Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/20110046683
Timestamp: 2020-01-27 19:26:23
Document Index: 682182645

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art 5', 'art.\n6']

US Patent Application for BONE ANCHORING DEVICE, TOOL AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME AND TOOL FOR USE WITH THE SAME Patent Application (Application #20110046683 issued February 24, 2011) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Head StructureUS Patent Application for BONE ANCHORING DEVICE, TOOL AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING THE SAME AND TOOL FOR USE WITH THE SAME Patent Application (Application #20110046683)
The object is solved by an anchoring device according to claim 1, by a tool according to claim 13 and a method according to claim 14 and by a tool according to claim 15. Further developments are given in the dependent claims.
FIGS. 5a) to c) show a side view, a side view rotated by 90° and a sectional view, respectively, of the pressure element of bone anchoring device according to the first embodiment.
FIGS. 6a) to c) show a side view, a side view rotated by 90° and sectional view, respectively, of a pressure element according to a second embodiment of the bone anchoring device.
The pressure element 6 according to the first embodiment as particularly shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5a) to c) is formed in one piece. It is of substantially cylindrical construction and has an outer diameter that allows it to move in an axial direction within the second bore 53 of the receiving part 5. On its side facing the head 4 of the screw element 2, a spherical recess 61 is provided that is adapted to the size of the head 4. On its side opposite to the head 4, the pressure element has a cylindrical recess 62 adapted to receive the rod 20 therein. By means of the recess 62 two free legs 63, 64 are formed, which form the side walls of a channel for receiving the rod 20. In the embodiment shown, the depth of the recess 62 is larger than the diameter of the rod 20 so that the legs 63, 64 extend above the rod 20. At the end of the pressure element 6 opposite to the head 4, the pressure element may have a rim with an enlarged diameter, providing a shoulder 65 that abuts against tapered section 57′ of the receiving part when the pressure element clamps the head 4.
The pressure element further comprises on the outer wall portion of each of the legs 63, 64 a spring element 66, 66′ with a detent portion 67, 67′ that cooperates with the receiving part 5, in particular with the bore 58, 59. The spring element 66, 66′ is formed by means of a slot 69, 69′ which is closed at the top and at the bottom and which extends completely through the legs 63, 64 in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channel, thereby leaving a portion of each leg 63, 64 spaced apart from the main body of the pressure element 6. At the outer wall of the spring element 66, 66′, the detent portion 67, 67′ is provided, which projects outward in such a way that the outer diameter of the pressure element 6 at the detent portion 67, 67′ is larger than the inner diameter of the bore 53 of the receiving part 5. The overall size of the slot is larger than the cross-section of the bores 58, 59 in the receiving part. The depth and the overall size of the slot is such that the spring element 66, 66′ can be moved resiliently into the space provided by the slot to such an extent, that the detent portion 67, 67′ can be immersed therein. As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 5b) and c), the detent portion is asymmetric in a direction of the bore axis of the receiving part to allow insertion but prevent removal of the pressure element. The detent portion 67, 67′ has a substantially circular base portion which goes over in a slanted manner into an upper portion which has an edge 67a, which abuts the upper wall of the bore 58, 59 such that the detent portion, once it is snapped into the bore 58, 59, as shown in FIG. 3, cannot be removed without using a specific tool.
Finally, the pressure element 6 has a coaxial bore 6a extending through it to allow access to the head 4 by a tool.
A second embodiment of the bone anchoring device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 6. The description of parts that are identical to the first embodiment will not be repeated. Like parts have the same reference numerals. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only by the design of the pressure element. As can be seen in FIGS. 6a) to 6c), the pressure element 601 differs from the pressure element 6 of the first embodiment only by the shape of the detent portion 670, 670′. The detent portion 670, 670′ is symmetric in a direction of the bore axis of the receiving part 5 to allow insertion and removal of the pressure element 601. In the specific embodiment shown, the detent portion 670, 670′ is shaped as a portion of a sphere. Since it is continuous in upward and downward direction, the detent portion 670, 670′ can snap into the bore 58, 59 by a downward movement of the pressure element 601 and out of it by an upward movement. The recess 58, 59 at the receiving part 5 can be made smaller and adapted in shape to the shape of the detent portion so that the detent portion 670, 670′ can snap into the recess 58, 59 and rest therein. The detent portion 670, 670′ can have any other symmetric shape.
Next, a tool for assembling the bone anchoring device and assembling steps are shown with reference to FIGS. 9a) to h). The first figure of each step shows a side view in direction of the rod axis and the subsequent second figure a side view perpendicular to the rod axis. The tool 90 includes a base portion 91, which is substantially cylindrical with a diameter that allows it to be placed onto a support, e.g. a table or the like (not shown). A cylindrical intermediate portion 92 extends coaxially from the base portion 91. The outer diameter of the intermediate portion 92 is such that the intermediate portion 92 can be introduced into the receiving part 5 as shown in FIG. 9g). At the end opposite to the base portion 91 a dummy rod portion 93 is provided at the intermediate portion 92. The dummy rod portion 93 has the diameter of the rod 20 so that the dummy rod portion 93 fits into the channel formed by the recess 62 in the pressure element 6. The rod axis of the dummy rod portion 93 extends perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the base portion 91.
In step 1, first, as shown in FIGS. 9a) and 9b), the tool is placed on a support such that the dummy rod portion 93 is on the top. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9c) and 9d), the pressure element is placed onto the dummy rod portion 93 with the U-shaped recess 62 facing downward. In step 2, the screw element 2 and the receiving part 5, which have been pre-assembled, are moved towards the tool with the U-shaped recess 54 of the receiving part facing downward and being aligned with the axis of the dummy rod portion 93. The pre-assembling of the screw element 2 and the receiving part 5 is carried out beforehand by introducing the screw element 2 from the top, i.e. from the second bore 53 into the receiving part 5 until the head 4 is seated in the seat portion 52. In step 3, the dummy rod portion 93 with pressure element 6 is introduced into the receiving part 5 by pressing the receiving part 5 down. The spring elements 66, 66′ on the legs of the pressure element 6 as described above are pressed into the slots 69, 69′ until the recesses 58, 59 in the receiving part are reached, which allows for the expansion of the spring elements 66, 66′ and the catching of the detents 67, 67′. The catching of the detents 67, 67′ is audible so that the user can be sure that the pressure element 6 is at the correct position. By means of the tool, the pressure element 6 can be easily inserted in the correct orientation so that its rod receiving recess 62 is aligned with the U-shaped recess 54 of the receiving part 5. Further, the pressure element 6 is held in the aligned position by the engagement of the spring elements 66, 66′ in the recesses of the receiving part 5. In this position, the head 4 is still pivotable in the receiving part 5. The pressure element 6 is held so firmly that it cannot fall out of the receiving part 5 during handling but is still movable upon exertion of a force to clamp the head 4.
1. A bone anchoring device comprising: wherein the spring element is formed by at least a first portion of one of the two side walls forming the inner channel, the first portion spaced apart from a second portion of the one side wall by a slot, wherein at least a portion of the detent connection is located on the one side wall.
an anchoring element having a shaft for anchoring in a bone and having a head,
a receiving part formed in one piece, the receiving part comprising a seat for receiving the head and an outer channel for receiving a rod to be connected to the anchoring device,
a pressure element formed in one piece, the pressure element comprising an inner channel for receiving the rod, the inner channel formed by two side walls of the pressure element, the pressure element being movable in the receiving part to exert pressure onto the head,
wherein the pressure element further comprises a spring element, the spring element being movable from a first position wherein the spring element is unlocked from the receiving part, to a second position wherein the spring element is locked to the receiving part via a detent connection, wherein in the second position the pressure element is held in a position that allows pivoting of the anchoring element,
2. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the spring element is formed integrally in the first portion of one of the two side walls of the pressure element.
3. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the two side walls that form the inner channel each have open ends, wherein the open ends are each configured to extend beyond the rod and wherein the slot extends beyond the rod on the one side wall.
4. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the detent connection comprises a detent portion on the spring element and a recess formed at an inner wall of the receiving part, wherein the detent portion can be resiliently depressed radially inward toward the slot and can engage in the recess.
5. The bone anchoring device of claim 4, wherein the detent portion is shaped asymmetric with respect to the direction of movement of the pressure element so as to allow assembling but to inhibit disassembling of the pressure element from the receiving part.
6. The bone anchoring device of claim 5, wherein the detent portion comprises an edge that abuts a wall of the recess.
7. The bone anchoring element of claim 4, wherein the detent portion is symmetric with respect to the direction of movement of the pressure element to allow assembling and disassembling of the pressure element.
8. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the slot is open at only two opposite sides.
9. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the slot is closed at only one side.
10. The bone anchoring device of claim 9, wherein the closed side is oriented to the side of the pressure element that faces the head.
11. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the receiving part comprises a first bore for passing the shaft of the anchoring element therethrough and a second bore at the opposite side for introducing the shaft and the head.
12. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein a locking device is provided that cooperates with the receiving part to lock the head and the rod separately.
13. The bone anchoring device of claim 1, wherein a locking device is provided that cooperates with the receiving part to lock the head and the rod simultaneously.
14. A method of assembling a bone anchoring device using a tool, the bone anchoring device comprising: the tool comprising a base portion and a dummy rod portion, the dummy rod portion being connectable to the pressure element, the method comprising the steps:
a receiving part comprising a seat for receiving the head and an outer channel for receiving a rod to be connected to the anchoring device,
a pressure element comprising an inner channel for receiving the rod, being movable in the receiving part and configured to exert pressure onto the head,
wherein the pressure element comprises a spring element configured to engage a portion of the receiving part so that the pressure element can be held in a position that allows pivoting of the anchoring element
15. A method for inserting a bone anchoring device into a bone using a tool, the bone anchoring device comprising: the tool comprising: the method comprising the steps of:
an anchoring element having a shaft for anchoring in the bone and having a head,
a drive member rotatably connected to a counter-holding member, wherein the drive member is sized to extend through the counter-holding member and the receiving part into a head recess on the head, the tool further comprising preferably a stop preventing an escaping movement of the pressure element,
introducing the pressure element into the receiving part and aligning the inner channel and the outer channel for receiving the rod,
a pressure element formed in one piece, the pressure element being movable in the receiving part and configured to exert pressure onto the head, the pressure element comprising an inner channel for receiving the rod, wherein the inner channel is formed by two side walls, wherein each side wall of the two side walls has a curved portion and a straight portion, the curved portion being closer to the anchoring element,
wherein the anchoring element is pivotable with respect to the receiving part and can be fixed at an angle by exerting pressure via the pressure element onto the head,
wherein the pressure element comprises a spring element configured to engage a portion of the receiving part so that the pressure element can be held in a position that allows pivoting of the anchoring element, and
wherein the spring element is formed by at least a first portion of one of the two side walls forming the inner channel, the first portion spaced apart from a second portion of the one side wall by a slot, wherein the slot extends into the straight portion of the one side wall.
Publication number: 20110046683
Patent Grant number: 9254150
Inventors: Lutz Biedermann (VS-Villingen), Martin Meer (Vohringen)
Application Number: 12/856,251
Current U.S. Class: Head Structure (606/305); Assembling Or Joining (29/428); Screw Or Pin Placement Or Removal Means (606/104)
International Classification: A61B 17/86 (20060101); B23P 11/00 (20060101); A61B 17/56 (20060101);