Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US20030171749?dq=6,408,309
Timestamp: 2015-01-30 22:25:21
Document Index: 244717963

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 10', 'arts 20', 'arts 20', 'arts 20', 'arts 20', 'art 10', 'arts 20', 'arts 20', 'art 10', 'arts 20']

Patent US20030171749 - Semirigid linking piece for stabilizing the spine - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsThe invention concerns a linking piece designed to maintain a spacing between at least two anchoring elements screwed into vertebrae. The piece comprises at least: a flexible part (10) divided into two branches (12, 14), the ends of said branches being interconnected in pairs and defining a first neutral...http://www.google.com/patents/US20030171749?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US20030171749 - Semirigid linking piece for stabilizing the spineAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS20030171749 A1Publication typeApplicationApplication numberUS 10/333,284Publication dateSep 11, 2003Filing dateJul 25, 2001Priority dateJul 25, 2000Also published asDE60111384D1, DE60111384T2, EP1303224A1, EP1303224B1, US8012182, US20070288093, WO2002007621A1Publication number10333284, 333284, US 2003/0171749 A1, US 2003/171749 A1, US 20030171749 A1, US 20030171749A1, US 2003171749 A1, US 2003171749A1, US-A1-20030171749, US-A1-2003171749, US2003/0171749A1, US2003/171749A1, US20030171749 A1, US20030171749A1, US2003171749 A1, US2003171749A1InventorsRegis Le Couedic, Denis PasquetOriginal AssigneeRegis Le Couedic, Denis PasquetExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManReferenced by (92), Classifications (11), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSemirigid linking piece for stabilizing the spineUS 20030171749 A1Abstract The invention concerns a linking piece designed to maintain a spacing between at least two anchoring elements screwed into vertebrae. The piece comprises at least: a flexible part (10) divided into two branches (12, 14), the ends of said branches being interconnected in pairs and defining a first neutral plane (Pm), and, two rigid parts (20, 22) forming rods, having a first fixing C portion (20′, 22′) and a second fixing portion (20″, 22″), each said second portion (20″, 22″) of said rigid parts (20, 22) extending respectively in two opposite directions said ends of said branches interconnected in pairs, such that said linking piece, whereof the fixing portions (20′, 22′) are respectively fixed on each of the anchoring elements is designed to bend elastically perpendicularly to said neutral plane (Pm). Images(3) Claims(8)
1. A connecting member for maintaining the spacing between at least two anchor members screwed into vertebrae, the connecting member being characterized in that it comprises: a flexible part divided into two spaced continuous branches that are substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of said member, the ends of said branches being interconnected in pairs and defining a first median plane, and two rigid rod-forming parts each having a fixing first portion and a second portion, each of said second portions of said two rigid parts respectively extending said ends of said branches interconnected in pairs in opposite directions, the cross-section of each of said branches being less than the cross-section of said rigid parts so that said connecting member, said fixing portions of which are fixed to respective anchor members, is able to bend elastically about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, said perpendicular axis being contained in said median plane of the connecting member on relative movement of the vertebrae, whereby the vertebrae, which are held spaced relative to each other, are movable relative to each other. 2. A connecting member according to claim 1, adapted to interconnect n anchor members, the connecting member being characterized in that it comprises n rigid parts between which there are disposed n−1 flexible parts along the longitudinal axis of said member, each rigid part situated between two flexible parts having a first or fixing portion and two second portions, each of said second portions being situated at a respective end of said first or fixing portion, said second portions extending respective ends of the branches of said two flexible parts so that the median planes of all the flexible parts are substantially the same, and in that the rigid parts situated at the ends of said member have respective single second portions extending the ends of the branches of the flexible parts. 3. A connecting member according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the sum of the surface areas of the sections of said two branches is less than the surface area of the section of said rigid rod-forming parts. 4. A connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said branches have portions parallel to each other and to the longitudinal axis of said member and in that the distance between said branches is at least equal to the length of said portions. 5. A connecting member according to claim 4, characterized in that the distance between the ends of said branches connected in pairs lies in the range 1.5 times to 2.5 times the distance between said branches. 6. A connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the section of said rigid rod-forming parts is circular. 7. A connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is made of titanium alloy. 8. A vertebral stabilization system for fastening together at least two vertebrae each having a median plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine of which they are part and a posterior wall defining a posterior median plane of said spine, said system comprising at least two anchor members each adapted to be fixed into the posterior wall of a vertebra so that a line which intersects said two anchor members is substantially parallel to said axis of the spine, the system being characterized in that it further comprises a connecting member according to any one of claims 1 to 7 whose two rigid parts are adapted to interconnect said two anchor members so that said median plane defined by said two branches is substantially parallel to said posterior median plane of said spine, whereby said vertebrae, which are interconnected in their posterior portions, are relatively movable along said axis of said spine. Description
[0017] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, which is given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0018]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a connecting member of the invention, [0019]FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing anchor members connected by the connecting member, and [0020]FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a vertebral column showing two consecutive vertebrae into which there are screwed anchor members interconnected by a connecting member of the invention.
[0021] The various portions of a connecting member of the invention are described initially with reference to FIG. 1. [0022] The connecting member 8 comprises a flexible part 10 having two parallel branches 12 and 14 interconnected at their ends at two points 16 and 18. Two rigid rod-forming parts 20 and 22 have respective fixing first portions 20′, 22′ and second portions 20″, 22″ extending the joined together ends of the two branches 12 and 14 from the two points 16 and 18 in opposite directions along a longitudinal axis A. The two parallel branches 12 and 14 joined at their ends therefore surround a void 24. They are also parallel to the axis A and symmetrical about that axis. The sum of the sections of the two branches 12 and 14 is preferably less than the section of the rigid parts which have substantially the same circular section, with the result that the diameter of the cross-section of a branch is less than 70% of the diameter of the rigid parts. For example, the diameter of the cross-section of a branch lies in the range 50% to 70% of the diameter of the rigid parts. [0023] Also, the two branches 12 and 14 define a median plane Pm intersecting the two rigid parts 20 and 22 axially. [0024] Thus the connecting member having the first fixing portions 20′ and 22′ of its rigid parts 20 and 22 in fixed bearing engagement, is itself able to bend elastically in a direction Dp perpendicular to the median plane Pm when a force F is exerted on each of the branches 12 and 14. This is because, given the section of the branches 12 and 14 relative to the section of the rigid parts 20 and 22, the radius of curvature of the connecting member when it bends is at a minimum at the center of the flexible part 10. [0025] The sum of the forces F exerted on the branches in a direction perpendicular to the median plane Pm causing the connecting member to bend without breaking would not cause the connecting member to bend in a direction perpendicular to the axis A of the member and contained in the median plane Pm because, in this case, one of the branches would be in tension and the other in compression, which would prevent bending. A preferential bending direction is therefore obtained, which is advantageous in the context of the intended application, as explained in more detail below. [0026] To obtain a preferential bending direction and an optimum bending amplitude, given the dimensions of the connecting portion, the two branches 12 and 14 are separated by a distance that is not less than the length of their parallel portions. Obviously, the closer together the branches 12,14, the greater the potential for bending about an axis not strictly perpendicular to the median plane Pm, and the force necessary to obtain said bending increases as the total length of the branches 12 and 14 decreases. However, the spacing between the two branches 12 and 14 is limited by the space available for inserting said member, both transversely and along the longitudinal axis, and consequently the distance between the ends of said branches connected in pairs is in the range 1.5 times to 2.5 times the distance between said branches. [0027] To compare the stress to which a connecting member of the invention is subjected with the stress to which a simple prior art connecting rod is subjected, a rod of diameter 1 was made whose bending amplitude was to be increased by 50%. To achieve this, the diameter of the simple connecting rod had to be reduced by 10%, the consequence of which was a 35% increase in the stress in it. In contrast, to obtain the same amplitude of bending, the diameter of the branches of the connecting member of the invention had to represent 75% of the original diameter of the rod of diameter 1, although the stress in the branches was increased by only 13%. [0028] The above measurements showed that, for the same bending, the connecting member of the invention was subjected to lower stresses than a conventional connecting rod, thereby reducing metal fatigue, so that its service life should be longer than prior art rods. Also, the lower the stresses in the connecting member, the better it retains its elastic properties. [0029] Deformation of the connecting member on relative movement of the anchor members 26 and 28 is described below with reference to FIG. 2. [0030]FIG. 2 shows the two rigid parts 20 and 22 of the connecting member interconnecting two anchor members 26 and 28. The two anchor members 26 and 28 are parallel to each other in a common axial plane Pa. The connecting member is fixed to the anchor members 26 and 28 so that the median plane Pm defined by the branches 12 and 14 is substantially perpendicular to the common axial plane Pa. [0031] Each anchor member 26, 28 has a threaded shank 30 with a U-shaped head 32 at the top whose inside wall is threaded so that a screw-forming member 34 can be screwed into it. Thus the first or fixing portions 20′ and 22′ of the rigid parts 20 and 22 are accommodated in the heads 32 of the respective anchor members 26 and 28 and are locked to them by tightening the screw-forming members 34. [0032] In this way, when the threaded shanks 30 of the anchor members tend to move towards each other due to the effect of opposite forces T and −T in the plane Pa and substantially parallel to the axis A, the anchor members 26 and 28 deform the connecting member to an arcuate shape in the plane Pa. The stress induces bending of the branches 12 and 14 of the connecting member in a direction perpendicular to the median plane Pm. When the stress is removed, the connecting member reverts to its original rectilinear shape and the threaded shanks of the anchor members 30 return to their former relative position. [0033] The mechanism of elastic bending of the connecting member and the anchor members described above is the same if the threaded shanks 30 of the anchor members 26 and 28 move away from each other, the connecting member forming a reversed arcuate shape. [0034] The use of the connection member 8 in a vertebral stabilizing system for fastening together at least two vertebrae V1 and V2 is described below with reference to FIG. 3. [0035] Each vertebra V1, V2 has a respective median plane PV1, PV2 substantially perpendicular to the axis Ar of the spine of which it is a part and a respective posterior wall PPV1, PPV2 defining a posterior median plane PPr of said spine. [0036] The stabilizing system includes at least two anchor members 26 and 28 respectively screwed into the posterior walls PPV1 and PPV2 of the vertebrae V1 and V2 so that a line L that intersects the two anchor members 26 and 28 is substantially parallel to said axis Ar of the spine. The two first or fixing portions 20′ and 22′ of a connecting member 8 interconnect the two anchor members 26 and 28 so that said median plane Pm defined by said branches 12 and 14 is substantially parallel to said posterior median plane PPr of said spine. In this way, the vertebrae V1 and V2, which are interconnected in their posterior portions, are relatively movable along the axis Ar of the spine. [0037] Thus when the spine is stretched, the vertebrae V1 and V2 move away from each other in respective directions E and −E, which causes the threaded shanks 30 to move away from each other, deforming the connecting member 8, and in particular its flexible part 10. The deformed connecting member has its concave side facing away from the spine. [0038] When the spine is bent, the inverse effect occurs and the vertebrae V1 and V2 move towards each other, which induces deformation of the connecting member with its concave side facing toward the spine. [0039] Obviously, because it can bend more than prior art connecting rods, the connecting member 8 of the invention increases the mobility of the vertebrae relative to each other. Also, because of its construction, with two parallel branches 12, 14 connected together at their ends and extended by the rigid parts 20, 22, the connecting member 8 allows the spine to bend and extend in the plane Pa while at the same time limiting bending in the plane Pm perpendicular to the plane Pa. Thus the spine is stabilized laterally and relative movement of the vertebrae is limited. [0040] In a particular embodiment, not shown, the connecting member has three rigid rod-forming parts interconnected by flexible parts. To this end, the central rigid part has two second portions extending respective ends of said fixing portion, said second portions respectively extending the ends of the two interconnected branches of the two flexible parts. The rigid parts extend the ends of the interconnected branches so that the median planes of both flexible parts are substantially the same. A longitudinal member is thus obtained having two rigid first portions, one at each end, and a central rigid part between the two rigid first portions, the rigid parts being interconnected in pairs by flexible parts. [0041] The connecting member therefore maintains the spacing between the three anchor members that it interconnects, which members are fixed to three substantially equidistant vertebrae, to align them. Each rigid part of the connecting member is fixed to an anchor member so that there is a flexible part between pairs of vertebrae. In this way a single connecting member stabilizes three vertebrae, which reduces the time needed to assemble the stabilizing system as a whole and consequently the operating time. Also, because the three vertebrae are interconnected by a single connecting member, their mobility relative to one another is better controlled. [0042] It goes without saying that providing connecting members having more than three rigid parts separated by flexible parts would not depart from the scope of the invention. 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