Polyaxial cross connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9517090-B2
Application number	US-201514725406-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2012
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A device and method for coupling first and second elongate spinal fixation elements. The device includes first and second connector members, for receiving first and second elongate spinal fixation elements respectively. One or both connector members may include an engagement portion configured and dimensioned to provisionally receive an elongate fixation element with an interference fit. First and second connector members are coupled to a translation member, the translation member operatively associated with at least one connector member to provide for polyaxial movement. At least one locking member is provided to secure a received elongate spinal fixation element in the engagement portion and lock polyaxial movement of the at least one connector member. The translation member may have first and second portions which move relative to each other with translation movement, and a third locking member to lock the translation movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A coupling device comprising:
a connector member including an engagement portion configured and dimensioned to receive an elongate spinal fixation element;
a translation member having an end operatively associated with the connector member to provide polyaxial movement of the connector member relative to the translation member, wherein a portion of the connector member extends through a bore formed in the translation member; and
a locking member to secure the elongate spinal fixation element in the engagement portion of the connector member and to lock the polyaxial movement, thereby fixing the connector member relative to the translation member, wherein the locking member is received through the connector member and not the translation member.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the connector member that extends into the translation member includes a sphere and the bore in the translation member receives the sphere to provide the polyaxial movement.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein one of a surface of the bore and a surface of the sphere includes grooves and the other of the surface of the bore and the surface of the sphere includes ridges.

4. The device of claim 2 , wherein the engagement portion of the connector member includes proximal and distal arms, at least one of the proximal and distal arms resiliently flexing open to accept the elongate spinal fixation element and flexing back to provisionally receive the elongate spinal fixation element with an interference fit.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the connector member includes a slit extending from a proximal portion of the connector member to a distal portion of the connector member, the slit allowing the resilient flexing of the at least one of the proximal and distal arms of the engagement portion of the connector.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the locking member includes a set screw and a hole on the connector member and operatively associated with the slit such that threading of the set screw into the hole moves the proximal and distal arms relative to one another to secure the elongate spinal fixation element in the engagement portion of the connector member.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the slit divides the sphere into first and second portions and wherein threading of the set screw into the hole splays the first and second portions of the sphere to lock the polyaxial movement, thereby fixing the connector member relative to the translation member.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the translation member includes first and second translation elements, the first translation element including a proximal portion of the translation member and the second translation element including a distal portion of the translation member; and wherein the first and second translation elements are moveable relatively to each other.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second translation elements move relative to each other with translation movement, substantially free of rotation.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the first and second translation elements are coupled with a dove-tail connection.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the first and second translation elements move relative to each other along an arced path.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the elongate spinal fixation element is a rod.

13. A coupling device comprising:
a connector member including an engagement portion configured and dimensioned to receive an elongate spinal fixation element;
a translation member including first and second translation elements moveable relative to one another to adjust a distance therebetween, wherein the translation member has an end operatively associated with the connector member to provide polyaxial movement of the connector member relative to the translation member, and wherein a portion of the connector member extends through a bore formed in the translation member; and
a locking member to secure the elongate spinal fixation element in the engagement portion of the connector member and to lock the polyaxial movement, thereby fixing the connector member relative to the translation member, wherein the locking member is received through the connector member and not the translation member.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein the connector member includes a sphere and the bore in the translation member is configured to receive the sphere to provide the respective polyaxial movement.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the engagement portion of the connector member includes proximal and distal arms, at least one of the proximal and distal arms resiliently flexing open to accept the elongate spinal fixation element and flexing back to provisionally receive the elongate spinal fixation element with an interference fit.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the connector member includes a slit extending between a proximal portion of the connector member to a distal portion of the connector member, the slit allowing the resilient flexing of the at least one of the proximal and distal arms of the engagement portion of the connector member.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the locking member includes a set screw and a hole on the connector member and operatively associated with the slit such that threading of the set screw into the hole moves the proximal and distal arms relative to one another to secure the elongate spinal fixation element in the engagement portion of the connector member.

18. A method for affixing a coupling device, the method comprising:
attaching a coupling device to an elongate spinal fixation element, the coupling device comprising:
a connector member including an engagement portion configured and dimensioned to provisionally receive the elongate spinal fixation element with an interference fit;
a translation member having an end operatively associated with the connector member to provide polyaxial movement of the connector member relative to the translation member, wherein a portion of the connector member extends through a bore formed in the translation member; and
a locking member, wherein the locking member is received through the connector member and not the translation member; and

locking the locking member provided on the connector member thereby securing the spinal fixation element in the engagement portion of the connector member and locking the polyaxial movement in order to fix the connector member relative to the translation member.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the locking member includes a set screw and a hole on the connector member, the locking step further comprising threading the set screw thereby simultaneously securing the elongate spinal fixation element and locking the polyaxial movement.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the coupling device is attached to a posterior spinal fusion construct.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Harper Michael
• Mishra Devjeet
• Martzall Derek

Classifications

• A61B17/7034

  characterised by a lateral opening · CPC title

• A61B17/705 Primary

  for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements · CPC title

• A61B17/809

  with bone-penetrating elements, e.g. blades or prongs (bone staples A61B17/0642; intramedullary nails with a plate at an end A61B17/7233) · CPC title

• A61B17/7059

  Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7052 Primary

  of variable angle or length · CPC title