Patent ID: 6273914
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: A61B,Y10S

Abstract:
A spinal implant for rigid fixation of at least two vertebrae of a spinal column, said implant comprising:a) a plurality of support members placeable generally longitudinally parallel to each other on opposing sides of a spinal column, with each of said support members having a generally spherical first end with a generally circular aperture therethrough having a generally hourglass-shaped side wall and a second end with an elongate slot aperture therethrough, said apertures having parallel axes whereby the circular aperture and slot aperture of longitudinally adjacent support members are alignable with each other;b) a plurality of concave-to-planar adapters each having on one side thereof a concave surface generally complimentary in shape to the spherical first end of the support member and on the other side thereof a planar surface, with each adapter having an adapter aperture therethrough which is alignable with the circular aperture of the support member when the concave surface and spherical first end are in complimentary juxtaposition; andc) a plurality of fasteners each retainably insertable into the circular aperture, slot aperture and adapter aperture and into vertebral portions of the spinal column to thereby provide anchorage to said vertebral portions.