Vertebral locking and retrieving system

Abstract: A vertebral locking and retrieving system comprising a locking pin (10), a connector (12), a locking component (61), a coupling component (20), a remedial component (40), and securing components (30) is disclosed. The locking pin (10) includes a threaded end (11) and a locking end (16). The threaded end is adapted to be secured to a normal, healthy vertebra. The connector (12) comprises an internally threaded bore (124) at one end and an integrally formed plate (121) at the other end thereof. The plate has a locking aperture (122) adapted to non-rotatably accept the locking end (16) of the locking pin. The locking component (61) is engaged with the locking end of the locking pin after it has passed through the locking aperture of the plate to hold the connector onto the locking pin. The coupling component (20) is connected one end thereof to the internally threaded bore (124) of the connector (12). The remedial component (40) is secured at one end thereof to a deformed vertebra immediately adjacent to the healthy vertebra to which the locking pin is secured or a vertebra next to the deformed vertebra and different from this healthy vertebra and is connected at its other end thereof to the other end of the coupling component. The securing components (30) enable the remedial component (40) to be fixedly secured to the coupling component (20).

Description: The invention relates to a vertebral locking and retrieving system with the features claimed in the preamble of claim 1 and the preamble of claim 4. A vertebral locking and retrieving system of this type is known from WO-A-87/01026 in which a screw spindle is used as a coupling means and a connector consists of two block-shaped support members pivotally connected with each other. One of the support members is secured to a bone screw secured to a vertebra and the other support member is threadedly connected to the screw spindle. For adapting this system to the respective curvature of a vertebra, the first support member is connected to the bone screw and the second support member is rotated in order to position the screw spindle properly. US-A-5 030 220 proposes an implantable spinal fixation system where two bone screws are connected to each other by means of prefabricated, bent aluminium rods. For adapting the rod to the respective curvature of the spinal column, the rod is bent to an appropriate shape. The ends of the rod are secured to the bone screws by clamping them between two half saddles by means of a nut. In cases where the rod cannot be prefabricated to a shape sufficiently adapted to the curvature of the spinal column, the surgeon has to adapt the shape during the operation. It is the object of the present invention to provide a vertebral locking and retrieving system of the above-mentioned type, which facilitates the operation and the work of a surgeon and which can be easily adapted to the respective curvature of the spinal column. This object is attained by the features cited in the characterising clause of claim 1 and claim 4 respectively. This enables the vertebral locking and retrieving system to co-operate with the specific curvature of the different vertebra under treatment. Its various components can be used in different combinations on the basis of the surgical requirements and the symptom of the deformed vertebra under treatment. It simplifies the surgical operation as a surgeon can select a connector out of a variety of connectors with different acute angles. After the locking pin is positioned at the respective vertebra, the connection to the remedial component can be constructed. The mounting of this system only requires very easy operations, for which a minimum operation range is necessary so that the insertion can be kept small. It further reduces the operation time for mounting it to the spine in comparison with the prior art systems. Advantageous features and embodiments of the invention are cited in the dependent claims. Within the scope of the above-mentioned invention, a vertebral locking and retrieving system comprises a locking pin, a connector, a locking component, a coupling component, a remedial component, and a plurality of securing components. In accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the vertebral locking and retrieving system for use in retrieving a deformed vertebra and maintaining the deformed vertebra in a normal, healthy position comprises: at least one locking pin having a threaded end portion adapted to be secured to a normal, healthy vertebra, an integrally formed locking end portion, and a stopping protrusion located between the threaded end portion and the locking end portion, said threaded end defining a first longitudinal axis; at least one connector comprising a receiver part at one end thereof and an integrally formed plate defining a plane at the other end thereof, said receiver part having a threaded section defining a second longitudinal axis, said plate having a locking aperture adapted to non-rotatably accept the locking end portion of the at least locking pin such that the plate rests on the stopping protrusion to prevent movement of the plate towards the normal, healthy vertebra; at least one locking component engageable with the locking end portion of said at least one locking pin after the locking end portion has passed through the locking aperture of the plate to hold said at least one connector onto the at least one locking pin; a remedial component adapted to be secured at one end thereof to one of a deformed vertebra located immediately adjacent to said normal, healthy vertebra or to a vertebra immediately adjacent to the deformed vertebra but different from said normal, healthy vertebra to which said at least one locking pin is secured; coupling means for interconnecting said at least one connector and said remedial component, said coupling means extending along the second longitudinal axis and being threadably attached to the threaded section of the connector; fastening means for fixedly securing said remedial component to said coupling means; wherein the plate of said at least one connector is formed with its plane at an acute angle of deflection relative to the second longitudinal axis. In accordance with another preferred embodiments of the present invention, the connector comprises a receiver part having a through hole and an integrally formed substantially cubic portion at one lateral side of said through hole. Said cubic portion has a locking aperture adapted to non-rotatably accept the locking end of the locking pin such that the cubic portion rests on the stopping protrusion to prevent movement of the cubic portion towards the vertebra. The locking component is engaged with the locking end of the locking pin after it has passed through the locking aperture of the cubic portion to hold the connector onto the locking pin. The coupling component is extended into said through hole of said receiver part and threadably attached to said receiver part at one end thereof. The remedial component is secured at one end thereof to a deformed vertebra immediately adjacent to the healthy vertebra to which the locking pin is secured or a vertebra next to the deformed vertebra and different from this healthy vertebra and is connected at its other end thereof to the other end of the coupling component. The securing components enable the remedial component to be fixedly secured to the coupling component. Furthermore, the locking end of said locking pin is formed an acute angle of deflection relative to the first longitudinal axis and/or the cubic portion of said connector is formed with a longitudinal axis defined by said locking aperture at an acute angle of deflection relative to an extending plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by said through hole of said receiver part. The remedial component of the present invention may be a conventional screw, a laminar hook, or a locking pin with a specified angle. A plurality of remedial components may be used in combination with one coupling component of the present invention depending on the position and the symptom of the deformed vertebra and the surgical requirements. In the preferred arrangement, the coupling components used in the present invention may include a single threaded rod or a plurality of threaded rods joined as a one-piece component by blocks having threaded bores into which the rods are received. The foregoing features, objectives and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by studying the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the drawings provided herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows an exploded perspective view illustrating a vertebral locking and retrieving system constructed according to one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 1(a) is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the connector 12 of the vertebral locking and retrieving system shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1(b) is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a connector 12' which can be used to replace the connector 12 of the vertebral locking and retrieving system shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a vertebral locking and retrieving system constructed according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a connector, a locking pin and a locking bolt to be used in a locking and retrieving system constructed according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a locking and retrieving system constructed according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a locking and retrieving system constructed according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5(a) shows a front view of the connector 12 in Fig. 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In general, the vertebral locking and retrieving system of the present invention can be made of orthopedic materials, such as the iron-based stainless steel 316LVM, the titanium-based material Ti-6-4, and an alloy of chromium, molybdenum and cobalt. The number of locking pins is of course dependent on the surgical requirements, as well as the connectors. In the vertebral locking and retrieving system of the present invention the locking end and the threaded end of the locking pin form a specified angle and/or the internally threaded bore or the externally threaded portion and the plate of the connector form a specified angle, such as 180° , 175° 170° , or 165° , with a respective deflection plane angle being 0° , 5° , 10° , 15° , so as to meet the angular requirements of various vertebrae. Furthermore, with the employment of different combination of the locking pin and connector assemblies having the above-mentioned deflection plane angles of 0° , 5°, 10° , 15° , a slipped veertebrae can be properly retrieved to have an appropriate angle consistent with normal human anatomy, such as 0° , 5° , 10° , 15° , 20° (5° + 15° ), 25° (10° + 15° ), and 30° (15° + 15° ). This is something beyond the reach of the prior art systems. In addition, working with the prior art system, a surgeon would have to depend entirely on his or her own judgment and clinical experiences to determine the locking angle of the deformed vertebra. On the other hand, the present invention permits a surgeon to study in advance, before operating on the patient, the X-ray negatives with regard to the locking angles of the patient's vertebrae so as to select the most suitable locking pin and the connector to use. Moreover, the locking pin and the connector of the present system are two separated components such that the connector can be fastened to the locking pin after the locking pin being secured to a vertebra, and thus permits the surgeon to have a chance to amend the locking angle by choosing a connector having a different deflection angle if the locking pin secured to the vertebra should deflect from its planned angle. Referring to Figs. 1 and 1(a), the vertebral locking and retrieving system embodied in the present invention is shown comprising mainly a locking pin 10, a connector 12, a threaded rod 20, a block 30, a remedial screw 40, and a plurality of nuts 61, 53 and 54. The locking pin 10 has a threaded end 11 at its lower end which is used to lock the normal vertebra immediately adjacent to the deformed vertebra under treatment. Another end defines a rectangular or similar shaped post having a threaded locking end 16. Near the locking end 16 there is formed a stopping protrusion 15. The connector 12 includes a receiver part 123 at one end thereof and an integrally formed plate 121 at the other end thereof. Said receiver part 123 has an internally threaded bore 124, and said plate has an aperture 122 adapted to non-rotatably accept the locking end 16 such that the plate 121 rests on the stopping protrusion 15 to prevent movement of the plate 121 towards the vertebra. The nut 61 is then engaged with the locking end 16 to fix the plate 121 onto the locking end 16 of said locking pin 10. As shown in Fig. 1(a), the plate 121 of said connector is formed at an acute angle of deflection relative to a longitudinal axis defined by said internally threaded bore 124. The block 30 is provided with a through hole 32, a plurality of small threaded holes 33, and a large threaded bore 31. The remedial screw 40 comprises a screw end 41 intended to be secured to the deformed vertebra, a threaded end 42 to be placed through the through hole 32 of the block 30, and a stopping protrusion 43, located between the screw end 41 and the threaded end 42, intended for use in stopping the block 30. The threaded rod 20 has a right-handed thread 21 at one end, a left-handed thread 22 at the other end, and polygonal drive portion 23 at the center thereof. The right-handed thread 21 is used to engage with the large threaded bore 31 of the block 30, the left-handed thread 22 is used to engage with the internally threaded bore 124 of said connector 12, and the polygonal drive portion 23 is for connecting to a spanner. Due to the right- and left-handed threads being provided at two ends of the threaded rod 20, the connector 12 and the block 30 can be mounted on the two ends of threaded rod 20 and moved towards each other as the threaded rod 20 is rotated. The block 30 and the remedial screw 40 are fastened securely by means of nuts 53 and 54. If necessary, additional reinforcing screws 64 may be provided to secure the engagement between the connector 12 and threaded rod 20 by tightening the reinforcing screws 64 into screw holes 125 of the connector 12 and against the threaded rod 20. Similarly, additional reinforcing screws 63 may be provided to secure the engagement between the block 30 and threaded rod 20 by tightening the reinforcing screws 63 into screw holes 33 of the block 30 and against the threaded rod 20. A similar vertebral locking and retrieving system which is useful in correcting and restoring a slipped vertebra of the lumber vertebrae is disclosed in the Figs. 1, and 2(a)-2(c) of the present inventor's U.S. patent number 5,196,014. It is obvious that a connector 12' shown in Fig. 1(b) can be used to replace the connector 12 of the system described in the present Fig. 1 and still has the same function. In Fig. 1(b) the numerals with apostrophes are used to designate parts or structures corresponding to those having like numerals without apostrophes in the above described embodiment. A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein like numerals are used to designate elements corresponding to the above described embodiment. The vertebra locking and retrieving system constructed according to this second embodiment comprises two locking pins 10, 10', two connectors 12, 12' one threaded rod 20 as the coupling component and two nuts 61, 62. The locking pin 10 is similar to that described in the prior embodiment except that the locking end 16 and the threaded end 11 form a specified angle. The connector 12 is also similar to that described in the prior embodiment; however, the plate 121 can be formed either at an acute angle of deflection or 0° of deflection relative to a longitudinal axis defined by said internally threaded bore 124. The assembly of the locking pin 10, the connector 12, the nut 61 and the left-handed thread 22 of the threaded rod 20 is analogous to that described in the prior embodiment. Symmetrically to the locking pin 10, the connector 12 and the nut 61 on the opposite side of a central dividing plane along the transverse direction of the polygonal drive portion 23, the locking pin 10', the connector 12' and the nut 62 are being assembled and mounted on the right handed thread 21 of the threaded rod 20. A similar vertebral locking and retrieving system which is useful in restoring a deformed vertebra of the lumber vertebrae is disclosed in the Figs. 4(a)-4(c) of the present inventor's U.S. patent number 5,196,014. Referring to Fig. 3, a connector 12, a locking pin 10 and a locking bolt 65 to be used in a locking and retrieving system constructed according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown. The locking pin 10 has a threaded end 11 at its lower end, a rectangular or similar shaped post 16 at its upper end having a threaded bore 17 which is formed axially at the center thereof, and a stopping protrusion near the post 16. Preferably, a through hole 18 is provided on one of lateral sides of the post 16. The connector 12 includes a receiver part 123 at one end thereof and an integrally formed plate 121 at the other end thereof. Said receiver part 123 has an internally threaded bore 124, and said plate has an aperture 122 adapted to non-rotatably accept the post 16 such that the plate 121 rests on the stopping protrusion 15 to prevent movement of the plate 121 towards the vertebra. The plate 121 further has a recess 14 on the upper side around said aperture 122 and preferably a screw hole 126 on one of its lateral side. The locking bolt 65 after the aperture 122 non-rotatably accepting the post 16 is then threaded into the threaded bore 17 with its head sinking into the recess 14 to fix the plate 121 onto the post 16 of said locking pin 10. Preferably, an additional reinforcing screw (not shown) may be provided to secure the engagement between the locking pin 10 and the connector 12 by tightening the reinforcing screw into the screw hole 126 of the plate and the through hole 18 of the post 16 and against the bolt 65. Similarly, the plate 121 of said connector 12 is formed at an acute angle of deflection relative to a longitudinal axis defined by said internally threaded bore 124, as the connector 12 shown in Figs. 1 and 1(a). It is obvious that the locking pin 10, the connector 12 and the locking bolt 65 described in the present Fig. 3 can be used in the system described in the present Fig. 1 or 2, therefore detailes thereof are omitted. A fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein like numerals are used to designate elements corresponding to the above described embodiments. The locking pin 10, which is composed of a threaded end 11, a locking post 16, and a stopping protrusion 15, is again used to secure the vertebrae immediately adjacent to the deformed vertebra. The locking pin 10 is similar in structure to the one shown in Fig. 3 except that an externally threaded portion 127 is provided to replace the internally threaded bore 124. A connecting block 30 is provided with an 8-shape through hole 32 and threaded bores 31 and 31' (not shown). A threaded stud 20 having a threaded portion 25 at one end thereof and an internally threaded bore 24 formed axially at the center of the other end thereof is used to connect the connector 12 with the block 30, in which the externally threaded portion 127 of the connector 12 is threadably received wihtin the internally threaded bore 24 of the threaded stud 20, and the threaded portion 25 of the threaded stud 20 is threadably received within the threaded bore 31 of the block 30. The remedial screw 40 is intended to remedy the deformed vertebra and is similar in structure to the one shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment; however, two locking pin 10 and two threaded studs 20 are fastened together to form an unitary body. The two threaded studs 20 and the connectig block 30 are fixedly secured together by threading nuts 54 and 55 against the block 30. In the meantime, the nuts 56 are used to couple the block 30 with the remedial screw 40 with the 8-shaped through hole 32 permitting a slight adjustment of remedial screw 40 relative to the axis defined by threaded studs 20. The fastening block 30 and/or the threaded studs 20 can be constructed with a specific angle for enabling the system to cooperate with the curvature of the deformed vertebra. A fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 5(a) wherein like numerals are used to designate elements corresponding to the above described embodiments. The vertebra locking and retrieving system constructed according to this fifth embodiment is similar to that described in the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1 except that a regular threaded rod 20, a pair of nuts 50, 51 and a through hole 124a are provided in Fig. 5 to replace the threaded rod 20 and the internally threaded bore 124 in Fig. 1, and the locking pin 10 is connected to the connector 12'' at a location lateral to the through hole 124a in Fig. 5 instead of a location in front of one opening of the threaded bore 124 in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 5 and 5(a), the connector 12'' includes a receiver part 123'' having a through hole 124a, and an integrally formed cubic portion 121'' at one side of the through hole 124a having an aperature adapted to non-ratatably accept the locking end 16 of the locking pin 10 such that the cubic portion 121'' rests on the stopping protrusion 15 of the locking pin 10 to prevent movement of the cubic portion 121'' towards the vertebra. The nut 61 is then engaged with the locking end 16 to fix the cubic portion 121'' onto the locking end 16 of said locking pin 10. As shown in Fig. 5(a), the cubic portion 121'' of said connector is formed with a longitudinal axis 129 defined by said hole 122'' at an acute angle of deflection relative to an extending plane 130 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis defined by said through hole 124a [not shown in Fig. 5(a)] of said connector 12''. The nuts 50 and 51 are used to fixedly attach the connector 12 to the threaded rod 20, wherein the nuts 50, 51 are mounted on the threaded rod 20 and driven to sandwich the receiver part 123 when the threaded rod 20 extends through the through hole 124a of said connector 12. Based on the above discussion, it can readily be seen that the vertebral locking and retrieving system of the present invention comprises locking pins, connectors, threaded rods, and nuts, all of which can be selectively employed in accordance with the position of the deformed vertebra, the symptoms of the deformed vertebra and the surgical requirements. For example, if the deformed vertebra happens to be the fourth vertebra of the lumbar vertebrae, the vertebral locking and retrieving systems of the present invention shown in Figs. 1 and 5 functions effectively. In such a case, one threaded rod with the connecting block serves as the coupling component while a threaded screw is used as the remedial component. In addition, a plurality of nuts are used to work as locking and securing components (see Figs. 1 and its corresponding text). In treating some slipped lumbar vertebrae, two threaded rods or studs united by one connecting block are used as the coupling component for two locking pins/connectors and one threaded screw as in the Fig. 4 embodiment. In the case of vertebral fracture or camel back, one threaded rod may be used to serve as the coupling component to interconnect two locking pins/connectors, one of which is used to work as a remedial component (see Fig. 2 and the corresponding text). Moreover, the locking pin and connector used in these surgical operation permits the surgeon to have a chance to amend the locking angle by choosing a connector having a different deflection angle if the locking pin secured to the vertebra should deflect from its planned angle. In order to achieve a better surgical treatment, the present invention can also be employed in conjunction with numerous bone reinforcing devices known in the prior art, such as a cross bridging system. From the above description, it can readily be seen that the present invention comprises at least one locking pin and at least one connector either one or both of which are designed with a specified angle enabling the vertebral locking and retrieving system to cooperate with the specific curvature of the deformed vertebra under treatment, and that its various components can be used in different combinations on the basis of the surgical requirements and the symptom of the deformed vertebra under treatment. Furthermore, the present invention serves to simplify the surgical operation in such ways that it does not require of a surgeon to make a large incision, thereby minimizing the risk of an excessive bleeding by the patient receiving treatment; the patient's ability to move about is not seriously compromised by the surgical operation; and the patient's nervous system is less vulnerable to the pressure exerted thereon by the implanted system. The embodiments of the present invention described above are to be considered in all respects as merely illustrations of principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims: A vertebral locking and retrieving system for use in retrieving a deformed vertebra and maintaining the deformed vertebra in a normal, healthy position comprising: at least one locking pin (10) being adapted to be secured to a normal, healthy vertebra by a threaded end portion (11), said threaded end defining a first longitudinal axis, and said locking pin comprising a locking end portion (16) and a stopping protrusion (15) located between the threaded end portion (11) and the locking end portion (16); at least one connector (12) comprising a locking aperture (122) adapted to non-rotatably accept said locking end portion (16) which is secured thereto by a locking component (61), and a receiver part (123) having a threaded section defining a second longitudinal axis; a remedial component (40) adapted to be secured to a deformed vertebra located immediately adjacent to said normal, healthy vertebra or to a vertebra immediately adjacent to the deformed vertebra but different from said normal, healthy vertebra to which said locking pin (10) is secured; coupling (20, 30) means for interconnecting said connector (12) and said remedial component (40), said coupling means being attached to said receiver part (123) and fixedly secured to said remedial component (40), characterised in that said locking aperture (122) is provided in a plate (121, 121') of the connector (12) defining a plane, and said plate (121, 121') and said receiver part (123) are integrally formed with each other in a single piece in a relation where said plane forms 0° of deflection or a predetermined acute angle of deflection with said second longitudinal axis. A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the receiver part (123) is located at one end of the connector (12) and the plate (121, 121') is located at another end thereof. A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the receiver part (123) and the plate (121, 121') are located at opposite ends of the connector (12). A vertebral locking and retrieving system for use in retrieving a deformed vertebra and maintaining the deformed vertebra in a normal, healthy position comprising: at least one locking pin (10) being adapted to be secured to a normal, healthy vertebra by a threaded end portion (11), said locking pin comprising a locking end portion (16) and a stopping protrusion (15) located between the threaded end portion (11) and the locking end portion (16); at least one connector (12'') comprising a receiver part (123'') with a hole (124a), and a substantially cubic portion (121'') at one lateral side of said hole, having a locking aperture (122'') defining a longitudinal axis (129) and being adapted to non-rotatably accept said locking end portion (16) which is secured thereto by a locking component (61); a remedial component (40) adapted to be secured to a deformed vertebra located immediately adjacent to said normal, healthy vertebra or to a vertebra immediately adjacent to the deformed vertebra but different from said normal, healthy vertebra to which said locking pin (10) is secured; coupling means (20, 30) for interconnecting said connector (12'') and said remedial component (40), said coupling means being fixed to the hole of said receiver part (123'') and fixedly secured to said remedial component (40), characterised in that the substantially cubic portion (121'') and said receiver part (123'') are integrally formed with each other in a single piece in a relation where said longitudinal axis (129) defined by said locking aperture forms 0° of deflection or a predetermined acute angle of deflection with an extending plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (130) defined by said hole (124a) of said receiver part (123''). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the coupling means (20) are threadably attached to the threaded section of said receiver part (123). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the coupling means (20) extends along the longitudinal axis of said receiver part (123). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the locking end portion (16) of said at least one locking pin (10) is formed at an acute angle of deflection relative to a longitudinal axis defined by the threaded end (16) thereof. A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that said plate (121) or said cubic portion (121'') being sandwiched between said stopping protrusion (15) and said locking component (61). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the locking end portion (16) of said locking pin (10) is a polygon shaped post, the plate (121) or the cubic portion (121'') of said connector has a corresponding aperture (122) to non-rotatably accept the post. A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the locking end portion (16) has a threaded end and said fastening means are nuts (61) threadedly engaged with the post of the locking end portion (16). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that said coupling means (20) includes a rod having first and second threaded ends (21, 22), in which one is a right-handed thread and the other one is a left-handed thread; the number of said at lest one connector (20) is two, one of which has an internally threaded bore adapted to engage with the right-handed thread of the rod, and the other one of which has an internally threaded bore adapted to engage with the left-handed thread of the rod; and the number of said at least one locking pin (10, 10') is two, said remedial component (40) being comprised of one of said locking pins (10') and one of said connectors (12'). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that said coupling means (20) includes a rod having first and second threaded ends (22, 21) and a block (30), in which the first threaded end is right-handed thread, and the second threaded end is left-handed thread, said first and second threaded ends of said rod are fixedly secured to an internally threaded bore of said at least one connector and said block respectively, and one end of said remedial component (40) is fixedly secured to said block. A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in claim 12, characterised in that said remedial component includes a stop member (43) formed intermediate said one end (42) and the other end (41) being secured to the vertebra, said block (30) includes a hole (32) through which said one end (42) of said remedial component (40) projects such that said block (30) engages said stop member (43) when said remedial component (40) is fixedly secured to said block (30). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that the other end (41) of said remedial component (40) is threaded and at least one nut (53) is threadably received on said other end (42) of said remedial component (40) such that said block (30) is sandwiched between said at least one nut and said stop member (43). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the claims 4 to 10, characterised in that said coupling means includes a rod (20) having first and second threaded ends, the first end of said rod is passed through said through hole (124a) of said receiver part (123''), and a pair of nuts (50, 51) are provided to threadably attach to said rod (20) on the opposite sides of said receiver part (123''). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in one of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that said one end of said remedial components (40) is threaded and the other end of said remedial component is connected to said coupling means. A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said coupling mean further includes a block (30), in which one end of said rod (20) is fixedly secured to said block, and the other end of said remedial component (40) is fixedly secured to said block (30). A vertebral locking and retrieving system as claimed in claim 17, characterised in that said block (30) comprises an 8-shape through hole (32) and said other end of said remedial component (40) is adapted to be passed therethrough permitting a slight adjustment of the remedial component (40) in the block (30).

Inventors: LIN CHIH-I, LIN, CHIH-I
Applicants: LIN CHIH I, LIN, CHIH-I
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B17