Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20060064093?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-03-12 17:59:14
Document Index: 722887423

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 104', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 104', 'art 104']

Patent US20060064093 - Spinal rod cross connector - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe cross connecting device includes a bar arm coupled to one of a pair of posterior rods or spinal fixation rods and a rod arm coupled to the other of the pair of the rods. The bar arm and rod arm are coupled together by a connector or coupling device. The coupling device has a shank extending through...http://www.google.com/patents/US20060064093?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20060064093 - Spinal rod cross connectorAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20060064093 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 11/217,787Publication dateMar 23, 2006Filing dateAug 31, 2005Priority dateSep 3, 2004Also published asUS7959653, WO2006028950A2, WO2006028950A3Publication number11217787, 217787, US 2006/0064093 A1, US 2006/064093 A1, US 20060064093 A1, US 20060064093A1, US 2006064093 A1, US 2006064093A1, US-A1-20060064093, US-A1-2006064093, US2006/0064093A1, US2006/064093A1, US20060064093 A1, US20060064093A1, US2006064093 A1, US2006064093A1InventorsJeffery Thramann, Michael FultonOriginal AssigneeJeffery Thramann, Michael FultonExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (19), Classifications (6), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSpinal rod cross connectorUS 20060064093 A1Abstract The cross connecting device includes a bar arm coupled to one of a pair of posterior rods or spinal fixation rods and a rod arm coupled to the other of the pair of the rods. The bar arm and rod arm are coupled together by a connector or coupling device. The coupling device has a shank extending through a bore in the bar arm and a connector bore through which a protrusion on the bar arm extends. The bar arm is rotationally movable in the connector bore. The shank is rotationally and translationally movable in the bar arm bore. The coupling device is vertically movable through the bore. The protrusion is rotationally and translationally movable in the connector bore. The cross connecting devices are coupled to the rods by a pair of opposing surface to surface contacts formed by a surface of a hook end and a surface of a pad. Images(10) Claims(15)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a device that traverses a spinal column to connect a pair of elongated rods being used to correct spinal abnormalities, such as, for example, spinal curvature. Referring now to FIG. 1, a top perspective view of a cross connector 100 is shown. Cross connector 100 is shown attached to a pair of elongated spinal fixation rods 102 a and 102 b. Spinal fixation rods 102 a and 102 b would be connected to the pedicle portion of vertebral bodies about the spinal column as is generally known in the art (not shown). Related application Ser. No. 10/915,902 mentioned above describes a novel device for attaching spinal fixation rods 102 a and 102 b to the pedicles. Cross connector 100 comprises at least two independently movable parts coupled together. A first part 104 a, sometimes referred to as bar arm 104 a, connected to spinal fixation rod 102 a and a second part 104 b, sometimes referred to as rod arm 104 b, connected to spinal fixation rod 104 b. Bar arm 104 a is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3. Rod arm 104 b is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. Bar arm 104 a is coupled to second part 104 b using a coupling device 106. Coupling device 106 comprises a nut 106 a and a bolt 106 b. Coupling device 106 is shown in more detail in FIGS. 5-7. Bar arm 104 a has a hook 108 a that has an inner surface 110 a shaped to cooperatively engage spinal fixation rod 102 a. While referred to as hook 108 a because the particular embodiment is shaped as similar to a fish hook, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that hook is used generically to refer to numerous shapes. In this case, inner surface 110 a has a concave shape to provide a surface-to-surface engagement with a convexly shaped rod 102 a. An outer surface 110 c of hook 108 a does not need to be convexly shaped as shown, but it is believed the smooth curve would reduce trauma. Extending from hook 108 a is a first arm 112 a traversing a portion of the spinal column (not shown). First arm 112 a is shown with a generally cubic shape, but other shapes are possible. Coupled to first part 104 a is a first rod grip insert or cross connector pad 114 a (sometimes referred to as simply pad 114 a). Pad 114 a is somewhat moveable between a grip position (as shown) and a release position. Pad 114 a has a rod contact surface 116 a shaped to cooperatively engage spinal fixation rod 102 a and a setscrew contact surface 118 a shaped to cooperatively engage a first setscrew 120 a. First setscrew 120 a is threadable into a first bore 122 a traversing first arm 112 a at an acute angle α (shown in FIG. 2). First setscrew 120 a can be tightened to impinge on setscrew contact surface 118 a to cause pad 114 a to engage rod 102 a such that rod contact surface 116 a provides a surface-to-surface contact between rod contact surface 116 a, and spinal fixation rod 102 a. Moreover, first setscrew 120 a impinging on setscrew contact surface 118 a tends to cause first rod grip insert 114 a to transmit compressive force to spinal fixation rod 102 a to seat spinal fixation rod 102 a on first inner surface 110 a, which provides another surface-to-surface contact that is between rod 102 a and first inner surface 110 a. Bar arm 104 a provides a stable connection for cross connector 100 to rod 102 a through the at least the two surface-to-surface contacts identified. Reverse threading setscrew 120 a allows pad 114 a to be moved to the release position such that cross connecting device 100 can be fitted or removed from spinal fixation rod 102 a. In other words, reverse threading setscrew 120 a releases the compressive force tending to seat the construct. To facilitate movement between grip and release positions, pad 114 a may be coupled to first part 104 a using a channel, slot, or groove 130 that provides a plurality of positions for first rod grip insert 114 a. The surface-to-surface contacts between inner surface 110 a and rod contact surface 116 a provide a clamp type of coupling between first part 104 a and spinal fixation rod 102 a. The clamp type coupling allows first part 104 a to be rotated about a longitudinal axis 1021 a of spinal fixation rod 102 a. This allows multiple angular orientations of the first part or bar arm 104 a relative to the second part or rod arm 104 b. As mentioned first arm 112 a extends from hook 108 a to partially traverse the spinal column in a first plane A. First arm 112 a terminates at a connecting end 124. Connecting end 124 comprises a bore 126 extending through first arm 112 a. Referring to FIG. 3, it can be seen that bore 126 comprises a first diameter a and a second diameter b. The different diameters provide a shoulder 128. Bore 126 and shoulder 128 define a recess 302 or chamber as will be explained further below. Coupling device 106 interacts with recess 302, or with bore 126 and shoulder 128, as will be explained below. Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4, second part or rod arm 104 b will now be explained in more detail. Rod arm 104 b has parts similar to bar arm 104 a. The similar parts include a second hook 108 b, a second inner surface 110 b, a second rod grip insert 114 b with a rod contact surface 116 a and a setscrew contact surface 118 b, a second setscrew 120 b, a second bore 122 b, and channel 130. Setscrew bore 122 b forms an acute angle α with second arm 112 b. While bores 122 a and 122 b are shown forming identical angles α, they could form different angles as desired. Unlike bar arm 104 a in which first arm 112 a extends substantially straight from hook 108 a in plane A, rod arm 104 b has a plane traversing surface 402 such that second arm 112 b extends from traversing surface 402 in plane B to partially traverse the spinal column. Traversing surface 402 may extend from hook 108 b to second arm 112 b at an acute angle, but could be at a right angle or more. Plane traversing surface 402 could be employed to bar arm 104 a and first arm 112 a. Second arm 112 b terminates in a male shank portion 132, which couples to coupling device 106 as will be explained further below. In this case, second arm 112 b is shown substantially cylindrical, but as will be explained further below, only the male shank portion 132 needs to be cylindrical in this embodiment. Male shank portion 132 may comprises a protrusion 134 such as a detent, lip, shoulder, or ridge at a distal portion of shank portion 132. Protrusion 134 inhibits second arm 112 b from decoupling from coupling device 106. As can be seen, first arm 112 a and second arm 112 b have an overlapping region 802 (best seen in FIG. 8). Spinal fixation rod arm 102 b is contained in a clamp like coupling by hook 108 b (specifically surface 110 a) and pad 114 b (specifically surface 116 b). The clamp like coupling allows rod arm 102 b to pivot about a longitudinal axis 1021 b of spinal fixation rod 102 b. FIGS. 2A and 2B show a top and bottom perspective view of bar arm 104 a from FIG. 1. FIGS. 2A and 2B show parts identified above that will not be re-described herein. FIG. 3 shows a bottom perspective view of bore 126, shoulder 128, and recess 302 in more detail. FIG. 4 shows a top perspective view of rod arm 104 b from FIG. 1. FIG. 4 shows parts identified above that will not be re-described herein. Coupling device 106 will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5-7. Referring specifically to FIG. 5, bolt 106 b is shown in more detail. Bolt 106 b comprises an upper shank 502, a lower socket 504, and a transition portion 506. Upper shank 502 has a threaded outer surface 508 and an inner surface 510 shaped to cooperatively engage a counter torque tool (not specifically shown). Inner surface 510 is optional and other types of counter torque devices generally known in the art or no counter torque device is possible. Lower socket 504 has a connector bore 512 that is shaped to slidably engage male shank portion 132. Upper shank 502 extends through bore 126 such that at least a portion of the threaded outer surface 508 extends from arm 112 a (best seen in FIG. 6). Outer surface 508 could be completely threaded or partially threaded as a matter of design choice. Upper shank 502 is sized to rotatably move in bore 126. As mentioned above, upper shank 502 has an inner surface 510 designed to cooperatively engage a counter torque tool. In operation, nut 106 a is treaded on upper shank 502 using sufficient torque to provide a sufficient seat between bar arm 104 a and rod arm 104 b. This torque tends to cause device 100 to want to twist or walk along spinal fixation rods 102. To inhibit this, a surgeon would use the counter torque tool to engage upper shank 502. The counter torque tool would tend to resist the torque applied to nut 106 a reducing the twisting or walking. Transition portion 506 provides a transition from the wider lower socket 504 to the narrower upper shank 502. Transition portion 506 is shown as a flat surface, but could take a number of shapes. As shown best in FIG. 6 and will be explained further below, a gap 602 resides between transition portion 506 and shoulder 128, the reasons for which will be explained below. Nut 106 a (shown in FIG. 7) has a threaded inner surface 702, an outer surface tool-engaging surface 704, and a bar arm contact surface 706. Nut 106 a is threaded on upper shank 502 until bar arm contact surface 706 contacts first arm 112 a. When implanting device 100, orientation of the pair of spinal fixation rods 102 can be accommodated in various ways. For example, sliding male shank portion 132 in bore 512 can accommodate distance changes between rod 102 a and 102 b. Rotating male shank 132 in bore 512 compensates for angular differences between corresponding longitudinal axes 1021 a and 1021 b of spinal fixation rods 102 a and 102 b, respectively. This causes overlapping portion 802 to increase or decrease as necessary. Rotating coupling device 106 in bore 126 accommodates angular orientation differences between rods 102. Tightening nut 106 a on bolt 106 b causes bolt 106 b to move into recess 302 until a surface 806 on rod arm 112 b contact a lower edge 802 of bore 126 accommodating height differences. Angling first and second arms 112 to diverge or converge if necessary can accommodate height differences. In other words, planes A and B are not necessarily parallel planes. As explained above, male shank portion 132 is designed with a shape to cooperatively engage bore 512 to allow for rotational, slidable engagement of male shank portion 132. However, male shank portion 132 and bore 512 do not need to by cylindrical in shape. For example, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a square bore 908 is shown that would cooperatively engage a square male shank portion (not specifically shown, but generally similar to male shank portion 132 except for shape). In this case, bore 908 would be a part of a bolt 900 having a bore holder 902 holding a bore nut 904 (bore 912 resides in bore nut 904. A channel 906 in bore holder 902 rotationally engages bore nut 904 so the male shank portion can be rotationally oriented within bolt 900. On reading the above disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art would now appreciate the unique surface to surface contact between the cross connector 100 and the spinal fixation rod 102 a and 102 b, which connections are provided in part by surface 110 a, 110 c and 116 a, 116 b, could be used in a fixed cross-connector arrangement instead of a variable arrangement as described above. Moreover, the portion of cross connector 100 traversing the area between the rod 102 a and 102 b may sometimes be generically referred to as a bridge. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to an embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various other changes in the form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7922747Oct 17, 2007Apr 12, 2011X-Spine Systems, Inc.Cross connector apparatus for spinal fixation rodsUS8021400Dec 2, 2008Sep 20, 2011Trinity Orthopedics LlcSpinal transverse connectorUS8048129Aug 15, 2007Nov 1, 2011Zimmer Spine, Inc.MIS crosslink apparatus and methods for spinal implantUS8080037Jan 3, 2009Dec 20, 2011Life Spine, Inc.Spinal cross-connector with spinal extensor muscle curvatureUS8241334Jul 12, 2008Aug 14, 2012Life Spine, Inc.Spinal cross-connectorUS8246657Jun 29, 2010Aug 21, 2012Nuvasive, Inc.Spinal cross connectorUS8292924Oct 5, 2007Oct 23, 2012Spineworks, LlcEnhanced pedicle rod clamp deviceUS8372120May 14, 2010Feb 12, 2013Spine Wave, Inc.Multi-axial cross connectorUS8419771Mar 17, 2008Apr 16, 2013Partnership Of David A. Poirier And Robert A. RovnerImplantable spinal fixation crosslinkUS8460342Dec 3, 2009Jun 11, 2013Eminent Spine LlcSpinal cross-connector and method for use of sameUS8480712Aug 4, 2009Jul 9, 2013Nuvasive, Inc.System and method for performing spinal fixationUS8491642Sep 16, 2011Jul 23, 2013Trinity Orthopedics, LlcSpinal transverse connectorUS8556942Dec 30, 2011Oct 15, 2013Blackstone Medical, Inc.Occipito-cervical fixation assembly and method for constructing sameUS8608780Oct 4, 2011Dec 17, 2013Zimmer Spine, Inc.MIS crosslink apparatus and methods for spinal implantUS20110106161 *Oct 30, 2009May 5, 2011Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Position Retaining CrosslinkUS20120158064 *Dec 21, 2010Jun 21, 2012Matthew KrollCurved spinal cross-connectorWO2008045291A2 *Oct 4, 2007Apr 17, 2008Michael S ButlerMulti-axial spinal cross-connectorsWO2009023618A2 *Aug 11, 2008Feb 19, 2009Abbott Spine IncSpinal crosslink apparatus and methods for minimally invasive surgeryWO2012154265A1 *Feb 21, 2012Nov 15, 2012Simpirica Spine, Inc.Spinous process cerclage for bone graft containment* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification74/1.00R, 606/252, 606/253International ClassificationA61F2/30Cooperative ClassificationA61B17/7052European ClassificationA61B17/70D4Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionDec 13, 2013ASAssignmentOwner name: LANX MEDICAL, INC., COLORADOFree format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:LANX, LLC;REEL/FRAME:031780/0028Effective date: 20071228Mar 25, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: LANX, INC., COLORADOFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LANX MEDICAL, INC.;REEL/FRAME:020690/0871Effective date: 20071228Owner name: LANX, INC.,COLORADOFree format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:LANX MEDICAL, INC.;US-ASSIGNMENT DATABASE UPDATED:20100329;REEL/FRAME:20690/871Aug 22, 2007ASAssignmentOwner name: LANX, LLC, COLORADOFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:THRAMANN, JEFFERY;FULTON, MICHAEL;REEL/FRAME:019736/0604Effective date: 20070822RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google