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. 24, 2012
Filed:
May. 07, 2008
Michael D. Ensign, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
David T. Hawkes, Pleasant Grove, UT (US);
Michael D. Ensign, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
David T. Hawkes, Pleasant Grove, UT (US);
K2M, Inc., Leesburg, VA (US);
Abstract
A pedicle screw and rod assembly is provided which has a low profile in the final position. The pedicle screw includes a screw having a threaded portion and a head portion. A tulip body is positioned on the head portion of the screw. A tulip saddle is coupled to the tulip body and positioned to retain the tulip assembly on the pedicle screw. Wedge members are inserted in between the tulip body and the tulip saddle, causing the saddle to compress and thereby retain a rod within the tulip assembly. Colored wedge members alert a surgeon as to whether the system is in a locked or unlocked state. The top of the tulip assembly is approximately equal in height to, or lower than the rod itself. This provides a low profile pedicle screw and rod assembly since the rod itself will be the uppermost member of the completed assembly.