Pedicle screw clamp

Claim 2

An osteosynthetic clamp (9;35) for attaching a pedicle screw (12) or spinal hook to a spinal support rod (10) wherein the central axis (6) of said pedicle screw (12) or spinal hook and the central axis (5) of said spinal support rod (10) are located in different planes, characterised in that means are provided allowing the adjustable clamping of said pedicle screw (12) or spinal hook with respect to said spinal support rod (10) such that the relative position of the said two axis (5,6) in said planes is adjustable.

Claim 3

Clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: a first section (14) and a second section (16), at least one of said section (14) being bifurcated to form a through slot (26), a socket (8) formed in said first and second sections (14,16) for receiving the head (7) of a pedicle screw (12), receiving means (4) adapted to receive a support rod (10), said receiving means (4) being movable relative to said socket (8), and compression means (22) for forcing said two sections (14,16) together to grasp the head (7) of a pedicle screw (12) lodged in said socket (8).

Claim 4

Clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: a jaw having an upper section (36) and a lower section (37), said lower section being preferably shorter than said upper section (36), hingedly (38,39) connected to each other, preferably at one of their ends, one of said sections (36,37) at least being bifurcated to form a slot (26) extending through at least on of said sections (36,37), a socket (8) formed in said jaw for receiving the head (7) of a pedicle screw (12), first compression means (22) movable relative to said socket (8), said compression means (22) being adapted to receive a support rod (10) and to urge said support rod (10) against the upper section (37) of said jaw; and second compression means (40), for forcing the sections (36,37) of said jaw together to grasp the head (7) of a pedicle screw (12) lodged in said socket (8).

Claim 5

Clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: a front section (44) and a back section (46) forming a block (50), said front section (44) being provided with a through slot (26), preferably forming a bifurcation of said front section (44), a socket (48) formed in said front and back sections (44,46) for receiving the head (7) of a pedicle screw (12), receiving means (4) adapted to receive a support rod (10), said receiving means (4) being movable relative to said socket (8), and compression means comprising one or more screws (47) adapted to fit into one or more screw holes (49) extending from one section (44) into the other section (46) for forcing said two sections (44,46) together to grasp the head (7) of a pedicle screw (12) lodged in said socket (8).

Claim 6

Clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: a front section (64) and a back section (66), said front section (64) being bifurcated to form a through slot (71) and said back section (66) being of spherical shape for fixation into the head region (77) of a pedicle screw (72), receiving means (4) adapted to receive a support rod (10), said receiving means (4) being movable relative to said front section (64), and compression means (74) for fixing said spherical back section (66) within the head region (77) of a pedicle screw (72).

Claim 7

Claim according to claim 2 or 5, characterised in that the receiving means (4) comprises a hook (20) having a bight (20b) and a shaft (20a) extending through the slot (26) in said section or sections (14,16), said bight (20b) being adapted to receive a support rod (10).

Claim 8

Clamp according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterised in that it comprises further a retaining plate (28) on the upper surface of one section (14), said retaining plate (28) having a hole to receive the shaft (20a) of the hook (20).

Claim 9

Clamp according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises further a nut (22) on the end of the shaft (20a) of the hook (20) for holding the retaining plate (28) against the upper surface of one section (14).

Claim 10

Clamp according to one of the claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the retaining plate (28) and the upper surface of one section (14) have toothed areas (28a,24) adapted to engage one another.

Claim 11

Clamp according to one of the claims 2 to 9, characterised in that the socket (8) is adapted to receive a spherical-headed pedicle screw (12).

Claim 12

Clamp according to one of the claims 2 to 10, characterised in that the socket (8) has roughened surfaces.

Claim 13

Clamp according to one of the claims 6 to 11, characterised in that a surface of the bight (20b) of the hook (20) is threaded for engagement with threads of a support rod (10).

Claim 14

Clamp according to one of the claims 2 to 12, characterised in that one of said sections (16;46) has a roughened surface for contact with a support rod (10).

Claim 15

Clamp according to claim 4, characterised in that said screw holes (49) extend from the front section (44) into the back section (46) at an angle of approximately 45° to the axis (6) of the pedicle screw (12).

Claim 16

Clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: a front section (54) and a back section (56) forming one single block (60), the front section (54) having a hollow-cylindrical bore (53) for receiving a support rod (10) and the back section (56) having a slot (51) for adjustably receiving the head region (57) of a pedicle screw (52), compression means (58) for fixing said head region (57) of said pedicle screw (52) inserted in said slot (51) relative to said back section (56), and compression means (59,61) for fixing said support rod (10) inserted in said bore (53) relative to said front section (54).

Claim 17

Clamp according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises: a a front section (84) and a back section (86) forming one single element, the front section 84 being provided with a through slot (91), preferably forming a bifurcation of said front section (84), and said back section (86) being of longitudinal cylindrical shape for fixation into the head region (87) of a pedicle screw (92), receiving means (94) adapted to receive a support rod (10), compression means (93) for fixing said longitudinal cylindrical back section (86) within the head region (87) of a pedicle screw (92); and compression means (96) for fixing said support rod (10) inserted in said receiving means (94) relative to said front section (84).

Claim 18

Fixation assembly with a clamp (9;35) according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterised in that it comprises further a support rod (10); and a pedicle screw (12).

Claim 19

Assembly according to claim 17 characterised in that the pedicle screw (12) has a spherical head (7).