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. 03, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 06, 2000
Joseph Perra, Shoreview, MN (US);
Rolando Puno, Prospect, KY (US);
Philip A. Mellinger, Las Flores, CA (US);
Cross Medical Products, Inc., Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A spinal implant system is provided having a stabilization rod, a plurality of bone anchors which could be either hooks or screws and which have an internal recess that defines a rod-receiving channel. Sidewalls of the anchor project beyond the recess, and are threaded on the outside. These external threads cooperate with the internal threads of a locking member, or cap nut, which has a top surface with a cavity that includes an internal hexagon. The internal threads are on the inside of the cylindrical sidewalls of the cap nut. Further, on the bottom side of the top surface, the cap nut has a guide member in the form of a cylindrical boss, which has a smaller diameter than that of the recess within the anchor. The boss helps to prevent cross threading and to prevent collapse of the anchor sidewalls under high forces. An annular ridge on the bottom of the boss further helps to retain the rod relative to the anchor.