Device for linking adjacent rods in spinal instrumentation

Claim 2

A connector for linking adjacent longitudinal members engaged to a spine, comprising: a pair of engaging members, each of said engaging members including: a connecting portion at one end, said connecting portions each being elongated and sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members, a receptacle configured to receive a longitudinal member when the connector is disposed over the adjacent longitudinal members, a fixation surface adjacent to said receptacle and configured for engaging a longitudinal member thereon, and a first thru-hole defined in said engaging member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member, said thru-hole intersecting said receptacle and aligned at an angle relative to said fixation surface such that as the wedge member is advanced through said thru-hole the wedge member will bear against a longitudinal member in said receptacle and push the longitudinal member against said fixation surface to engage the connector to the longitudinal member; and a bridge member sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members and including: a pair of bores each for receiving a corresponding one of said connecting portions of said engaging members, a pair of engaging surfaces each adjacent to and contiguous with a respective one of said pair of bores for engaging said connecting portion, and a second thru-hole defined in said bridge member for receiving a wedge member, said second thru-hole intersecting each of said pair of bores such that as the wedge member is advanced through said second thru-hole the wedge member will bear against said connecting portion and push each of said connecting portions against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1, wherein said engaging surfaces are each a concavity and each said concavity has a smaller radius than a radius of said bore.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 2, wherein each of said concavities and bores have a centroid; and a first line between said centroid of one of said concavities and said centroid of a corresponding adjacent bore and a second line between said centroid of the other of said concavities and said centroid of the corresponding adjacent bore each diverge away from said second thru-hole such that as the wedge member is advanced through said second thru-hole said connecting portions are pushed away from an axis of said second thru-hole.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 1, wherein said first thru-holes are disposed laterally on the connector.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 1, wherein said first thru-holes are disposed medially on the connector.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 1, wherein said fixation surface is a circular concavity and said fixation surface has a smaller radius than a radius of the longitudinal member.

Claim 8

A connector for linking adjacent longitudinal members engaged to a spine, comprising: a pair of engaging members, each of said engaging members including: a connecting portion at one end, said connecting portions each being elongated and sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members, a receptacle configured to receive a longitudinal member when the connector is disposed over the adjacent longitudinal members, a fixation surface adjacent to said receptacle and configured for engaging a longitudinal member thereon, and a first thru-hole defined in said engaging member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member, said first thru-hole intersecting said receptacle such that as the wedge member is advanced through said first thru-hole said wedge member will bear against a longitudinal member in said receptacle and push the longitudinal member against said fixation surface to engage the connector to the longitudinal member; and a bridge member sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members and including: a pair of bores each for receiving a corresponding one of said connecting portions of said engaging members, a pair of engaging surfaces each adjacent to and contiguous with a respective one of said pair of bores for engaging said connecting portion, and a pair of second thru-holes defined in said bridge member each for receiving a wedge member, said second thru-holes intersecting a corresponding one of said pair of bores and aligned at an angle relative to each of said pair of engaging surfaces such that as the wedge member is advanced through one of said second thru-holes the wedge member will bear against a corresponding one of said connecting portions and push said corresponding connecting portion against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.

Claim 9

A connector for linking adjacent longitudinal members engaged to a spine, comprising: a pair of engaging members, each of said engaging members including: a connecting portion at one end, said connecting portions each being elongated and sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members, a receptacle configured to receive a longitudinal member when the connector is disposed over the adjacent longitudinal members, a fixation surface adjacent to said receptacle and configured for engaging a longitudinal member thereon, and a first thru-hole defined in said engaging member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member adjacent to said receptacle for receiving a wedge member, said first thru-hole intersecting said receptacle such that as the wedge member is advanced through said first thru-hole said wedge member will bear against a longitudinal member in said receptacle and push the longitudinal member against said fixation surface to engage the connector to the longitudinal member; and a bridge member sized to span at least a portion of the distance between the adjacent longitudinal members and including: a pair of bores each for receiving a corresponding one of said connecting portions of said engaging members, a pair of engaging surfaces each adjacent to and contiguous with a respective one of said pair of bores for engaging said connecting portion, and a pair of second thru-holes defined in said bridge member each for receiving a wedge member, said second thru-holes intersecting a corresponding one of said pair of bores and aligned at an angle relative to each of said pair of engaging surfaces such that as the wedge member is advanced through one of said second thru-holes the wedge member will bear against a corresponding one of said connecting portions and push said corresponding connecting portion against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.

Claim 10

The connector of claim 7, wherein said engaging surfaces are each a concavity and each said concavity has a smaller radius than a radius of said bore.

Claim 11

The connector of claim 7, wherein said fixation surface is a circular concavity and said fixation surface has a smaller radius than a radius of the longitudinal member.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 7, wherein said first thru-holes are disposed laterally on the connector.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 7, wherein said first thru-holes are disposed medially on the connector.

Claim 14

A spinal fixation system, comprising: a pair of longitudinal members configured for placement along the spine; and a connector having a longitudinal axis generally transverse to said longitudinal members, said connector including: a pair of engaging members, each having a fixation surface and a dun-hole aligned at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis, said thru-hole being configured to receive a wedge member therein, said wedge member being operable to advance through said thru-hole and engage a respective one of said longitudinal members against said fixation surface, a pair of elongated connecting members, each extending from a corresponding one of said engaging members in a direction along said longitudinal axis, and a bridge member including a pair of bores, each sized to receive a respective one of said connecting members therein and each having an engaging surface, said bridge member also including at least one opening intersecting at least one of said pair of bores, said opening being configured to receive a wedge member therein, said wedge member being operable to advance through said opening and engage at least one of said connecting members disposed within said at least one of said pair of bores against said engaging surface.

Claim 15

A spinal fixation system, comprising: a pair of longitudinal members configured for placement along the spine; and a connector having a longitudinal axis generally transverse to said longitudinal members, said connector including: a pair of engaging members, each having a fixation surface and a dun-hole aligned at an angle relative to said longitudinal axis, said thru-hole being configured to receive a wedge member therein, said wedge member being operable to advance through said thru-hole and engage a respective one of said longitudinal members against said fixation surface, a pair of elongated connecting members, each extending from a corresponding one of said engaging members in a direction along said longitudinal axis, and a bridge member including a pair of bores, each sized to receive a respective one of said connecting members therein and each having an engaging surface, said bridge member also including at least one opening intersecting at least one of said pair of bores, said opening being configured to receive a wedge member therein, said wedge member being operable to advance through said opening and engage at least one of said connecting members disposed within said at least one of said pair of bores against said engaging surface.

Claim 16

The system of claim 12, wherein said bridge member includes a pair of said openings, each of said pair of openings intersecting a corresponding one of said pair of bores and being configured to receive a wedge member therein, each of said wedge members being operable to advance through one of said pair of openings and engage a corresponding one of said connecting members against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.

Claim 17

The system of claim 12, wherein said at least one opening intersects each of said pair of bores, said wedge member being operable to advance through said opening and engage each of said connecting members against a corresponding one of said engaging surfaces.

Claim 18

The system of claim 14, wherein each of said engaging surfaces is a circular concavity having a smaller radius than a radius of said bore.

Claim 19

The system of claim 15, wherein each of said concavities and bores have a centroid; and a first line between said centroid of one of said concavities and said centroid of a corresponding adjacent bore and a second line between said centroid of the other of said concavities and said centroid of the corresponding adjacent bore each diverge away from said opening such that as the wedge member is advanced through said opening said connecting members are pushed away from an axis of said opening.

Claim 20

The system of claim 12, wherein each of said engaging surfaces is a concavity having a smaller radius than a radius of said bore.

Claim 21

The system of claim 12, wherein said angle is an oblique angle in a range of about 40 to 60 degrees.

Claim 22

The system of claim 12, wherein said wedge members disposed within said thru-holes are set screws, said set screws having a curved bearing surface complementary to a surface of said longitudinal members.

Claim 23

The system of claim 12, wherein said connecting members are displaceable within said bores to provide adjustment between said engaging members.

Claim 24

The system of claim 20, wherein said connecting members are slidable within said bores in a longitudinal direction to provide adjustable length between said engaging members.

Claim 25

The system of claim 12, wherein said thru-hole is offset from said respective one of said longitudinal members when engaged against said fixation surface.

Claim 26

The system of claim 12, wherein said thru-holes are disposed laterally on said connector.

Claim 27

The system of claim 12, wherein said wedge member directly contacts said respective one of said longitudinal members to engage said respective one of said longitudinal members against said fixation surface.