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:
Sep. 18, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 25, 2000
Hans Schmotzer, Aarau, CH;
Plus Endoprothetik AG, Rotkreuz, CH;
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting and correcting a skeletal structure includes at least two anchoring elements for a connecting element. The connecting element includes an elongate tensioning element that can be fixed to the anchoring element. Spacer sleeves can be slid over the tensioning element in order to keep adjacent anchoring elements a predetermined distance apart when a pulling force is applied to the tensioning element. Each anchoring element is attachable to a bone or vertebra. Surfaces of the anchoring elements against which the spacer sleeves abut are spherically curved. An end face at an end of each spacer sleeve towards the anchoring element has a shape complementary to an associated supporting surface of the anchoring element. The anchoring element has a passage for the tensioning element, wherein entrance and exit openings of the passage passing through the anchoring element each expand outward on all sides in a conical or trumpet-like shape.