PEDICLE ENGAGING MEANS

Abstract: Pedicle engaging means comprises a bridge member (10) and two clip members (15); the bridge member having an arched middle portion (11) with concave edges (22) to afford clearance with respect to adjacent spinous processes (23), an aperture (12) in each side of the arch, and a pair of end portions (13) each with a hole for a pedicle screw (29); each clip member (15) having a tip (16) engageable in one of the apertures (12), and a fixing portion (17) with a hole (18) for receiving a pedicle screw (29); and each clip member being cranked (at 19) so as to form with the junction (20) between the arch (11) and respective end portion (13) of the bridge member (10) a pair of clamping parts for embracing a rod or rod-like portion (21') of a spinal fixation device (26).

Description: PEDICLE ENGAGING MEANS This invention relates to pedicle engaging means for use in spinal surgery. Pedicle screws are well known for use in systems for internal fixation of the spine. However, problems have arisen in attempting to use pedicle screws in systems for seg ental spinal fixation. Some pedicle screws need wires to secure them to rods or other devices used for segmental spinal fixation. An alternative which is sometimes used is to make use of plates (instead of rods) or custom built devices. Pedicle screws may be used when there is no lamina present and when consequently methods of sub-lamina wiring are unsuitable. The object of the present invention is to provide pedicle engaging means particularly suited to use with existing segmental spinal fixation devices such as "Luque rods" or, more particularly, "Hartεhill Rectangles" for posterior spinal surgery. According to the present invention, pedicle engaging means comprises a bridge member having an arched middle portion with an aperture in each side of the arch, and a pair of generally coplanar end portions each with a hole for rotatably receiving a pedicle screw; and a pair of clip members each having a tip engageable in one aperture in the arched portion of the bridge member, and each having a fixing portion with a hole for rotatably receiving a pedicle screw; the hole in a clip member being in register with the hole in the respective end portion of the bridge member when the tip of the clip member is engaged in the respective aperture in the arched portion of the bridge member, and the portion of the clip member between its tip and its fixing portion being cranked so as to form with the junction between the arched portion and the respective end portion of the bridge member a pair of clamping parts for embracing a rod or rod-like portion of a spinal fixation device. It is anticipated at present that there are three likely occasions when the pedicle engaging means of the invention will be use L- 1. When there has been a previous extensive wired laminectomy in the lumbar region. 2. When it is necessary to bridge a number of levels and to engage intervening levels particularly to reduce slip in spondyloliεthesis. 3. In painful spond lol sis in young patients where at present with sublaminar wiring the level above has to be included in order to gain fixation, whereas with the pedicle engaging means of the invention the internal fixation can be limited to one motion segment. The bridge member and the two clip members may be formed of any biocompatible material, but a flexible material, such as stainless steel strip, enables the shape of the arched portion to be modified by the surgeons to vary the spacing between the screw holes and/or the alignment of or angularity between the end portions containing the screw holes. However, more than one size of bridge member may be provided, with arched portions of different span and/or height. The width of the arched portion may be reduced between the apertures for engagement by the tips of the clip members, e.g., the edges of the arched portion may be concave in plan view to form a neck having its least width at the middle, to afford clearance with respect to adjacent spinous processes. The holes in the end portions of the bridge member and/or the holes in the fixing portions of the clip members may be elongated in the lengthwise direction of the bridge member, to allow adjustment of the spacing and/or inclination of pedicl e scr ew s w ith x eεpe ct to the general pi ane of the end portions of the bridge member. Formation and elongation of the holes may be effected by means of a ball cutter applied to the remote faces of the end portions of the bridge member and the fixing portions of the clip members respectively and moved towards the arched portion of the bridge member and away from the tips of the clip members respectively. An embodiment of the invention, and the manner of its use, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bridge member of pedicle engaging means in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan of the bridge me be ; Figure3 iεanend elevation of the bridge m ember; Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating a method of si ultaneously forming two clip members; Figure 5 is a side elevation of one clip member after bending of its tip; Figure 6 is an end elevation from the right hand end of Figure 5; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 1 but shows the clip members engaged with the bridge member and rods in place for clamping thereto; Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the right hand end portion of the bridge member and the fixing portion of the corresponding clip member, and indicating the manner of elongating the holes; and Figure 9 iε a perspective view showing the assembly of bridge member and clip members clamped to a "Hartεhill Rectangle" and secured by pedicle screws. In Figures 1 to 3 a bridge member 10 for pedicle engaging means in accordance with the invention has an arched middle portion 11 with an aperture 12 in each . side of the arch, and a pair of generally coplanar end portions 13 each with a hole 14 for rotatably receiving a predicle screw (see Figure 9) . In Figure 4 a pair of clip memberε 15 are formed εimul taneouεly, each having a tip 16 engageable in one aperture 12 in the arched portion 11 of the bridge member 10 (εee Figures 7 and 9) and each having a fixing portion 17 with a hole 18 for rotatably receiving a pedicle screw (again see Fgure 9). Figures 7 and 9 show the tips 16 of the clip memberε 15 engaged in the apertures 12 in the arched portion 11 of the bridge mem er 10, the hole 18 in the fixing portion 17 of each clip member being in register with the corresponding hole 14 in the respective end portion 13 of the bridge member, and the portion 19 of each clip member 15 between its tip 16 and its fixing portion 17 is cranked so as to form with the junction 20 between the arched portion 11 and the respective end portion 13 of the bridge member 10 a pair of clamping parts for embracing a rod or rod-like portion 21 of a spinal fixation device. The edges 22 of the arched portion 11 are concave in planview to form a neck having its least width at the mi dle, to afford clearance with respect to adjacent spinous procesεes 23 (see Figure 9). The holes 14, 18 in the end portions 13 of the bridge member 10 and the fixing portions 17 of the clip members 15 respectively are formed and elongated by a ball cutter applied to the remote faces 24, 25 respectively and moved towards the arched portion 11 of the bridge member and away from the tips 16 of the clip portions respectively (as indicated by the arrows in Figure 8). Figure 9 shows a "Hartshill Rectangle" 26 secured in place on the lower lumber spine by sub-laminar wires 27 at the junctions between the longer sides 21' and the bent shorter εideε 28 of the rectangle, and pedicle εcrews 29 - securing the assembly of the bridge member 10 and clip members 15 to the rectangle and to the spine, the screwε 29 passing through the pedicle 30 and into the body of a vertebra 31.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Pedicle engaging means comprising a bridge member having an arched middle portion with an aperture in each side of the arch, and a pair of generally coplanar end portions each with a hole for rotatably receiving a pedicle screw; and a pair of clip memberε each having a tip engageable in one aperture in the arched portion of the bridge member, and each having a fixing portion with a hole for rotatably receiving a pedicle screw; the hole in a clip member being in regiεter with the hole in the respective end portion of the bridge member when the tip of the clip member is engaged in the respective aperture in the arched portion of the bridge member, and the portion of the clip member between its tip and its fixing portion being cranked so as to form with the junction between the arched portion and the respective end portion of the bridge member a pair of clamping parts for embracing a rod or rod-like portion of a spinal fixation de ice. 2. Pedicle engaging means as in Claim 1 formed of εtainleεs steel strip. 3. Pedicle engaging mean's as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the width of the arched portion of the bridge memger is reduced between the apertures for engagement by the tips of the clip members. 4. Pedicle engaging means as in Claim 3, wherein the -_ edges of the arched portion are concave in plan view to form a neck having its least width at the middle. 5. Pedicle engaging means as in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the holes in the end portions of the bridge member are elongated in the lengthwise direction of the bridge member . 6. Pedicle engaging means as in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the holes in the fixing portions of the clip members are elongated in the lengthwise direction of the bridge member. 7. Pedicle engaging means as in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein formation and elongation of the holes is effected by means of a ball cutter applied to the remote faces of the end portions of the bridge member and the fixing portions of the clip memberε respectively and moved towards the arched portion of the bridge member and away from the tips of the clip memberε r eεpectively. 8. Pedicle engaging meanε ε ubε tant i al ly as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: DOVE JOHN, RAHMATALLA ABDUL AZIZ, SELL PHILIP JOHN, DOVE, JOHN, RAHMATALLA, ABDUL, AZIZ, SELL, PHILIP, JOHN
Applicants: SURGICARFT LTD, SURGICRAFT LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17, A61F2