Jointed rod

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9532811-B2
Application number	US-201514933033-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2015
Priority date	Apr 8, 2010
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

The present invention is a spinal fixation device that includes an occipital rod having a first end and a second end, and a spinal rod extending from a connection housing having a first end and a second end. The first end of the spinal rod is integral with a portion of the connection housing and the connection housing is configured with an elongated opening, a rotating plug, and a locking mechanism. The elongated opening is configured for mating with the first end of the occipital plate and the locking mechanism is adapted to enable the occipital rod to be locked in a fixed position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical method comprising:
attaching a spinal rod system to an occipital bone, the spinal rod system comprising:
a first spinal rod;
a second spinal rod; and
a connecting element including a housing and a rotating locking plug received in the housing adapted to couple to the first and second spinal rod, the housing including an elongated opening for receiving one of the first or second spinal rods, and the rotating locking plug having an elongated cutout positioned to correspond with the elongated opening of the housing such that the elongated cutout receives the one of the first or second spinal rods, which was received in the elongated opening of the housing;
wherein the connecting element is configured for angulation of at least one of the first and second spinal rods.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the connecting element further comprises a locking mechanism for locking the first spinal rod in a fixed position relative to the second spinal rod.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw that when tightened compresses the rotating locking plug to fix the position of the first spinal rod.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein one end of the first spinal rod is coupled to an occipital plate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one end of the second spinal rod is coupled to a pedicle screw.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotating locking plug is laser welded to the first spinal rod.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal fixation device is made of PEEK.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is a clamp.

9. A surgical method comprising:
attaching a spinal rod system to an occipital bone, the spinal rod system comprising:
an occipital rod having a first end and a second end; and
a spinal rod extending from a connection housing having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spinal rod being integral with a portion of the connection housing;
wherein the connection housing is configured with an elongated opening for receiving the occipital rod, a rotating plug received in the connection housing, the rotating plug having an elongated cutout positioned to correspond with the elongated opening of the connection housing such that the elongated cutout receives the occipital rod, and a locking mechanism,
wherein the elongated opening of the connection housing is configured for mating with the first end of the occipital rod and the locking mechanism being adapted to enable the occipital rod to be locked in a fixed position.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the elongated cutout of the rotating plug is configured for mating with the first end of the occipital rod.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the rotating plug is inserted into a bore through a central axis of the connection housing.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism for locking the occipital rod in a fixed position comprises a set screw locking mechanism.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the locking mechanism is a set screw that when tightened compresses the locking plug to fix the position of the first spinal rod.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the locking mechanism is a clamp.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second end of the occipital rod is coupled to an occipital plate.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second end of the occipital rod is coupled to an occipital plate.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the second end of the spinal rod is coupled to a pedicle screw.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rotating plug is laser welded to the occipital rod.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Black Michael
• Zentko Michael

Classifications

• A61B17/7007

  Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit around the screw or hook heads · CPC title

• A61B17/7055 Primary

  connected to sacrum, pelvis or skull · CPC title

• A61B17/7052

  of variable angle or length · CPC title

• A61B17/705

  for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements · CPC title

• A61B17/7004

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