SPINAL CROSS-CONNECTOR

Abstract

A cross-connector assembly construct and a method of locking comprises a flexible clip contacting a longitudinal member; a housing component contacting the flexible clip, wherein the housing component comprises a conical ramp towards a bottom end of the housing component; a locking mechanism contacting the housing component and adapted to engage the flexible clip; and a connecting member contacting the housing component. The flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The flexible clip comprises a non-symmetrical socket portion; and a clip portion attached to the non-symmetrical socket portion, the clip portion being adapted to retain the longitudinal member. The locking mechanism comprises a camming pin adapted to be housed within the housing component and engage the flexible clip causing the longitudinal member to become affixed to the flexible clip; and a blocker mechanism operatively connected to the housing component and the connecting member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a spinal cross-connector assembly system according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 3(A) illustrates a top view of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 3(B) illustrates a cross-sectional view of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 3(A) cut along line A-A of FIG. 3(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(A) illustrates a top perspective view of the connector body of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(B) illustrates a bottom perspective view of the connector body of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(C) illustrates a side view of the connector body of FIG. 4(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(D) illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the connector body of FIG. 4(C) cut along line B-B of FIG. 4(C) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(E) illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the connector body of FIG. 4(D) cut along line C-C of FIG. 4(D) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(F) illustrates a front view of the connector body of FIG. 4(C) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(G) illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the connector body of FIG. 4(F) cut along line D-D of FIG. 4(F) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(H) illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the connector body of FIG. 4(F) cut along line E-E of FIG. 4(F) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 4(I) illustrates a bottom view of the connector body of FIG. 4(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(A) illustrates a perspective view of the connector head of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(B) illustrates a side view of the connector head of FIG. 5(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(C) illustrates a bottom view of the connector head of FIG. 5(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(D) illustrates a cross-sectional front view of the connector head of FIG. 5(C) cut along line F-F of FIG. 5(C) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(E) illustrates a front view of the connector head of FIG. 5(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(F) illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the connector head of FIG. 5(E) cut along line G-G of FIG. 5(E) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(G) illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the connector head of FIG. 5(F) cut along line H-H of FIG. 5(F) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 5(H) illustrates a cross-sectional top view of the connector head of FIG. 5(E) cut along line I-I of FIG. 5(E) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 6(A) illustrates a perspective view of the camming pin of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 6(B) illustrates a bottom view of the camming pin of FIG. 6(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 6(C) illustrates a front view of the camming pin of FIG. 6(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 6(D) illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the camming pin of FIG. 6(C) cut along line J-J of FIG. 6(C) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 7(A) illustrates a perspective view of the blocker of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 7(B) illustrates a side view of the blocker of FIG. 7(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 7(C) illustrates a top view of the blocker of FIG. 7(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 7(D) illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the blocker of FIG. 7(C) cut along line K-K of FIG. 7(C) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 8(A) illustrates a top view of the cross-connecting bar of the spinal cross-connector assembly of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 8(B) illustrates a front view of the cross-connecting bar of FIG. 8(A) according to an embodiment herein;

FIG. 8(C) illustrates a side view of the cross-connecting bar of FIG. 8(A) according to an embodiment herein; and

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a preferred method according to an embodiment herein.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising: a longitudinal member;a flexible clip contacting said longitudinal member;a housing component contacting said flexible clip, wherein said housing component comprises a conical ramp towards a bottom end of said housing component;a locking mechanism contacting said housing component and adapted to engage said flexible clip; anda connecting member contacting said housing component.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member adapted to retain said longitudinal member.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said flexible clip comprises: a non-symmetrical socket portion; anda clip portion attached to said non-symmetrical socket portion, said clip portion being adapted to retain said longitudinal member,wherein said flexible bias member extends from said clip portion to a bottom region of said non-symmetrical socket portion.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said locking mechanism comprises: a camming pin adapted to be housed within said housing component and engage said flexible clip causing said longitudinal member to become affixed to said flexible clip; anda blocker mechanism operatively connected to said housing component and said connecting member.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said housing component comprises an upper portion comprising: a first hole adapted to engage said locking mechanism; anda second hole adapted to accommodate said connecting member,wherein said first hole and said second hole are transversely positioned with respect to one another.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said housing component comprises a non-symmetrical expandable end connected to a bottom part of said upper portion, said expandable end comprising: a plurality of flexible prongs separated from one another by slots, wherein each one of said plurality of flexible prongs comprise a bumped outer surface configured on an outer portion of each prong, and wherein one of the flexible prongs comprises said conical ramp; andan opening extending through said non-symmetrical expandable end and extending to said first hole.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said locking mechanism is adapted to engage said plurality of flexible prongs causing said plurality of flexible prongs to outwardly bend and lock said housing component to said flexible clip.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises a slot adapted to receive said locking mechanism.

9. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said camming pin comprises: a longitudinal body portion comprising a radially extended side portion having an angled ramp; anda tip portion extending from said longitudinal body portion, wherein said tip portion comprises a unidirectional lip extending from a side of said tip portion.

10. A spinal cross-connector assembly comprising: a connector body comprising a flexible bias member;a longitudinal member locked to said connector body by said flexible bias member;a connector head adapted to engage said connector body, wherein said connector head comprises a conical ramp configured in a bottom end of said connector head;a camming pin operatively connected to said connector body and within said connector head, wherein said camming pin comprises: a longitudinal body portion comprising a protruding portion extending from a side of said longitudinal body portion, wherein said protruding portion comprises an angled ramp configured therein; anda tip portion extending from an end of said longitudinal body portion, wherein said tip portion comprises a unidirectional lip extending from a side of said tip portion, and wherein tip portion is adapted to engage said flexible bias member causing said longitudinal member to become locked to said connector body;an elongated member operatively connected to said connector head and said camming pin; anda blocker operatively connected to said connector head and said elongated member.

11. The spinal cross-connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said connector body comprises: a non-symmetrical socket portion; anda clip portion attached to said non-symmetrical socket portion, said clip portion being adapted to retain said longitudinal member, wherein said flexible bias member extends from said clip portion to a bottom region of said non-symmetrical socket portion.

12. The spinal cross-connector assembly of claim 10, wherein said connector head comprises an upper portion comprising: a first hole adapted to engage said camming pin; anda second hole adapted to accommodate said elongated member,wherein said first hole and said second hole are transversely positioned with respect to one another.

13. The spinal cross-connector assembly of claim 12, wherein said connector head comprises a non-symmetrical expandable end connected to a bottom part of said upper portion, said non-symmetrical expandable end comprising: a plurality of flexible prongs separated from one another by slots, wherein each one of said plurality of flexible prongs comprise a bumped outer surface configured on an outer portion of each prong, and wherein one of the flexible prongs comprises said conical ramp; andan opening extending through said non-symmetrical expandable end and extending to said first hole.

14. The spinal cross-connector assembly of claim 13, wherein said camming pin is adapted to engage said plurality of flexible prongs causing said plurality of flexible prongs to outwardly bend and lock said connector head to said clip portion.

15. A method of locking a longitudinal member to a cross-connector assembly construct, said method comprising: positioning a longitudinal member adjacent to a flexible clip, wherein said flexible clip comprises a flexible bias member, and wherein said flexible bias member is adapted to lock said longitudinal member to said cross-connector assembly construct;setting a housing component in said flexible clip, wherein said housing component comprises a conical ramp towards a bottom end of said housing component;inserting a camming pin through said housing component, wherein said camming pin contacts said flexible clip, wherein said camming pin comprises: a longitudinal body portion comprising a protruding portion extending from a side of said longitudinal body portion, wherein said protruding portion comprises an angled ramp configured therein; anda tip portion extending from said longitudinal body portion, wherein said tip portion comprises a unidirectional lip extending from a side of said tip portion;inserting a connecting member in said housing component; andattaching a locking mechanism to said housing component, wherein said locking mechanism is operatively connected to said connecting member,wherein attachment of said locking mechanism to said housing component causes said camming pin to engage said flexible clip thereby causing said flexible clip to lock said longitudinal member into position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein in the positioning process, said flexible clip comprises: a non-symmetrical socket portion; anda clip portion attached to said non-symmetrical socket portion, said clip portion being adapted to retain said longitudinal member,wherein said flexible bias member extends from said clip portion to a bottom region of said non-symmetrical socket portion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein in the setting process, said housing component comprises an upper portion and a non-symmetrical expandable end connected to a bottom part of said upper portion, wherein said upper portion comprises: a first hole adapted to engage said camming pin; anda second hole adapted to accommodate said connecting member,wherein said first hole and said second hole are transversely positioned with respect to one another.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in the setting process, said non-symmetrical expandable end comprises: a plurality of flexible prongs separated from one another by slots, wherein each one of said plurality of flexible prongs comprise a bumped outer surface configured on an outer portion of each prong, and wherein one of the flexible prongs comprises said conical ramp; andan opening extending through said non-symmetrical expandable end and extending to said first hole,wherein said camming pin is adapted to engage said plurality of flexible prongs causing said plurality of flexible prongs to outwardly bend and lock said non-symmetrical expandable end of said housing component to said clip portion.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising connecting a pair of cross-connector assembly constructs using said connecting member.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein in the inserting process, said connecting member comprises a slot, and wherein said method further comprises inserting said camming pin through said slot of said connecting member.