Patent ID: 9433439
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A stabilizing rod for use in positioning adjacent vertebrae with respect to each other, the stabilizing rod comprising: an elongate shaft extending longitudinally between a proximal end and an opposing distal end, the shaft having a first end face disposed at the proximal end, a second end face disposed at the distal end, and an encircling side surface extending between the end faces, the shaft having a central longitudinal axis extending between the proximal end and the distal end and bounding a passageway that extends along the central longitudinal axis so that the central longitudinal axis is disposed within the passageway, the shaft being comprised of a radiolucent material and the encircling side surface consisting entirely of a radiolucent material, the radiolucent material comprising a matrix of fiber and adhesive; and a solid core having an encircling exterior side surface that extends between opposing end faces, the solid core being disposed within the passageway of the shaft and extending between the proximal and distal ends of the shaft so that the core extends along the central longitudinal axis of the shaft, the solid core being comprised of a radiopaque material and being bonded to the shaft by the adhesive of the shaft along the entire length of the core, the solid core having the configuration of a rod and being the only rod that extends along the length of the shaft, wherein the matrix of fiber and adhesive is wound around the core so that the fiber encircles the core in a helical pattern, wherein the matrix of fiber and adhesive is bonded together so that at least a section of the shaft extends continuously as a unitary bonded structure between the opposing end faces of the shaft without encircling the core.