# Patent

## Title
Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion

## Abstract

An apparatus (10) includes a fastener (16) engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member (12) to the bone portion. A housing (40) has a first passage (42) configured to receive the longitudinal member (12) and a second passage (44) extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener (16) extends through an opening (50) in the housing (40) into the second passage (44). A longitudinal axis (18) of the fastener (16) is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to a longitudinal axis (46) of the second passage (44). A spacer (60) received in the second passage (44) of the housing (40) is engageable with the fastener (16) and the longitudinal member (12). A member (70) applies a force to prevent relative movement between the fastener (16) and the housing (40) and permit manual movement of the fastener (16) relative to the housing (40) against the force when the longitudinal member (12) is disengaged from the spacer (60). A clamping mechanism (90) clamps the longitudinal member (12), the spacer (60), and the housing (40) to the fastener (16) to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing.

## Background
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus which is used to retain bone portions, such as vertebrae of a spinal column, in a desired spatial relationship.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A known apparatus for retaining vertebrae of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,442. U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,442 discloses an apparatus including a longitudinal member extendable along the spinal column. A fastener engageable with a vertebra of the spinal column connects the longitudinal member to the vertebra. A housing has a first passage through which the longitudinal member extends and a second passage with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener extends through an opening in the housing into the second passage. The longitudinal axis of the fastener is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the second passage.
A spacer received in the housing is engageable with the fastener and the longitudinal member. A clamping member threadably engages the housing to clamp the longitudinal member, the spacer, and the housing to the fastener to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing. When the longitudinal member is disengaged from the spacer, the housing may not remain in position relative to the fastener until the longitudinal member is clamped to the spacer. Accordingly, the housing must be held in position relative to the fastener by a surgeon while the longitudinal member is clamped to the spacer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus which is used to retain bone portions in a desired spatial relationship. The apparatus includes a longitudinal member connectable with a bone portion. A fastener having a longitudinal axis is engageable with the bone portion to connect the longitudinal member to the bone portion. A housing has a first passage configured to receive the longitudinal member. The housing has a second passage with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener extends through an opening in the housing into the second passage and is movable relative to the housing. The longitudinal axis of the fastener is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the second passage.
A spacer received in the second passage of the housing is engageable with the fastener and the longitudinal member. A member applies a force to prevent relative movement between the fastener and the housing when the longitudinal member is disengaged from the spacer and the spacer engages the fastener. The fastener and the housing are manually movable relative to each other against the force when the longitudinal member is disengaged from the spacer and the member applies the force. A clamping mechanism clamps the longitudinal member, the spacer, and the housing to the fastener to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing. Accordingly, the housing and the fastener can be positioned relative to each other and the member will hold the fastener and the housing in the relative positions before the longitudinal member is connected to the housing.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention with portions removed for clarity;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a part sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a spring member of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a side view of the spring member.



DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for retaining bone portions, such as vertebrae of a spinal column, in a desired spatial relationship. FIGS. 1–4 illustrate an apparatus 10 constructed according to the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a surgically implantable longitudinal member or rod 12 for maintaining bone portions, such as vertebrae of a spinal column, in a desired spatial relationship. The member 12 is connected with vertebrae of the spinal column by fasteners 16.
The rod 12 is made of a suitable biocompatible material and has a length which is at least sufficient to enable the rod to span at least two vertebrae. Of course, the length of the rod 12 in any particular installation will depend upon the condition to be corrected and the number of vertebrae to be held in a desired spatial relationship relative to each other by the rod.
The rod 12 (FIGS. 1–3) is connected to a respective vertebra by the fastener 16 made of a suitable biocompatible material. The fastener 16 has a longitudinal axis 18 and a threaded end portion 22 having a course thread convolution 24 which engages the vertebra. A second end portion 26 of the fastener 16 is provided with a first part spherical surface 28. The second end portion 26 of the fastener 16 also includes a second part spherical surface 30 having a diameter less than a diameter of the first part spherical surface 28. A radially extending shoulder 31 extends between the part spherical surfaces 28 and 30. A recess 32 (FIG. 2) is provided on the end portion 26 of the fastener 16. The recess 32 receives a tool (not shown) that applies torque to the fastener 16 to turn the thread convolution 24 into the vertebra.
The fastener 16 (FIGS. 1–4) extends into a housing 40 that interconnects the rod 12 and the fastener 16. The housing 40 (FIG. 2) has a first passage 42 through which the rod 12 extends. The housing 40 has a second passage 44 with a longitudinal axis 46 that extends transverse to the first passage 42. The fastener 16 extends through an opening 50 in the housing 40 and into the second passage 44. The first part spherical surface 28 of the fastener 16 engages a concave part spherical surface 52 of the housing 40. Accordingly, the fastener 16 is universally pivotable relative to the housing 40 so that the longitudinal axis 18 of the fastener 16 is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the longitudinal axis 46 of the passage 44.
A spacer 60 is housed in the second passage 44 of the housing 40. The spacer 60 (FIGS. 2–4) has a concave part spherical surface 62 that engages the part spherical surface 30 of the fastener 16. The shoulder 31 on the fastener 16 is engageable with the spacer 60 to limit the relative movement between the fastener and the housing 40. The spacer 60 also has a concave part cylindrical surface 64 that engages the rod 12. The spacer 60 has an opening 66 through which the tool (not shown) extends to engage the recess 32 in the fastener 16. The tool extends through the opening 66 to apply torque to the fastener 16 and connect the fastener to the vertebra.
The spacer 60 (FIG. 4) has a circumferential groove 68 for receiving a compressible member such as a spring member 70. The groove 68 is defined by an axially extending cylindrical surface 71. An upper surface 72 extends radially outward from the cylindrical surface 71. A lower surface 74 extends radially outward from the cylindrical surface 71 and generally parallel to the upper surface 72.
The housing 40 includes a circumferential groove 76 for receiving the spring member 70 so that the spring member extends from the groove 68 in the spacer 60 to the groove in the housing. The groove 76 is defined by an axially extending cylindrical surface 78. An upper surface 80 extends radially inward from the cylindrical surface 78. A lower surface 82 extends radially inward from the cylindrical surface 78 and generally parallel to the upper surface 80.
The spring member 70 (FIGS. 5 and 6) is a ring having a gap 82. The gap 82 permits the spring member 70 to radially contract and expand. The spring member 70 has an arched shape, as viewed in FIG. 6, when the spring member 70 is disengaged from the spacer 60 and the housing 40. When the spring member 70 is received in the grooves 68 and 76 (FIG. 4), the spring member engages the lower surface 74 on the spacer 60 and the upper surface 80 on the housing 40.
The spring member 70 applies an axial force to the spacer 60 to prevent relative movement between the fastener 16 and the housing 40 when the rod 12 is disengaged from the spacer and the spacer engages the fastener. The spring member 70 urges the spacer 60 axially toward the fastener 16 and the part spherical surface 52 of the housing 40 against the part spherical surface 28 of the fastener. The part spherical surface 62 of the spacer 60 frictionally engages the part spherical surface 30 of the fastener 16 and the part spherical surface 28 of the fastener frictionally engages the part spherical surface 52 of the housing 40. The fastener 16 and the housing 40 are manually movable relative to each other by a surgeon when the rod 12 is disengaged from the spacer 60 and the spring member 70 applies the axial force. The force applied by the spring member 70 may be overcome by the surgeon to move the housing 40 relative to the fastener 16. Accordingly, the housing 40 can be positioned relative to the fastener 16 and held in position relative to the fastener by the spring member 70 without the rod 12 engaging the spacer 60. It is contemplated that any compressible member could be used to apply the force to the fastener 16 to prevent relative movement between the fastener and the housing 40 when the rod 12 is disengaged from the spacer 60.
The spacer 60 has four axially extending slots 86, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. The slots 86 intersect the groove 68. A tool (not shown) has four prongs that extend through the slots 86 and into engagement with the spring member 70. The tool grasps the spacer 60 and the spring member 70 for inserting the spacer and the spring member into the housing 40. The prongs of the tool engage the spring member 70 to radially contract the spring member into the groove 68 in the spacer 60. The prongs hold the spring member 70 in the radially contracted condition in the groove 68 while the spacer 60 and spring member are being inserted into the housing 40. Once the spacer 60 engages the fastener 16, the prongs are removed from the slots 86 and the spring member 70 radially expands into the groove 76 in the housing 40. Although the spacer 60 is described as having four slots 86, the spacer could have any number of slots and the tool would have the same number of prongs as the spacer has slots.
A clamping mechanism or set screw 90 (FIGS. 1–4) threadably engages the housing 40. The set screw 90 and the housing 40 have a German standard DIN513 buttress thread. It is contemplated that the set screw 90 and the housing 40 could have any desired thread formation. The set screw 90 engages and applies a force to the rod 12 to press the rod against the spacer 60 and the spacer against the fastener 16. The set screw 90 clamps the rod 12, the spacer 60, and the housing 40 to the fastener 16 to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing. The force applied by the set screw 90 cannot be overcome by the surgeon to move the housing 40 relative to the fastener 16.
The apparatus 10 is assembled by inserting the fastener 16 through the opening 50 in the housing 40 so that the part spherical surface 28 of the fastener engages the part spherical surface 52 of the housing. The spacer 60 and the spring member 70 are inserted into the housing 40 by radially compressing the spring member into the groove 68 in the spacer. The spacer 60 and the spring member 70 are inserted into the second passage 44 until the part spherical surface 62 of the spacer engages the part spherical surface 30 of the fastener 16. The spring member 70 is released and expands radially into the groove 76 in the housing 40.
A tool is inserted through the opening 66 in the spacer 60 and into the recess 32 in the fastener 16. Torque is applied to the fastener 16 to turn the thread convolution 24 into the vertebra. Once the fastener 16 is connected with the vertebra, the housing 40 can be positioned relative to the fastener. The spring member 70 maintains the position of the housing 40 relative to the fastener 16 while the rod 12 is disengaged from the spacer 60. Once the housing 40 is positioned relative to the fastener 16, the rod 12 is placed into the passage 42 and in engagement with the spacer 60. The set screw 90 is threaded into the housing 40 and into engagement with the rod 12. The set screw 90 clamps the rod 12, the spacer 60, and the housing 40 to the fastener 16 to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing. Alternatively, the fastener 16 may be connected to the vertebra prior to the spacer 60 and the spring member 70 being inserted into the housing 40.
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.

## Claims

1. An apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member with a bone portion, comprising:
a fastener having a longitudinal axis and engageable with the bone portion to connect said longitudinal member to the bone portion;
a housing having a first passage configured to receive said longitudinal member, said housing having a second passage with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said first passage, said fastener extending through an opening in said housing into said second passage and being movable relative to said housing, said longitudinal axis of said fastener being positionable in any one of a plurality of desired angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said second passage, the second passage having an indentation; comprising an axially extending surface at least partially defining the second passage and an upper surface extending transverse to the axially extending surface;
a spacer received in said second passage of said housing and engageable with said fastener and said longitudinal member and having a radial surface below said upper surface of said indentation; and
a member contacting the upper surface of the indentation and the radial surface of the spacer that applies an axial force to the spacer to prevent relative movement between said fastener and said housing and holding said longitudinal axis of said fastener in any one of said plurality of desired angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said second passage when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said spacer engages said fastener, said fastener and said housing being manually movable relative to each other against said force when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said member applies said force.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said member is an axially compressible member is an axial compressible member.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said member is a spring member engaging said housing and said spacer.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said member includes a ring member extending into a groove in said spacer and a groove in said housing.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said spacer includes first and second radially extending surfaces and an axially extending surface defining said groove in said spacer.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said ring member has a gap to permit radial contraction and radial expansion of said ring member.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said ring member is arched when said ring member is disengaged from said housing and said spacer.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener includes a first part spherical surface engageable with a part spherical surface of said housing.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said fastener includes a second part spherical surface engageable with said spacer.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said fastener includes a surface engageable with said spacer to limit relative movement between said fastener and said housing.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said second part spherical surface has a diameter smaller than a diameter of said first part spherical surface, said surface engageable with said spacer to limit relative movement between said fastener and said housing extending between said first and second part spherical surfaces.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spacer has an opening through which a tool extends to engage said fastener when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said spacer includes slots that receive a tool for inserting said spacer into said housing.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a longitudinal member and a clamping mechanism, and wherein said clamping mechanism includes a threaded member threadably engageable with said housing.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said threaded member engages said longitudinal member to clamp said longitudinal member against said spacer.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said threaded member and said housing have a buttress thread.

17. An apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member with a bone portion, comprising:
a fastener having a longitudinal axis and engageable with the bone portion to connect said longitudinal member to the bone portion;
a housing having a first passage configured to receive said longitudinal member, said housing having a second passage therein with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said first passage, said fastener extending through an opening in said housing into said second passage and being movable relative to said housing, said longitudinal axis of said fastener being positionable in any one of a plurality of desired angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said second passage, the second passage having a retention structure; comprising a downwardly facing surface located adjacent an axially extending surface of the second passage;
a spacer received in said second passage of said housing and engageable with said fastener and said longitudinal member and having a radial surface below said downwardly facing surface of said retention structure; and
a spring member contacting the downwardly facing surface of the retention structure and said radial surface of the spacer that applies an axial force preventing relative movement between said fastener and said housing and holding said longitudinal axis of said fastener in any one of said plurality of desired angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said second passage, said fastener and said housing being manually movable relative to each other against said force when said spring member applies said force.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said spring member and said horizontal retention structure are separate members.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said horizontal retention structure comprises an indentation on said housing engaging a radially extending surface on said spring member.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 19 wherein said indentation comprises a radially extending surface at least partially defined by a circumferential groove in said housing.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said spacer includes first and second radially extending surfaces and an axially extending surface defining a groove in said spacer.

22. An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said spring member applies said axial force to said spacer to prevent said fastener and said housing from moving relative to each other when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said housing.

23. An apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member with a bone portion comprising:
a fastener having a longitudinal axis and engageable with the bone portion to connect said longitudinal member to the bone portion;
a housing having a first passage configured to receive said longitudinal member, said housing having a second passage with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said first passage, said fastener extending through an opening in said housing into said second passage, said housing being movable relative to said fastener, said longitudinal axis of said second passage being positionable in any one of a plurality of desired angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said fastener, the second passage having an indentation comprising an axially extending surface at least partially defining the second passage and an upper surface extending transverse to the axially extending surface;
a spacer received in said second passage of said housing and engageable with said fastener and said longitudinal member, the spacer having a radial surface below said upper surface of said indentation; and
a member contacting the upper surface of the indentation and the radial surface of the spacer to apply an axial force to inhibit relative movement between the fastener and the housing, the axial force holding said longitudinal axis of said second passage of said housing in any one of said plurality of desired angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said fastener when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said spacer engages said fastener, said fastener and said housing being manually movable relative to each other against said force when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said member applies said force.

24. An apparatus comprising:
a longitudinal member connectable with a bone portion;
a fastener having a longitudinal axis and engageable with the bone portion to connect said longitudinal member to the bone portion;
a housing having a first passage configured to receive said longitudinal member, said housing having a second passage with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said first passage, said fastener extending through an opening in said housing into said second passage and being movable relative to said housing, said longitudinal axis of said fastener being positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said second passage;
a spacer received in said second passage of said housing and engageable with said fastener and said longitudinal member;
a member that applies a force to prevent relative movement between said fastener and said housing when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said spacer engages said fastener, said fastener and said housing being manually movable relative to each other against said force when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said member applies said force; and
a clamping mechanism that clamps said longitudinal member, said spacer and said housing to said fastener to prevent movement of said fastener relative to said housing;
said member being a spring member engaging said housing and said spacer, said member including a ring member extending into a groove in said spacer and a groove in said housing; said ring member having a gap to permit radial contraction and radial expansion of said ring member;
said spacer including axially extending slots that receive a tool for inserting said spacer and said ring member into said housing, said slots intersecting said groove in said spacer to permit engagement of said tool with said spring member to radially contract said spring member into said groove in said spacer.

25. An apparatus comprising:
a longitudinal member connectable with a bone portion;
a fastener having a longitudinal axis and engageable with the bone portion to connect said longitudinal member to the bone portion;
a housing having a first passage configured to receive said longitudinal member, said housing having a second passage with a longitudinal axis extending transverse to said first passage, said fastener extending through an opening in said housing into said second passage and being movable relative to said housing, said longitudinal axis of said fastener being positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to said longitudinal axis of said second passage;
a spacer received in said second passage of said housing and engageable with said fastener and said longitudinal member;
a member including means for applying a force to prevent relative movement between said fastener and said housing when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said spacer engages said fastener, said member including means for permitting manual movement of said fastener and said housing relative to each other against said force when said longitudinal member is disengaged from said spacer and said force is applied; and
a clamping mechanism that clamps said longitudinal member, said spacer and said housing to said fastener to prevent movement of said fastener relative to said housing;
said member being a spring member engaging said housing and said spacer, said member including a ring member extending into a groove in said spacer and a groove in said housing, said ring member having a gap to permit radial contraction and radial expansion of said ring member;
said spacer including axially extending slots that receive a tool for inserting said spacer and said ring member into said housing, said slots intersecting said groove in said spacer to permit engagement of said tool with said spring member to radially contract said spring member into said groove in said spacer.