Transverse connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9737341-B2
Application number	US-201514945683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2014
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system. The transverse connector includes a connector arm, a first coupling assembly proximate a first end of the arm, and a second coupling assembly proximate a second end of the arm. The first and second coupling assemblies are secured to the connector arm through a plurality of mating engagement features, such as dovetail grooves.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system, the transverse connector comprising:
a connector arm having a first end portion, a second end portion and a bridge member extending therebetween, the first end portion having a first through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface and the second end portion having a second through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, wherein the connector arm further includes a first upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface adjacent to the second through hole;
a first coupling assembly proximate the first end portion of the connector arm, the first coupling assembly comprising:
a first sleeve having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first sleeve aperture extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a first insert extending through the first sleeve aperture and first through hole, the first insert having a first end region and a second end region; and
a first locking mechanism coupled to the first insert and having a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof configured to slidably engage the first upper pair of dovetail grooves of the connector arm;
a second coupling assembly proximate the second end portion of the connector arm, the second coupling assembly comprising:
a second sleeve having a top surface, a bottom surface, an a second sleeve aperture extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a second insert extending through the second sleeve aperture and second through hole, the second insert having a first end region and a second end region; and
a second locking mechanism coupled to the second insert and having a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof configured to slidably engage the second upper pair of dovetail grooves of the connector arm.

2. The transverse connector of claim 1 , wherein the first insert is rotatable in the first through hole through an angle of less than 360° and the second insert is rotatable in the second through hole through an angle of less than 360°.

3. The transverse connector of claim 1 , wherein first end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises a threaded region.

4. The transverse connector of claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second locking mechanisms comprises a threaded through hole and wherein the first and second locking mechanisms are configured to threadably engage the threaded region of the first and second inserts, respectively.

5. The transverse connector of claim 4 , wherein the connector arm further comprises a first lower pair of dovetail grooves extending along the bottom surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second bottom pair of dovetail grooves extending along the lower surface adjacent to the second through hole.

6. The transverse connector of claim 4 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a first direction raises the corresponding insert into the aperture of corresponding first or second sleeves.

7. The transverse connector of claim 6 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a second direction, opposite the first direction, lowers the corresponding insert out of the aperture of corresponding first or second sleeves.

8. The transverse connector of claim 1 , wherein the second end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises two deflectable arms.

9. The transverse connector of claim 8 , wherein the deflectable arms of each of the first and second inserts are configured to engage an elongate member of a spinal stabilization system.

10. A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system, the transverse connector comprising:
a connector arm having a first end portion, a second end portion and a bridge member extending therebetween along a longitudinal axis, the first end portion having a first through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface and the second end portion having a second through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, wherein the connector arm further includes a first upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second upper pair of dovetail grooves extending along the top surface adjacent to the second through hole;
a first coupling assembly proximate the first end portion of the connector arm, the first coupling assembly comprising:
a first sleeve having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first sleeve aperture extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a first insert extending through the first sleeve aperture and first through hole, the first insert having a first end region and a second end region; and
a first locking mechanism having a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof and configured to slidably engage the first pair of upper dovetail grooves of the connector arm in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector arm;
a second coupling assembly proximate the second end portion of the connector arm, the second coupling assembly comprising:
a second sleeve having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a second sleeve aperture extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a second insert having a first end region and a second end region, the second insert movably disposed within the aperture of the second sleeve; and
a second locking mechanism having a dovetail groove extending around a perimeter of a lower portion thereof and configured to slidably engage the second pair of upper dovetail grooves of the connector arm in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connector arm.

11. The transverse connector of claim 10 , wherein first end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises a threaded region and the second end region of each of the first and second inserts comprises two deflectable arms.

12. The transverse connector of claim 11 , wherein the deflectable arms of each of the first and second inserts are configured to engage an elongate member of a spinal stabilization system.

13. The transverse connector of claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second locking mechanisms comprises a through hole having a threaded region, the threaded region having a major diameter and a minor diameter, wherein the minor diameter decreases towards the lower portion of the locking mechanisms.

14. The transverse connector of claim 13 , wherein the first and second locking mechanisms are configured to threadably engage the threaded region of the first and second inserts, respectively.

15. The transverse connector of claim 14 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a first direction raises the corresponding insert into the aperture of the sleeve.

16. The transverse connector of claim 15 , wherein rotating either of the first or second locking mechanisms in a second direction, opposite the first direction, lowers the corresponding insert out of the aperture of the sleeve.

17. The transverse connector of claim 10 , wherein the connector arm further comprises a first lower pair of dovetail grooves extending along the bottom surface adjacent to the first through hole, and a second bottom pair of dovetail grooves extending along the lower surface ad

Assignees

• Zimmer Spine Inc

Inventors

• Dant Jack A
• Hoch Deborah Lynn
• Jerke Eric P
• Lundequam Eric J

Classifications

• A61B17/7049 Primary

  Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7052

  of variable angle or length · CPC title

• A61B2017/7073

  with intervertebral connecting element crossing an imaginary spinal median surface · CPC title