Rotatable locking vertebral body screw, staple and rod assembly

Abstract

A rod, screw, and staple assembly for use in conjunction with anterior or lateral spinal rod implant apparatus includes a vertebral body screw which has a shaft which is insertable into a vertebral bone, a tapered neck, and a head portion which includes a rod receiving channel and an annular recess. The vertebral body staple includes a flat portion which has a hole through it. The hole has a slotted rim which is downwardly sloped so that it may permit the expansion of the hole when a force is applied to it. The screw is advanced into the hole in the staple until the tapered neck thereof snaps through the hole and the rim seats in the annular recess of the screw. This permits the screw and staple to rotate relative to one another, but not to translate axially relative to one another. The staple also includes several barbs which independently hold the staple to the bone surface to which it is to be affixed. The staple may be inserted into the vertebral bone first, and then the screw is driven into the bone through the hole until the neck snaps through the hole. Alternatively, the screw and staple may first be coupled together, and then jointly driven into the bone. In either case, the rod is then inserted into the rod receiving channel and locked in the channel with a nut or set screw.