 36, characterized in that the through hole (80) is open at the side.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim 21 words
Device according to one of claims 31 through 36, characterized in that the through hole (81) is open at the top.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim 74 words
Device according to one of claims 31 through 38, characterized in that the body (3) is connected to the tensioning means (26; 91) with tensile and compressive strength, preferably by a notch (94), in such a way that the tensioning means (26; 91) can be tightened and unscrewed, and the body (3) can be withdrawn by screwing the tensioning means (26; 91) in reverse, thus releasing the collet chuck (7; 73; 76; 77) again.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim 46 words
Device according to one of claims 31 through 38, characterized in that the collet chuck (7; 73; 76; 77) is provided with an inside thread (11) in the upper end into which a set screw (12) can be screwed to lock the longitudinal bar (1) separately.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim 37 words
Device according to claim 36 and one of claims 31 through 38, characterized in that the through hole (6) is shaped so that the top part (53) does not come to rest on the longitudinal bar (1).
Claim 42
Dependent Claim 28 words
Device according to one of claims 1 through 41, characterized in that the hole (25) in the body (3) is designed to be continuous from bottom to top.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag