The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 28, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 18, 1999
Other;
Abstract
A spinal fixation system for use in the immobilization of a sequence of spinal bones, comprising a plurality of pedicle screws, a pair of rods, and connectors. The pedicle screw has a spherical head having a round portion at an upper portion of the spherical head, a threaded shaft for insertion through the pedicles, and a threaded stem on the top of the spherical head. The connector has a rod passage for receiving the rod therethrough, a set member bore formed in an upper portion of the connector, and a support portion having an opening formed for adapting the stem of the pedicle screw and a recessed hemispherical wall. A spherical joint at the pedicle screw and the connector allows the multi-directional adjustment capability of the connector so that the screws can be implanted in any angulation with no need of having the screws well aligned. The spherical head of the pedicle screw and the hemispherical wall have slightly different diameters which improve the locking power and provide a rigid fixation. A rigid coupling is achieved between the rod and the connector by making the cross-section of the rod passage as an imperfect circular shape which allows the three point contact between the rod and the rod passage. The assembly is locked in place by tightening a fixing cap and a set member from the posterior aspect of the spine.