Spine construct with band clamp

An apparatus for retaining first and second vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship comprises first and second longitudinal members positionable along the spinal column. A first member connects the first and second longitudinal members to the first vertebra and second member connects the first and second longitudinal members to the second vertebra. A connector for interconnecting the first and second longitudinal members extends between the first and second longitudinal members and transverse to the first and second longitudinal members. The connector includes a band defining first and second openings through which the first and second longitudinal members are extendable. The band includes first and second portions movable relatively between a first position in which the first and second band portions clamp the first and second longitudinal members in said first and second openings and a second position in which the first and second band portions are released from clamping the longitudinal members in said first and second openings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for use in retaining bone 
portions in a desired spatial relationship. Specifically, the present 
invention relates to a connector for interconnecting longitudinal members 
which are extensible along a spinal column and connectable to vertebrae to 
retain the vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship. 
A known connector for interconnecting longitudinal members of an apparatus 
for retaining first and second vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired 
spatial relationship is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,742. U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,487,742 discloses one example of many such connectors. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an apparatus for retaining first and second 
vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship. In one 
embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises first and second 
longitudinal members positionable along the spinal column. The apparatus 
further includes a first means for connecting the first and second 
longitudinal members to the first vertebrae and second means for 
connecting the first and second longitudinal members to the second 
vertebrae. A connector for interconnecting the first and second 
longitudinal members includes first and second openings through which the 
first and second longitudinal members are extendable. The first and second 
openings are defined by a one piece band having first and second portions 
which are movable relative to each other between a first position in which 
the first and second portions clamp the first and second longitudinal 
members in the first and second openings and a second position in which 
the first and second portions are released from the longitudinal members. 
In another embodiment of the invention, a plate has a body portion and an 
integral band portion. The body portion of the plate has an opening for 
receiving a fastener for securing the body portion to a bone. The band 
portion defines an opening through which a member which lies along the 
bone may extend. A fastener clamps the band portion around the member to 
connect the member to the body portion of the plate.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
A pair of surgically implantable rods 10 (FIG. 1) for stabilizing a human 
spinal column C are connected with cervical vertebrae V of the spinal 
column by plates 12 and 14. The plates 12 and 14 have openings through 
which the rods 10 extend. Each rod 10 is elongate and has a circular 
cross-section taken in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal 
central axis of the rod. The rod 10 is bendable to conform to a desired 
curvature of the spinal column C. The rods 10 have sufficient length and 
rigidity to maintain the vertebrae V in the desired relationship. The rods 
10 are made of a biocompatible material such as titanium or stainless 
steel. 
Each of the rods 10 has a length which is at least sufficient to enable the 
rod to span at least two of the cervical vertebrae V. In the embodiment of 
the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the rods 10 span two vertebrae V. Of 
course, the length of the rods 10 will depend upon the condition to be 
corrected and the number of vertebrae V to be held in a desired spatial 
relationship relative to each other by the rods 10. 
The plate 12 is connected to a vertebra V by fasteners 20. The fasteners 20 
also fix the rods 10 relative to the plate 12 to prevent relative movement 
between the rods 10 and the plate 12. The plate 14 is connected to a 
vertebra V by fasteners 22. The fasteners 22 permit relative movement 
between the plate 14 and the rods 10. Each of the rods 10 terminates in a 
cap 24 engageable with the plate 14. The caps 24 prevent movement of the 
plate 14 relative to the rods 10 in a direction away from the plate 12, 
while allowing movement of the plate 14 in a direction toward the plate 
12. 
Each of the fasteners 20 preferably includes an expander 30 for expanding a 
head end portion 32 of the fastener 20. The expander 30 expands the head 
end portion 32 into engagement with a surface defining an opening in the 
plate 12 through which the fastener 20 extends. The head end portion 32 
also expands into engagement with the rod 10 to clamp the rod to the plate 
12. Accordingly, the fastener 20 prevents relative movement between the 
plate 12, the fastener 20 and the rod 10. Although the fastener 20 clamps 
the rod 10 to the plate 12, the rod may be fixed to the plate in any 
manner. 
Each of the fasteners 22 preferably has an expander 34 for expanding a head 
end portion 36 of the fastener 22. The expander 34 expands the head end 
portion 36 into engagement with a surface defining an opening in the plate 
14 through which the fastener 22 extends. Accordingly, each fastener 22 is 
prevented from moving relative to the plate 14. However, the plate 14 is 
movable relative to the rods 10. 
A one piece band clamp 40 (FIGS. 1 and 2) for interconnecting the rods 10 
extends between the rods and transverse to the rods. The band 40 is made 
of a suitable biocompatible material such as titanium or stainless steel. 
The band 40 circumscribes the rods 10. The band 40 (FIGS. 2-4) includes a 
lower band portion 42, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an upper band 
portion 44 extending generally parallel to each other. The upper and lower 
band portions 42 and 44 define first and second openings 46 and 48 through 
which the rods 10 extend. 
The opening 46 is defined by a first side portion 50 of the lower band 
portion 42 and a first side portion 52 of the upper band portion 44. The 
first side portion 50 of the lower portion 42 defining the opening 46 has 
a threaded opening 54 for threadably receiving a fastener 56. 
The first side portion 52 of the upper band portion 44 defining the opening 
46 has an opening 58 through which the fastener 56 extends. The opening 58 
is partially defined by a cylindrical surface 60 which extends parallel to 
an axis of the opening 58. The opening 58 is also partially defined by a 
recess 62 in the band 40. The recess 62 and the cylindrical surface 60 
define a shoulder 64 in the opening 58 against which a head 66 of the 
screw 56 engages. 
The axes of the openings 54 and 58 are offset from each other when the band 
40 is in a released condition, as shown in FIG. 3. As the fastener 56 is 
threaded into the opening 54 and the portions 50, 52 move from their 
positions shown in FIG. 3 to the positions shown in FIG. 2, the portions 
pivot around the rod 10 and the axes of the openings 54 and 58 become 
aligned. 
The opening 48 is defined by a second side portion 70 of the lower band 
portion 42 and a second side portion 72 of the upper band portion 44. The 
first side portion 50 of the lower band portion 42 is integral with the 
second side portion 70. The first side portion 52 of the upper band 
portion 44 is integral with the second side portion 72. The second side 
portion 70 of the lower portion 42 has a threaded opening 74 for 
threadably receiving a fastener 76. 
The second side portion 72 defining the opening 48 has an opening 78 
through which the fastener 76 extends. The opening 78 is partially defined 
by a cylindrical surface 80 which extends parallel to an axis of the 
opening 78. The opening 78 is partially defined by a recess 82 in the 
portion 72. The cylindrical surface 80 and the recess 82 define a shoulder 
84 against which a head 86 of the screw 76 engages. 
The axes of the openings 74 and 78 are offset from each other when the band 
40 is in a released condition as shown in FIG. 3. As the fastener 76 is 
threaded into the opening 74 and the portions 70, 72 move from the 
positions shown in FIG. 3 to the positions shown in FIG. 2, the portions 
70, 72 pivot around the rod 10 into engagement so that the axes of the 
openings 74 and 78 are aligned. 
When the rods 10 are to be connected to the vertebrae V, the rods are 
placed through the openings in the plates 12 and 14 and through the 
openings 46 and 48 in the band 40. The inherent resiliency of the band 40 
positions portions 50, 52 and 70, 72 so that the rods may be easily 
positioned in the openings 46 and 48 in the band 40. The plates 12 and 14 
are positioned on the vertebrae V and the fasteners 20 and 22 are threaded 
into the vertebrae to connect the plates 12 and 14 to the vertebrae. The 
fasteners 56 and 76 are threaded into the openings 54 and 74. Accordingly, 
the portions 50 and 52 clamp one of the rods 10 in the opening 46 and the 
portions 70 and 72 clamp the other rod in the opening 48. The band clamp 
40 is thus fixedly clamped to the rods 10 and securely interconnects the 
rods 10. The band 40 may be released from the rods 10 by loosening the 
fasteners 56, 76. As the fasteners 56, 76 are loosened, the inherent 
resiliency of the band 40 causes the portions 50, 52 and 70, 72 to release 
their clamping force on the rods 10. 
In a second embodiment of the present invention, rods 110 (FIG. 5) for 
stabilizing a human spinal column C are connected to anterior portions of 
cervical vertebra V of the spinal column by plates 112 and 114. The plate 
112 is connected to a vertebra V by fasteners 120. The fasteners 120 also 
fix the rods 110 relative to the plate 112 to prevent relative movement 
between the rods 110 and the plate 112. The plate 112 and the fasteners 
120 are identical to the plate 12 and the fasteners 20 described in 
connection with FIG. 1. Therefore, the plate 112 and the fasteners 120 
will not be described in detail. 
The plate 114 has a body portion 116 and a band portion 118 integral with 
the body portion. The plate 114 is connected to a vertebra by fasteners 
122. The fasteners 122 are identical to the fasteners 22 described in 
connection with FIG. 1. Therefore, the fasteners 122 will not be described 
in detail. 
The plate 114 has a surface 130 for facing the vertebra V. The surface 130 
extends along the body portion 116 and the band portion 118. The body 
portion 116 of the plate 114 is substantially similar to the plate 14 
disclosed in FIG. 1, and therefore, will not be described in detail. The 
band portion 118 of the plate 114 circumscribes the rods 110 and is 
substantially similar to the band 40 described in connection with FIGS. 
1-4. Therefore, the band portion 118 will not be described in detail. 
The band portion 118 has a lower portion 132, as viewed in FIG. 6, and an 
upper portion 134. The upper and lower portions define first and second 
openings 136 and 138 for receiving the rods 110. The opening 136 is 
defined by a first side portion 140 of the lower portion 132 and a first 
side portion 142 of the upper portion 134. The portion 140 of the lower 
portion 132 has a threaded opening for receiving a fastener 144. The 
portion 142 of the upper portion 134 has an opening through which the 
fastener extends. The fastener 144 threadably engages the opening in the 
portion 140 of the lower portion 132 to cause the portion 142 of the upper 
portion 134 to move toward the portion 140 and clamp the rod 110 in the 
opening 136. The fastener 144 overcomes the inherent resiliency of the 
band portion 118 to cause the clamping of the rod 100 in the opening 136. 
The opening 138 is defined by a second side portion 150 of the lower 
portion 132 and a second side portion 152 of the upper portion 134. The 
first and second side portions 140 and 150 of the lower portion 132 are 
integral with the body portion 116 of the plate 114. The first side 
portion 142 of the upper portion 134 is integral with the second side 
portion 152. The second side portion 150 of the lower portion 132 has a 
threaded opening for receiving a fastener 154. The second side portion 152 
of the upper portion 134 has an opening through which the fastener 154 
extends. The fastener 154 threadably engages the opening in the portion 
150 to cause the portion 152 to move toward the portion 150 and clamp the 
rod 110 in the opening 138. The fastener 154 overcomes the inherent 
resiliency of the band portion 118 to cause the clamping of the rod 110 in 
the opening 136. 
From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will 
perceive improvements, changes and modifications. Such improvements, 
changes and modifications within the skill of the art are intended to be 
covered by the appended claims.