Spinal cross connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10779865-B2
Application number	US-201816201735-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2018
Priority date	Mar 1, 2011
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A spinal cross-connector comprises an elongated member, a first connector and a second connector. The first connector and the second connector are configured to receive spinal rods and adaptable to directly attach with pedicle screws. The first connector includes a first collet head, a first clamp and a first locking means. The second connector includes a second collet head, a second clamp and a second locking mans. The first locking means is configured to tighten over a first collet head and engage with the first connector. Similarly, the second locking means is configured to tighten over a second collet head and engage with the second connector. The engagement of the first locking means with the first connector and the second locking means with the second connector locks the spinal cross-connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for providing stability and rigidity to a plurality of bilateral spinal rods utilizing a spinal implant, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a spinal cross-connector, a first tulip, a second tulip, a first pedicle screw and a second pedicle screw;
(b) inserting a first pedicle screw engaged with a first tulip into a first vertebrae;
(c) inserting a second pedicle screw engaged with a second tulip into a second vertebrae;
(d) translating a first spinal rod through said first tulip and a second spinal rod through said second tulip;
(e) placing a first collet head of a first connector over said first spinal rod to be in contact with the first tulip and a second collet head of a second connector over said second spinal rod to be in contact with the second tulip;
(f) engaging an elongated member with a first clamp and a second clamp;
(g) inserting said first clamp on said first collet head and said second clamp on said second collet head; and
(h) locking the first connector to the first tulip and locking the first clamp with a first end of the elongate member by tightening a first locking means with said first collet head and locking the second connector to the second tulip and locking the second clamp with a second end of the elongate member by tightening a second locking means with said second collet head.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein locking of said first connector and said second connector causes locking of said spinal cross-connector to provide stability and rigidity to said first spinal rod and said second spinal rod.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein locking of said spinal cross-connector firmly secures said first spinal rod and said second spinal rod on a vertebrae.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member includes a first end and a second end.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first end includes a first ball spring collar surrounded thereon.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second end includes a second ball spring collar surrounded thereon.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first end of said elongated member is configured to translate through a first spherical pocket of said first clamp.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second end of said elongated member is configured to translate through a second spherical pocket of said second clamp.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first ball spring collar and said second ball spring collar attached on said elongated member allows rotational adjustment to said first and second connectors in an axial plane, said rotational adjustment provides stability to said spinal cross-connector when said first tulip is positioned deeper than said second tulip on a vertebra.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member is configured to translate through said first ball spring collar and said second ball spring collar to adjust to the distance between said first spinal rod and said second spinal rod.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first ball spring collar and said second ball spring collar are configured to rotate in said first spherical pocket and said second spherical pocket respectively to allow an axial adjustment.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said elongated member passes through said first and second spherical pockets through a conical passage.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein said conical passage is larger than the diameter of said elongated member.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first spherical pocket allows adjustment of said elongated member relative to said first clamp.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first locking means engaged with said first connector is configured to lock said first clamp with said first end of said elongated member and to lock said first connector with said first tulip.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second locking means engaged with said second connector locks said second clamp with said second end of said elongated member and said second connector with said first tulip.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first collet head includes a recess to receive said first tulip and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate said first spinal rod.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein said second collet head includes a recess to receive said second tulip and a plurality of cutouts to accommodate said second spinal rod.

19. A method for improving stability and rigidity for a plurality of bilateral spinal rods utilizing a spinal implant, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a spinal cross-connector, a first tulip, a second tulip, a first pedicle screw and a second pedicle screw;
(b) inserting a first pedicle screw engaged with a first tulip into a first vertebrae;
(c) inserting a second pedicle screw engaged with a second tulip into a second vertebrae;
(d) translating a first spinal rod through said first tulip screw and a second spinal rod through said second tulip;
(e) placing a first collet head of a first connector over said first spinal rod to be in contact with the first tulip and a second collet head of a second connector over said second spinal rod to be in contract with the second tulip;
(f) engaging an elongated member with a first clamp and a second clamp;
(g) inserting said first clamp on said first collet head and said second clamp on said second collet head; and
(h) locking the first connector with said first collet head and simultaneously locking the first clamp with a first end of the elongate member; and locking a second connector with said second collet head and simultaneously locking the second clamp with a second end of the elongate member.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein locking the first connector with said first collet head comprises locking the first clamp to the first collet head, and wherein locking the second connector with said second collet head comprises locking the second clamp to the second collet head.

Assignees

• Nuvasive Inc

Inventors

• Shoshtaev Eugene

Classifications

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/70

  Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant · CPC title

• A61B17/7032

  Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass · CPC title

• A61B2017/564

  Methods for bone or joint treatment · CPC title

• A61B17/7052 Primary

  of variable angle or length · CPC title