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EP1190678A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Lock cap anchor assembly for orthopaedic fixation

Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
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Filing: 2001-09-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-09-21
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Abstract

Abstract An assembly such as an anchor screw, bone plate, offset hook, post, transverse connector or other spinal anchor for anchoring to bone and clamping a linkage such as a rod, wire cable or the like. The assembly has a top member (33,53,153) with an open slot (34) to receive the linkage, and a twist-lock closure cap (40,60,140) to close the open end, capturing the linkage in the slot. One closure cap fits over and around the top member, with a set of segmented protrusions (46a,46b,46c,46d,146) that extend through a corresponding set of protruding flange segments (36a,36b,36c,36d,158) spaced about the circumference of the top member. The cap is configured to rotate and lock against the top member like a flange-locking bayonet mount when turned through a limited degree of rotation. Slots (62a,62b) may be provided through the face of the closure cap allowing reduction tabs (55) to project through the cap, and the locking cap may be adapted to a range of screw, eye, hook, post, connector and other anchor assemblies to securely clamp the linkage by use of a rotation tool disposed along an access path aligned with the axis of the screw, thus requiring no lateral clearance along the longitudinal direction of the linkage element. Locking is effected by a set screw that passes (42) through the cap and tightens against the linkage to firmly immobilize it in the anchor assembly.

Inventors

  • 👤 Frank Scott Bono
  • 👤 George Joseph Ross
  • 👤 Christopher Werner Sicvol
  • 👤 Ian Burgess

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7035; A61B17/7032; A61B17/7037; A61B17/7041; A61B17/7044; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S606/00; Y10S606/907

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 158 words
An anchor assembly for securing a fixation rod, such assembly comprising a spinal anchor assembly having a screw axis and a head member with a slot and an open distal end adapted for passage of a linking element such as a rod or cable therethrough and a cap for closing the open end wherein the head member comprises an upwardly extending body having at least a partial flange portion extending about a perimeter of said head member, and wherein the cap includes a cover having a plurality of spaced apart radially extending rim protrusions adapted for passing through the partial flange portion when the cover is moved along the screw axis and rotating into engagement with the partial flange portion of the head member so as to close the open end and thereby capture the linking member in the slot, said cap further having a centrally-placed clamping member for tightening down to further clamp the captured linking member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 50 words
The assembly of claim 1, wherein the head member includes a pair of reduction tabs extending upwardly therefrom, and said cap includes a corresponding pair of circumferentially oriented slots configured for passage of the reduction tabs therethrough so as to allow relative rotation of the head member and the cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
The assembly of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clamping member includes a clamping screw that passes centrally through the cap for locking the linking member in position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partial flange portion of the head member extends externally of the perimeter, and said cap rim protrusions project inwardly from a dependent circumferential body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the partial flange portion of the head member extends internally of the perimeter, and said cap fits within the head member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 95 words
An anchor assembly for securing a linkage such as a rod or cable, wherein the anchor assembly comprises an anchor element configured for attachment to a bone, and having a protruding top member including an open slot for passing the linkage therethrough, and a cap for closing the open slot of the top member wherein the top member and the cap are adapted to twist-lock together by a partial rotation to cover the slot so as to capture the linkage, and the cap further includes a clamping member for tightening down to secure the linkage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
The anchor assembly of claim 6, wherein the top member and cap twist-lock together by engagement of respective flange segments on said top member and said cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
The anchor assembly of claim 7, wherein at least some of the flange segments are sloped along a radial direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The anchor assembly of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the clamping member includes a locking bolt threaded in the cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 26 words
The anchor assembly of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the top member includes a surface forming a circumferential ridge for centering the cap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
The anchor assembly of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the top member includes reduction tabs, and the cap includes slots for passage of the reduction tabs therethrough and sized to permit said partial rotation of the cap relative to the top member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The anchor assembly of any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the top member includes radially inwardly protruding capture protrusions, and the cap is a twist-in-cap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 48 words
The anchor assembly of any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the anchor element is a monoaxial screw, a polyaxial screw, a hook, a transverse connector, an offset connector, a slotted connector, a wire or cable anchor or an anchor for the connection of multiple longitudinal members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 110 words
A spinal anchor assembly for securing a linking element such as a fixation rod or cable, wherein the anchor assembly includes a head with an open slot for receiving the linking element, the head being adapted to anchor to bone, and said assembly further includes a cap for closing the head to capture the linking element in the slot, said head and said cap each having respective sets of radially-protruding segments positioned such that the respective sets pass between each other as the cap is moved along an axis of the anchor assembly, and lock against each other as the cap is rotated about said axis through a partial rotation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The anchor assembly of claim 14, wherein said radially-protruding segments have a radially sloping lower surface to prevent disengagement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 16 words
The anchor assembly of claim 14 or claim 15, wherein said cap is an internal twist-in-cap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 19 words
The anchor assembly of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said cap extends radially outside the head.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 17 for use in securing an elongated linking element such as a rod, wire or cable to a bone.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5257993A Cited
US5346493A Cited
WO1996028105A1 Cited
US5672176A Cited

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