POLY-AXIAL BONE SCREW MATING SEAT

Abstract

Embodiments of bone securing system including a coupling element having a seat are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate perspective view of a poly-axial bone securing system before and after assembly of the components of the system, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view of the poly-axial bone securing system of FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the coupling element, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the coupling element of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the coupling element of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the coupling element of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the poly-axial bone securing system.

FIG. 4B illustrates a magnified view of the interface between the bone securing member head and a flexible J-shaped seat of the coupling element of FIG. 4A.

Claims

1. A coupling element, the coupling element including a seat, the seat having an opening that a first portion of a bone securing member may pass through and the opening having a discrete number of non-contiguous contact elements, each contact element capable of engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

2. The coupling element of claim 1, the bone securing member first portion including a bone securing element.

3. The coupling element of claim 1, the bone securing member second portion including an at least partially spherical head.

4. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the limited number of contact elements is deformable.

5. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the limited number of contact elements is flexible.

6. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein each contact element has a contact point capable of engaging the bone securing element second portion.

7. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the limited number of contact elements includes a prong.

8. The coupling element of claim 1, wherein the coupling element couples a bone securing member to a rod.

9. The coupling element of claim 8, the coupling element further including a rod receiving channel.

10. A system, including: a bone securing member;a rod; anda coupling element for coupling to a bone securing member to the rod, the coupling element including a seat, the seat having an opening that a first portion of the bone securing member may pass through and the opening having a limited number of contact elements, each contact element capable of engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

11. The system of claim 10, the bone securing member first portion including a bone securing element.

12. The system of claim 10, the bone securing member second portion including an at least partially spherical head.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the limited number of contact elements is deformable.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the limited number of contact elements is flexible.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein each contact element has a contact point capable of engaging the bone securing element second portion.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the limited number of contact elements includes a prong.

17. The system of claim 10, the coupling element further including a rod receiving channel.

18. A coupling element, the coupling element including a seat, the seat having an opening that a first portion of a bone securing member may pass through and the opening having a flexibly deformable contact element, the contact element capable of flexibly engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

19. The coupling element of claim 18, the bone securing member first portion including a bone securing element.

20. The coupling element of claim 18, the bone securing member second portion including an at least partially spherical head.

21. The coupling element of claim 18, wherein the flexibly deformable contact element includes a plurality of discrete sub-elements each sub-element capable of flexibly engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

22. The coupling element of claim 18, wherein the flexibly deformable contact element includes a flexibly deformable lip, the lip capable of flexibly engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

23. The coupling element of claim 18, wherein the coupling element couples a bone securing member to a rod.

24. The coupling element of claim 23, the coupling element further including a rod receiving channel.

25. A system, including: a bone securing member;a rod; anda coupling element for coupling to a bone securing member to the rod, the coupling element including a seat, the seat having an opening that a first portion of a bone securing member may pass through and the opening having a flexibly deformable contact element, the contact element capable of flexibly engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

26. The system of claim 25, the bone securing member first portion including a bone securing element.

27. The system of claim 25, the bone securing member second portion including an at least partially spherical head.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the flexibly deformable contact element includes a plurality of discrete sub-elements each sub-element capable of flexibly engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the flexibly deformable contact element includes a flexibly deformable lip, the lip capable of flexibly engaging a second portion of the bone securing member.