Patent ID: 6558387
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
An intervertebral spacer device and polyaxial locking interference screw assembly, comprising:a disc-shaped member having a circumferential side surface, an upper surface, and a bottom surface, said disc shaped member including at least one through hole, each of said at least one trough hole extending from the circumferential side surface to at least one of the top and bottom surfaces; at least one screw, said screw including a semi-spherical head; and at least one corresponding coupling element, said coupling element including an interior semi-spherical volume, which at least one corresponding coupling element is mountable onto said corresponding head of said screw such that said screw and said coupling element pair may freely rotate relative to one another, and which coupling element and screw pair are insertable into and partially through one of said at least one through hole of said disc-shaped member such that via said insertion, said coupling element locks within the corresponding through hole; wherein said at least one coupling element further comprises an axially aligned slot formed therein, which slot causes the interior semi-spherical volume to expand and contact in accordance with the application of suitable compressive loads applied to an exterior surface of said coupling element, such that a suitable compressive load causes the coupling element to crush onto the semi-spherical head of the corresponding at least one screw upon sealing of the coupling element in the corresponding through hole.