Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installation thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11090087-B2
Application number	US-201815980026-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 15, 2018
Priority date	Jul 15, 2011
Publication date	Aug 17, 2021
Grant date	Aug 17, 2021

Abstract

Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installing the same. The orthopedic fixation device may include a coupling element and a bone fastener, whereby the bone fastener can be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An orthopedic fixation device comprising:
a coupling element having a longitudinal axis, wherein the coupling element comprises a bore extending therethrough and an interior surface disposed about the bore;
a bone fastener, wherein the bone fastener comprises a head and an extension that extends from the head, wherein the head is configured for loading into the coupling element through the bottom of the bore; and
a locking clamp assembly, wherein the locking clamp assembly comprises:
a clamp element having a longitudinal axis, a spherical outer surface, a spherical inner surface, a plurality of slits extending through the clamp element, and a rim extending transverse to the plurality of slits, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface is configured to engage the interior surface of the coupling element, and wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is configured to engage the head of the bone fastener; and
a wedge element, wherein the wedge element comprises a wedge bore configured to receive an upper portion of the clamp element and an inner wedge surface disposed around at least a lower portion of the wedge bore, wherein the inner wedge surface is configured to engage at least a portion of the outer surface of the clamp element so as to allow angular movement of the clamp element relative to the coupling element, wherein the wedge element includes a curved upper surface to receive an elongate rod such that a downward pressure of the retained rod pushes the wedge element downward against the clamp element to lock an angular orientation of the clamp element relative to the coupling element, at least a portion of the retained rod positioned above the wedge element when the retained rod is locked to the coupling element,

wherein the bone fastener is configured to angulate relative to the coupling element,
wherein the clamp element is configured to angulate relative to the coupling element such that the longitudinal axis of the clamp element extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coupling element when the clamp element is angulated with respect to the coupling element.

2. The orthopedic fixation device of claim 1 , wherein the bone fastener is angled up to 41 degrees relative to the coupling element.

3. The orthopedic fixation device of claim 1 , wherein the rim is configured to limit rotational travel of the clamp element within the coupling element.

4. The orthopedic fixation device of claim 3 , wherein the clamp element is angled up to 9 degrees relative to the coupling element.

5. The orthopedic fixation device of claim 4 , wherein the bone fastener is angled up to 50 degrees relative to the coupling element.

6. The orthopedic fixation device of claim 1 , wherein the head of the bone fastener is spherical.

7. The orthopedic fixation device of claim 1 , wherein a threaded locking cap is configured to be threadably received within the coupling element to lock the elongate rod and the bone fastener in position.

8. An assembly for treating the spine comprising:
a coupling element having a longitudinal axis and a bore extending from a first end to a second end;
a bone fastener having a spherical head and a shaft that extends from the head, wherein the head is configured for loading into the coupling element through the second end and the shaft is configured to be secured to bone;
an elongate rod configured to extend through a portion of the coupling element; and
a locking clamp assembly including a clamp element and a wedge element, the clamp element having a longitudinal axis, a spherical outer surface, a spherical inner surface, a plurality of slits extending through the clamp element, and a rim extending transverse to the plurality of slits, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface is configured to engage an interior surface of the coupling element, and wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is configured to engage the spherical head of the bone fastener, and the wedge element comprises a curved upper surface to receive the elongate rod and a lower portion configured to engage at least a portion of the spherical outer surface of the clamp element, the clamp element pivotally coupled to the wedge element so as to allow angular movement of the clamp element relative to the coupling element, wherein the wedge element includes at least one seat extension angled inward to retain an elongate rod within a seat of the wedge element,
wherein the bone fastener is configured to angulate relative to the coupling element,
wherein the clamp element is configured to angulate relative to the coupling element such that the longitudinal axis of the clamp element is adapted to extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the coupling element when the clamp element is angulated with respect to the coupling element, and
wherein the rim is configured to engage the interior surface of the coupling element to limit rotational travel of the clamp element within the coupling element.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein a threaded locking cap is configured to be threadably received within the first end of the coupling element to lock the elongate rod and the bone fastener in position.

10. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bone fastener is angled up to 50 degrees relative to the coupling element.

11. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rim is disposed between an upper end and a lower end of the clamp element.

12. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the clamp element is angled up to 9 degrees relative to the coupling element.

13. A method of installing an orthopedic fixation device comprising:
inserting a locking clamp assembly into a bore in a coupling element, wherein the locking clamp assembly comprises a wedge element and a clamp element pivotally couplable to the wedge element, the clamp element having a longitudinal axis, a spherical outer surface, a spherical inner surface, a plurality of slits extending through the clamp element, and a rim extending transverse to the plurality of slits, the rim adapted to engage an interior surface of the coupling element to limit rotational travel of the clamp element within the coupling element;
inserting a spherical head of a bone fastener into the clamp element such that the clamp element engages the head, wherein the bone fastener has a longitudinal axis;
angling the bone fastener and the clamp element relative to the coupling element such that the longitudinal axis of the bone fastener and the longitudinal axis of the clamp element extends obliquely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the coupling element; and
moving the wedge element downward such that spherical outer surface of the clamp element engages the interior surface of the coupling element forcing the clamp element to clamp onto the head of the bone fastener to lock the relative angle of the bone fastener to the coupling element,
wherein the wedge element includes an upper surface to receive an elongated rod and at least one seat extension angled inward to retain the elongate rod within a seat of the wedge element.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bone fastener is angled up to 50 degrees relative to the coupling element.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the bone fastener is loaded from the bottom of the coupling element.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the locking clamp assembly is assembled prior to insertion into the coupling element.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein after the bone fastener is inserted into the clamp element, the locking clamp assembly and coupling elemen

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Spangler Daniel
• Cianfrani Jason
• Harper Michael
• George Milan
• Manninen Katherine
• Perkins John

Classifications

• A61B17/7082

  for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws · CPC title

• A61B17/7035

  Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other · CPC title

• A61B17/888

  the driver bit acting on the central region of the screw head · CPC title

• A61B17/7032 Primary

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

• A61B17/7056

  Hooks with specially-designed bone-contacting part · CPC title