Stabilization device for bones comprising a spring element and manufacturing method for said spring element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9345520-B2
Application number	US-201314145285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2013
Priority date	Nov 7, 2003
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

An elastic or flexible element for use in a stabilization device for bones or vertebrae is provided. The elastic or flexible element is provided in the form of an essentially cylindrical body with a first end and a second end opposite thereto, wherein at least one of the opposite ends of the cylindrical body comprises a coaxial bore hole with an internal thread for connecting to a shaft and/or a head of a bone screw or for connecting to a rod section. The present invention further provides a bone anchoring element, e.g. a bone screw, with a shaft for the anchoring in a bone, whereby the shaft comprises an elastic or flexible section which is formed integrally with the shaft or as a separate elastic or flexible element. It is preferable for the elastic section to be implemented in the form of a helical spring. Moreover, the present invention provides a stabilization device for bones, for instance for vertebrae, said device comprising at least one bone anchoring element according to the invention, a second bone anchoring element and a rod or plate connecting the bone anchoring elements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bone stabilization device comprising a plurality of bone anchoring elements and a connecting element connecting at least two of the bone anchoring elements, wherein at least one of the bone anchoring elements comprises:
a screw element comprising a threaded portion having a bone thread for anchoring into bone tissue;
a flexible section connected or connectable to the screw element and comprising an essentially cylindrical body with an outer surface, a bore extending in an axial direction in the cylindrical body, and a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the cylindrical body, the helical slotted opening extending radially inward toward the bore; and
a head connected or connectable to the flexible section,
wherein at least one of the screw element and the head is a separate component connectable to the flexible section, and, in an assembled state in which the screw element, the flexible section, and the head are connected together, the flexible section is between the screw element and the head, and the helical slotted opening overlaps a portion of the at least one of the screw element and the head in the axial direction.

2. The bone stabilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible section comprises a separate component with a first end and a second end opposite thereto, each of the opposite ends comprising a coaxial hole and at least one of the opposite ends comprising an internal thread for connecting to a shaft and/or head of the bone anchoring element.

3. The bone stabilization device according to claim 2 , wherein an internal thread is provided at each of the two ends.

4. The bone stabilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting element further comprises a second flexible section having a second essentially cylindrical body with a second outer surface and a second helical slotted opening in the second outer surface, the second helical slotted opening extending radially inward.

5. The bone stabilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the bone anchoring device is a monoaxial, a polyaxial or a Schanz screw.

6. The bone stabilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting element further comprises a rod-shaped element for connecting two bone anchoring elements, the rod-shaped element comprising a first rigid rod section and a flexible dement with first and second ends, and wherein the first rigid rod section is connected to the first end of the flexible element.

7. The bone stabilization device according to claim 6 , wherein the rod-shaped element further comprises a second rigid rod section and the second rigid rod section is connected to the second end of the flexible element.

8. The bone stabilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the connecting element further comprises a plate having an end and said end having (i) a cylindrical projection with an external thread or (ii) a bore hole with an internal thread, and further comprising a flexible element attached to said end.

9. The bone stabilization device according to claim 1 , wherein the head comprises a receiving part having a U-shaped recess configured to receive the connecting element.

10. A bone anchoring element for use in a stabilization device for bones and vertebrae, the bone anchoring element comprising:
a screw element comprising a threaded portion having a bone thread for anchoring into bone tissue;
a flexible element connected or connectable to the screw element and comprising an essentially cylindrical body having an exterior wall with an outer surface, a longitudinal axis, a length, a first end and a second end opposite the first end, a bore extending in an axial direction in the cylindrical body, and a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the cylindrical body, the helical slotted opening extending radially inward toward the bore; and
a head connected or connectable to the flexible element,
wherein at least one of the screw element and the head is a separate component connectable to the flexible element, and, in an assembled state in which the screw element, the flexible element, and the head are connected together, the flexible element is between the screw element and the head, and the helical slotted opening overlaps a portion of the at least one of the screw element and the head in the axial direction.

11. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , wherein one of the first and second ends of the cylindrical body comprises a cylindrical projection with an external thread for connecting to a shaft or to the head of the bone anchoring element.

12. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , further comprising an internal thread in at least a section of the bore that is adjacent to one of the first and second ends.

13. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , wherein the bore extends throughout the length of the cylindrical body.

14. The bone anchoring element according to claim 13 , further comprising a core in the bore.

15. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , wherein the recess in the wall extends in the form of a helix in the direction of the longitudinal axis and extends radially from the outer surface of the wall into the bore.

16. The bone anchoring element according to claim 15 , further comprising a core in the bore.

17. The bone anchoring element according to claim 15 , wherein the flexible element forms a helical spring-like structure.

18. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , comprised of a body-compatible material.

19. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , comprised of titanium.

20. The bone anchoring element according to claim 10 , wherein the head comprises a receiving part having a U-shaped recess configured to receive a connecting element.

21. A spinal stabilization device comprising a plurality of bone anchoring elements and a connecting element configured to connect at least two of the bone anchoring elements, wherein the connecting element comprises:
a first rigid part comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a rod-shaped section at the first end configured to be received in a receiving part of a first bone anchoring element of the plurality of bone anchoring elements;
a flexible section comprising an essentially cylindrical body having an exterior wall with an outer surface, a longitudinal axis, a length, a first end connected or connectable to the second end of the first rigid part and a second end opposite the first end of the flexible section, a bore extending in an axial direction in the cylindrical body, and a helical slotted opening in the outer surface of the cylindrical body, the helical slotted opening extending radially inward toward the bore; and
a second rigid part comprising a first end configured to connect to a second bone anchoring element of the plurality of bone anchoring elements and a second end opposite the first end of the second rigid part and connected or connectable to the second end of the flexible section,
wherein at least one of the first rigid part and the second rigid part is a separate component connectable to the flexible section, and, in an assembled state in which the first rigid part, the flexible section, and the second rigid part are connected together, the flexible section is between the first rigid part and the second rigid part, and the helical slotted opening overlaps a portion of the a least one of the first rigid part and the second rigid part in the axial direction.

Assignees

• Biedermann Technologies Gmbh

Inventors

• Biedermann Lutz
• Matthis Wilfried
• HARMS JüRGEN

Classifications

• A61B17/7004

  with a cross-section which varies along its length (A61B17/7019 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/8685

  comprising multiple separate parts · CPC title

• A61B17/7041

  with single longitudinal rod offset laterally from single row of screws or hooks (A61B17/7044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/8635

  Tips of screws · CPC title

• A61B2017/00526

  Methods of manufacturing · CPC title