Patent ID: 7674277
Filing Date: 2010-03-09
Classification: A61B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A side-loading vertebral anchor comprising: a C-shaped receiving portion having an upper leg, a base, and an intermediate portion, said receiving portion forming an open channel, said base having an aperture therethrough with a longitudinal axis and a groove communicating with said aperture, said groove substantially surrounding said aperture, said base further having a sloped or curved surface adjacent said channel, said surface ending in a ridge; an expandable and contractible clip member at least partially within said groove, said clip member having an internal dimension; an anchor portion having a head portion and a shaft portion, said head portion being at least partially within said aperture in said base of said receiving portion and adjacent said clip member, said head portion having an external dimension at least slightly larger than said internal dimension of said clip member whereby said clip member prevents passage of said head portion beyond said clip member, wherein said head of said anchor portion includes a groove, and at least a portion of said clip member is within at least a portion of said groove of said head portion; whereby an elongated member can be inserted from the side of said receiving portion into said channel in a direction substantially toward said intermediate portion and substantially perpendicular to said axis of said aperture in said base portion.