Patent ID: 7988694
Filing Date: 2011-08-02
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A spinal fixation system comprising: a connecting rod; a taper lock screw having an inner housing and an outer housing, said inner housing being provided with unlocking tool receptors and said outer housing being circumferentially disposed around at least a portion of said inner housing and having a proximal, circumferentially disposed, outwardly directed flange, wherein the outer housing and the inner housing are translatable relative to one another to transition the taper lock screw among a locked position, an unlocked position, and a partially locked position, and wherein the inner housing is adapted and configured to receive the connecting rod therein, and wherein the outer housing, the inner housing, and the connecting rod each has a proximal surface, the proximal surfaces being substantially coplanar when the taper lock screw is in the locked position; a locking device specifically configured to be capable of releasably connecting to and operationally interacting with said flange of said taper lock screw to lock said screw; and an unlocking device specifically configured to be capable of releasably connecting to and operationally interacting with said inner housing unlocking tool receptors of said taper lock screw to unlock said screw.