Offset rods, offset rod connectors, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12150679-B2
Application number	US-202117508795-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2021
Priority date	Dec 19, 2016
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

Devices and methods that allow a rod to be offset in a relatively small amount of space are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a plate-type connector having a reduced thickness suitable for insertion into a small space, e.g., between adjacent bone anchors. In some embodiments, first and second offset rods can be joined by a curved connector that conforms to adjacent bone anchors and likewise has a reduced thickness.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A spinal implant system, comprising:
a first spinal rod having a first diameter and a first central axis (A1);
a second spinal rod having a second diameter and a second central axis (A2);
a connector body defined between a superior surface and an inferior surface, the connector body having a first recess in the inferior surface configured to receive the first spinal rod therein and a second recess in the superior surface configured to receive the second spinal rod therein, the first recess being rigidly fixed relative to the second recess;
wherein the first spinal rod and the second spinal rod are offset with respect to one another such that the first central axis (A1) is offset from the second central axis (A2) when the first spinal rod and the second spinal rod are disposed within the connector body, and
wherein the first recess terminates prior to the superior surface in which the second spinal rod is received and the second recess terminates prior to the inferior surface in which the first spinal rod is received.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first spinal rod is disposed within the first recess such that the first spinal rod is disposed inferiorly to any superior surface of the connector body.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second spinal rod is disposed within the second recess such that the second spinal rod is disposed superiorly to any inferior surface of the connector body.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector body and one or more of the first and second spinal rods are separately disposed.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector body further comprises one or more flanges that are disposed where the first and second rods meet the connector.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the first recess or a diameter of the second recess corresponds to a diameter of the first spinal rod or the second spinal rod that is received therein.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first spinal rod extends in an opposite direction from the second spinal rod.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connector body is configured to be disposed between a plurality of bone anchors disposed in adjacent vertebral levels.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the superior surface of the connector body conforms to a first bone anchor of the plurality of bone anchors and the inferior surface of the connector body conforms to a second bone anchor of the plurality of bone anchors.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the superior surface extends around at least 90 degrees of the perimeter of a head of the first bone anchor and the inferior surface extends around at least 90 degrees of the perimeter of a head of the second bone anchor.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first spinal rod, the second spinal rod, and the connector body are a unitary structure.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second spinal rods are permanently secured within the recesses.

13. A surgical method, comprising:
implanting a first bone anchor in a first vertebra of a spine of a patient;
implanting a second bone anchor in a second vertebra of the spine; and
positioning a connector having a body that defines a plurality of recesses therein between the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor, the connector being positioned such that:
a superior surface of the connector contacts an inferior surface of the first bone anchor;
an inferior surface of the connector contacts a superior surface of the second bone anchor;
a first rod with a first central axis extends through the first bone anchor and is received in a first recess of the plurality of recesses; and
a second rod with a second central axis extends through the second bone anchor and is received in a second recess of the plurality of recesses in an orientation such that the first central axis is parallel and offset from the second central axis, the first recess terminating prior to the superior surface of the connector in which the second rod is received, and the second recess terminating prior to the inferior surface of the connector in which the first rod is received.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising disposing the first rod within the first recess such that the first rod is disposed inferiorly to any superior surface of the connector.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein disposing the second rod within the second recess such that the second rod is disposed superiorly to any inferior surface of the connector.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the superior surface includes a concavely curved portion configured to abut a corresponding convexly curved portion of a receiver member of the first bone anchor.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising applying torque to a first drive interface and a second drive interface of the connector, the first drive interface being axially aligned and opposite of the first recess and the second drive interface being axially aligned and opposite of the second recess.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the connector further comprises threading the first rod into a first recess in the connector or threading the second rod into the second recess in the connector.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the connector further comprises attaching the first and second rods to the connector, the first and second rods having different diameters.

20. A surgical method, comprising:
implanting a first bone anchor in a first vertebra of a spine of a patient;
implanting a second bone anchor in a second vertebra of the spine; and
positioning a connector having a body that defines a plurality of recesses therein between the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor, the connector being positioned such that:
a superior surface of the connector contacts an inferior surface of the first bone anchor;
an inferior surface of the connector contacts a superior surface of the second bone anchor;
a first rod extends through the first bone anchor and is received in a first recess of the plurality of recesses; and
a second rod extends through the second bone anchor and is received in a second recess of the plurality of recesses, the first recess terminating prior to the superior surface of the connector in which the second rod is received, and the second recess terminating prior to the inferior surface of the connector in which the first rod is received,

wherein the superior surface includes a concavely curved portion configured to abut a corresponding convexly curved portion of a receiver member of the first bone anchor.

Assignees

• Medos Int Sarl
• Medos Int Srl

Inventors

• Lee Kevin
• Johnston Ben
• Spratt Frank
• Jacobs Samuel

Classifications

• A61B17/7011

  Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched (adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs) · CPC title

• 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

• A61B17/7032

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

• A61B17/705 Primary

  for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements · CPC title