Devices and methods for attachment of spine fixation devices

Claim 1

A spacer for use with a bone screw apparatus attached to a bone, the bone having an external surface, the bone screw apparatus including a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and having a first threaded end and an opposite second end having a stop interconnected to the second end, said spacer comprising: a tapered first surface for engaging the external surface of the bone; a second surface spaced apart from said tapered first surface for engaging the stop; and a body disposed between said tapered first surface and said second surface, said body having an outer surface extending from said tapered first surface to said second surface, and an inner surface defining an axial bore extending from said tapered first surface to said second surface, said axial bore sized to slidably receive the shaft of the bone screw apparatus in a direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein said spacer is positioned between the stop of the bone screw apparatus and the external surface of the bone, wherein said body spaces the stop at a spaced apart distance from the external surface of the bone in a direction of said longitudinal axis, said axial bore having a bore axis generally the same as the longitudinal axis when the bone screw apparatus is positioned within said axial bore; said body having a circumferential plane perpendicular to said bore axis, said tapered first surface having an outer portion adjacent to said outer surface, wherein a distance from a point on said outer portion of said tapered first surface to a point on said circumferential plane parallel to said bore axis decreases as said point on said outer portion becomes further removed from said bore axis; said outer surface of said body spaced from said bore axis at least in an equal to manner wherein a first portion of said outer surface of said body is spaced from said bore axis a distance equal to or greater than a distance of a previous portion of said outer surface in a direction of travel along said outer surface from said tapered first surface to said second surface; said outer surface of said body including cylindrical portion contiguous with said second surface.

Claim 14

A method of securing a screw to a vertebra, said method comprising the steps of: contouring the vertebra to include a recess with a conically-shaped portion; threadably attaching a screw to the vertebra, wherein said screw passes through said recess; slidably positioning on said screw an annular spacer with a conical portion to mate with said conically-shaped portion; providing stop means interconnected to said screw to engage said spacer; and tightening said stop means against said spacer wherein said spacer engages said annular recess in said bone.

Claim 15

A method of securing a screw to a vertebra, said method comprising the steps of: contouring the vertebra to include a recess with a conically-shaped portion; threadably attaching a screw to the vertebra, wherein said screw passes through said recess; slidably positioning on said screw an annular spacer with a conical portion to mate with said conically-shaped portion; providing stop means interconnected to said screw to engage said spacer; and tightening said stop means against said spacer wherein said spacer engages said annular recess in said bone.