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:
Jan. 17, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 27, 2008
David T. Hawkes, Pleasant Grove, UT (US);
David R. Warnick, Spanish Fork, UT (US);
Michael D. Ensign, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Thomas M. Sweeney, Sarasota, FL (US);
David T. Hawkes, Pleasant Grove, UT (US);
David R. Warnick, Spanish Fork, UT (US);
Michael D. Ensign, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Thomas M. Sweeney, Sarasota, FL (US);
X-spine Systems, Inc., Miamisburg, OH (US);
Abstract
A fastener and a bone fixation assembly for the internal fixation of vertebral bodies such as a pedicle screw is provided which allows a detachable tulip to be provisionally locked to a pedicle screw in a first position, while securely locking the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw when in a second position. According to one exemplary embodiment, the tulip assembly includes a tulip body, a coupling saddle, and an expansion ring serving as a fastener. The fastener secures the tulip body to the pedicle screw, while the coupling saddle provides a means to provisionally lock the tulip body at an angle relative to the pedicle screw via an interference fit. Incline planes on the walls of the tulip body provide means to rotationally lock a rod within the tulip assembly, and fully lock the tulip assembly to at an angle relative to the pedicle screw.