Patent ID: 7857834
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. An orthopedic fixation device comprising: a receiver including first and second legs and a first pocket defined between the legs; a rod having a curved portion; an anchor including a head; and a seat structure that mounts within the receiver, the seat structure including a top seat for receiving the rod and a bottom seat for receiving the head of the anchor, the top seat including first and second legs extending from a base of the top seat, the top seat including an interior defining a second pocket between the first and second legs configured to receive the rod therethrough; the first leg of the seat structure having first and second raised ridges and a recessed portion extending between the first raised ridge and the second raised ridge facing the interior of the top seat, the recessed portion of the first leg extending to the topmost extent of the first and second raised ridges of the first leg, each ridge including a discrete rod contact location disposed along a planar portion of the raised ridge for contacting the rod, and a rod non-contact area defined by the recessed portion of the first leg spaced from the rod; the second leg of the seat structure having first and second raised ridges and a recessed portion extending between the first raised ridge and the second raised ridge facing the interior of the top seat, the recessed portion of the second leg extending to the topmost extent of the first and second raised ridges of the second leg, each ridge including a discrete rod contact location disposed along a planar portion of the raised ridge for contacting the rod, and a rod non-contact area defined by the recessed portion of the second leg spaced from the rod; wherein the first raised ridge of the first leg deviates from the recessed portion of the first leg to extend toward the first raised ridge of the second leg, and the first raised ridge of the second leg deviates from the recessed portion of the second leg to extend toward the first raised ridge of the first leg, retaining a distance across the second pocket between the first raised ridge of the first leg and the first raised ridge of the second leg; wherein the second raised ridge of the first leg deviates from the recessed portion of the second leg to extend toward the second raised ridge of the second leg, and the second raised ridge of the second leg deviates from the recessed portion of the second leg to extend toward the second raised ridge of the first leg, retaining a distance across the second pocket between the second raised ridge of the first leg and the second raised ridge of the second leg; wherein a distance across the second pocket from the recessed portion of the first leg to the recessed portion of the second leg is greater than the distance across the second pocket between the first raised ridge of the first leg and the first raised ridge of the second leg; wherein the distance across the second pocket from the recessed portion of the first leg to the recessed portion of the second leg is greater than the distance across the second pocket between the second raised ridge of the first leg and the second raised ridge of the second leg; and wherein the seat structure is configured such that the rod is spaced from the base of the top seat when the rod is received in the second pocket and in contact with each of the discrete rod contact locations of the seat structure; wherein the curved portion of the rod is disposed within the top seat such that the rod has a lateral curvature such that the rod curves toward the first leg of the receiver and curves away from the second leg of the receiver.