Apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae of the spine

Claim 1

An apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) therebetween; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); wherein said pivot point (15) is situated above a plane passing through a center axis (30a) of the stabilizing rod and the space (25) between the first arm and the second arm, the pivot point being on a same side as the machine thread section.

Claim 2

An apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) therebetween; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); wherein said pivot point (15) is situated above a plane passing through a center axis (30a) of the stabilizing rod and the space (25) between the first arm and the second arm, the pivot point being on a same side as the machine thread section.

Claim 8

An apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) there between; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); wherein said rod is adapted to receive two or more of said connectors (14); wherein each of said connectors is formed of one piece of material, and wherein in each of said connectors (14), the first arm and the second arm comprise opposing jaws (22a, 23a) at a first end thereof and a hinge (24, 24a) at a second end thereof; wherein one of said jaws (36a) is formed with a pair of ridges (84, 86) and the other of said jaws (34a) is formed with a single ridge (82, 92b) so that said rod (30) has a three point suspension.

Claim 9

An apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) there between; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); wherein said rod is adapted to receive two or more of said connectors (14); wherein each of said connectors is formed of one piece of material, and wherein in each of said connectors (14), the first arm and the second arm comprise opposing jaws (22a, 23a) at a first end thereof and a hinge (24, 24a) at a second end thereof; wherein one of said jaws (36a) is formed with a pair of ridges (84, 86) and the other of said jaws (34a) is formed with a single ridge (82, 92b) so that said rod (30) has a three point suspension.

Claim 11

An apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) there between; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); wherein said second arm includes a lower surface (101) being a planar surface engaging a slip washer (102) with a concave surface (105) facing away from the connector.

Claim 12

An apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) there between; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); wherein said second arm includes a lower surface (101) being a planar surface engaging a slip washer (102) with a concave surface (105) facing away from the connector.

Claim 14

A system comprising an apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) there between; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); including at least one modular element (110) wherein the modular element (110) includes at one modular end said machine thread section (111) and at another modular end a hook part wherein said mechanism is adapted to affix said modular element in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening (113).

Claim 15

A system comprising an apparatus for stabilizing certain vertebrae (B,C) of the spine (A) with respect to one another in a portion of the spine to be treated, the apparatus comprising: a spinal stabilizing rod (30) that is adapted to be placed in a generally parallel relationship with the portion of the spine (A) to be treated; a pedicle screw (12) including a bone cancellous type thread section (20) at one end thereof, a machine thread section (16) at another end thereof, and a nut portion (18) therebetween; a connector (14) including a first arm (22) having a first opening (19) therethrough, a second arm (23) generally parallel to said first arm (22) and having a second opening (21) co-axial with said first opening, and a hinge coupling said arms (22, 23), said arms (22, 23) defining a space (25) there between; said openings (19, 21) having dimensions greater than a cross-section dimension of said pedicle screw (12); a mechanism (40, 42, 52) adapted to affix said pedicle screw (12) in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening, in a position about a pivot point (15) that remains fixed with respect to said rod (30) and permits said connector (14) to pivot with respect to said screw (12); including at least one modular element (110) wherein the modular element (110) includes at one modular end said machine thread section (111) and at another modular end a hook part wherein said mechanism is adapted to affix said modular element in said at least one of said first opening and said second opening (113).