Claims
- 1. A spinal implant comprising a rigid elongated stabilizer, and a plurality of bone anchor assemblies, said bone anchor assemblies comprising at least one assembly having a fixation means defining an axis and having a recess about this axis, said recess receiving the head of a post member and having a mating interface so that the head is variably positionable within the recess, the recess being compressible about the head to lock it into position, and a connector joining the post member to thestabilizer.
- 2. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bone anchor assembly further includes a locking cap having an internal camming surface and said fixation member having an external surface which cooperates with the camming surface to cause locking of the post member relative to the fixation member.
- 3. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 2 wherein the connector includes a slot and the locking cap includes a bushing and the bushing is received in the slot of the connector.
- 4. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bushing includes means to lock the position of the bushing in the slot.
- 5. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 4 wherein the bushing includes a bore defining an internal surface and the bushing has one or more slots and the means to lock the position of the bushing in the slot is a locking nut having an external taper which cooperates with the internal surface of the bore to expand the bushing.
- 6. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 5 wherein the post member has external threads which receive the locking nut.
- 7. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein the head is locked into position by drawing the head of the post member into the recess to cause a compression fit.
- 8. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 7 wherein the anchor includes a locking cap having an internal recess that receives the external portion of the fixation means defining the surface and which causes the head to be locked in position in the recess.
- 9. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 8 wherein the recess is formed as a cage having a plurality of resilient prongs.
- 10. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 1 wherein the recess and head form a ball and socket joint.
- 11. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 10 wherein the head includes a hollow that mates with a spindle in the recess to allow limited variable positioning of the head in the recess.
- 12. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 2 wherein the internal camming surface is concave.
- 13. A spinal implant as set forth in claim 2 wherein the external surface of the fixation member is convex.
- 14. A spinal rod assembly for implantation into the spine which includes a rod and a bone anchor assembly which has a fixation member that provides a point of fixation and a joint that providing two points of angulation for the connection between the point of fixation and the rod.
- 15. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein the rod has a longitudinal axis and the point of fixation defines a longitudinal axis and there is an offset between the longitudinal axis of the rod and the longitudinal axis of the point of fixation and further wherein the distance of offset between the point of fixation and the rod can be varied.
- 16. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the two points of angulation can be selectively locked by a single mechanism.
- 17. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein the single mechanism comprises the engagement of one set of threads by a mating set of threads.
- 18. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein one set of threads is included on a cap member which is screwed downward toward the point of fixation.
- 19. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein the joint comprises a ball and socket joint.
- 20. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein the socket further includes a top portion which is compressible about the ball of the ball and socket joint to lock it into position.
- 21. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein the joint includes a cap which compresses the top portion of the socket to lock it into position.
- 22. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein the joint includes a post which terminates in the ball of the ball and socket joint, and the post has a portion which includes threads and further wherein the cap has threads which mates with the threads of the post to lock the cap.
- 23. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein the cap includes a bushing and the joint includes a connector that has a slot that engages the bushing.
- 24. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein the bushing is locked in the slot by tightening the cap on the threads of the post.
- 25. A spinal rod assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein the ball portion of the ball and socket joint is mounted on a spindle in the socket portion of the ball and socket joint.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This patent application is based upon U.S. PROVISIONAL APPLICATION SERIAL No. 60/356,996, filed Feb. 13, 2002
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60356996 |
Feb 2002 |
US |