US6004322A — Modular pedicle screw system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 128 words

A modular bone screw system for use with a longitudinal member comprising: a fastener having an upper portion defining an outer wall having a first mating surface and a threaded lower portion for securing said fastener to a bone; a headpiece having a neck portion defining a bore which defines an inner wall having a second mating surface and a connector for retaining the longitudinal member; said first and second mating surfaces of said walls include means for sliding engagement of said fastener and said headpiece upon insertion of said upper portion into said bore while preventing relative rotation between said fastener and said headpiece; and a locking element which mechanically affixes said headpiece and said fastener together when said upper portion is disposed entirely within said bore.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 128 words

A modular bone screw system for use with a longitudinal member comprising: a fastener having an upper portion defining an outer wall having a first mating surface and a threaded lower portion for securing said fastener to a bone; a headpiece having a neck portion defining a bore which defines an inner wall having a second mating surface and a connector for retaining the longitudinal member; said first and second mating surfaces of said walls include means for sliding engagement of said fastener and said headpiece upon insertion of said upper portion into said bore while preventing relative rotation between said fastener and said headpiece; and a locking element which mechanically affixes said headpiece and said fastener together when said upper portion is disposed entirely within said bore.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said fastener is frusto-conical in shape and wherein said second mating surface of said headpiece is adapted to correspondingly mate with said frusto-conical shape of said upper portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a shoulder located between said upper and lower portions of said fastener for limiting the depth that said upper portion of said fastener can be inserted into said bore.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said fastener contains a through bore thereby allowing said fastener to be cannulated.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said headpiece includes an aperture adapted to receive a screw and said upper portion of said fastener defines a threaded internal bore for engaging said screw whereby said headpiece and said fastener are secured together.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 40 words

The modular bone screw system of claim 1 wherein: said headpiece defines a centerline through said bore and includes a projection extending outwardly from said neck portion at an angle relative to said centerline, said projection terminating in said connector.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said upper portion of said fastener is frusto-conical in shape and wherein said second mating surface of said headpiece is shaped to correspondingly mate with said frusto-conical shape of said upper portion.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 7 wherein said upper portion of said fastener includes a fluted outer surface and said second mating surface of said headpiece is a fluted surface to correspondingly mate with said fluted outer surface of said upper portion of said fastener.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said projection is angulated with respect to said centerline at an angle in the range of about 5° to 45°.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said fastener contains a through bore thereby allowing said fastener to be cannulated and a shoulder which is located between said upper and lower portions of said fastener for limiting the depth that said upper portion of said fastener can be inserted into said bore.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 6 wherein said headpiece includes an aperture adapted to receive a screw and said upper portion of said fastener defines a threaded internal bore for engaging said screw whereby said headpiece and said fastener are secured together.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 43 words

The modular bone screw system of claim 1 wherein: said headpiece defines a centerline through said bore and includes a lateral section extending outwardly from said neck portion at an angle perpendicular to said center line, said lateral section terminating in said connector.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said upper portion of said fastener is frusto-conical in shape and wherein said second mating surface of said headpiece is shaped to correspondingly mate with said frusto-conical shape of said upper portion.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 12 wherein the length of said lateral section is in the range of about 5 millimeters to 3 centimeters.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said fastener contains a through bore thereby allowing said fastener to be cannulated.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said headpiece includes an aperture adapted to receive a screw and said upper portion of said fastener defines a threaded internal bore for engaging said screw whereby said headpiece and said fastener are secured together.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 12 wherein said upper portion of said fastener includes a fluted outer surface and said second mating surface of said headpiece is a fluted surface to correspondingly mate with said fluted outer surface of said upper portion of said fastener.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

The modular bone screw of claim 1 wherein: said headpiece defines a centerline through said bore and a horizontal axis perpendicular to said centerline and includes a lateral projection extending outwardly from said neck and terminating in said connector, said lateral projection being angulated relative to said horizontal axis.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 48 words

The system of claim 18 wherein said projection is angulated with respect to a horizontal line defined by said neck at an angle in the range of 2° to 45° and the length of said lateral section is in the range of about 5 millimeters to 3 centimeters.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 18 wherein said upper portion of said fastener is frusto-conical in shape and said second mating surface of said headpiece is shaped to correspondingly mate with said frusto-conical shape of said upper portion.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 20 wherein said upper portion of said fastener includes a fluted outer surface and said second mating surface of said headpiece is a fluted surface to correspondingly mate with said fluted outer surface of said upper portion of said fastener.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 18 wherein said fastener includes a shoulder located between said upper and lower portions of said fastener for limiting the depth that said upper portion of said fastener can be inserted into said bore.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 18 wherein said headpiece includes an aperture adapted to receive a screw and said upper portion of said fastener defines a threaded internal bore for engaging said screw whereby said headpiece and said fastener are secured together.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 1 in which the longitudinal member has an opening defined therethrough, and wherein said connector includes an elongated shank configured to extend through the opening in the longitudinal member.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said fastener includes a fluted outer surface and said second mating surface of said headpiece is a fluted surface to correspondingly mate with said fluted outer surface of said upper portion of said fastener.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 1 wherein said connector defines an aperture sized to receive the longitudinal member therethrough.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 119 words

An apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone, comprising: a bone engaging fastener having an upper portion defining a threaded internal bore and a lower portion configured for engaging the bone; a headpiece defining a bore for receiving said upper portion of said fastener therein and including a connector configured for retaining the longitudinal member; means between said upper portion of said fastener and said bore of said headpiece for preventing relative rotation therebetween; and a locking element extendable into said bore and having a threaded portion for threaded engagement with said threaded internal bore of said fastener, and an enlarged head for bearing against said headpiece as said threaded portion is threaded into said internal bore.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 119 words

An apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone, comprising: a bone engaging fastener having an upper portion defining a threaded internal bore and a lower portion configured for engaging the bone; a headpiece defining a bore for receiving said upper portion of said fastener therein and including a connector configured for retaining the longitudinal member; means between said upper portion of said fastener and said bore of said headpiece for preventing relative rotation therebetween; and a locking element extendable into said bore and having a threaded portion for threaded engagement with said threaded internal bore of said fastener, and an enlarged head for bearing against said headpiece as said threaded portion is threaded into said internal bore.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said upper portion of said fastener and said bore of said headpiece define mating surfaces configured for sliding engagement between said upper portion and said bore along an axis of said bore.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 12 words

The apparatus according to claim 28,wherein said mating surfaces are fluted surfaces.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said mating surfaces are frusto-conical surfaces.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said frusto-conical surfaces define increasing mating diameters that are larger adjacent said lower portion of said bone engaging fastener.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein: said headpiece includes an aperture communicating with said bore, said aperture sized to prevent insertion of said upper portion therethrough; and said locking element is sized to extend through said aperture for engagement with said upper portion of said fastener.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said bone engaging fastener includes a shoulder located between said upper and lower portions thereof, said shoulder sized to prevent insertion of said fastener.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus according to claim 27 in which the longitudinal member is an elongated rod, wherein said connector defines an aperture sized to receive the elongated rod therethrough.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein: said connector defines a threaded opening intersecting said aperture; and said connector includes a set screw for threaded engagement within said threaded opening to bear against the elongated rod disposed within said aperture.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus according to claim 27, in which the longitudinal member is an elongated plate having an opening defined therethrough, wherein said connector includes an elongated shank configured to extend through the opening in the elongated plate.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said elongated shank is threaded and said connector includes an internally threaded nut for engaging said shank to clamp the elongated plate to said connector.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said bore of said headpiece defines a centerline therethrough and said elongated shank defines a longitudinal axis along its length that is substantially parallel to said centerline.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said bore of said headpiece defines a centerline therethrough and said elongated shank defines a longitudinal axis along its length that intersects said centerline.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said bore of said headpiece defines a centerline therethrough and said elongated shank defines a longitudinal axis along its length that is angulated with respect to said centerline.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus according to claim 40, wherein said longitudinal axis is angulated relative to said centerline at an angle of between about 5° and 45°.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said headpiece includes an elongated section between said bore and said connector.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said bore defines a centerline therethrough and said elongated section defines an axis along its length that is substantially perpendicular to said centerline.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said bore defines a centerline therethrough, said headpiece defines a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to said centerline, and said elongated section defines an axis along its length that is angulated relative to said horizontal axis.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said axis of said elongated section is angulated above said horizontal axis in relation to said bone engaging fastener when said upper portion of said fastener is disposed within said bore.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said axis of said elongated section is angulated below said horizontal axis in relation to said bone engaging fastener when said upper portion of said fastener is disposed within said bore.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said axis of said elongated section is angulated at an angle of between about 2° and 45°.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein said elongated section has a length of between about 0.5 cm. and 3.0 cm.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said lower portion of said fastener includes bone engaging threads.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-12-20	2003-06-21	2003-12-21	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-12-20	2007-06-21	2007-12-21	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-12-20	2011-06-21	2011-12-21	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Modular pedicle screw system

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