EP0811356A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Spinal column retaining apparatus
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
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Filing: 1997-04-25
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-04-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for retaining vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship. The apparatus includes a fastener which cooperates with a connector assembly, a longitudinal member which is positionable along the spinal column at a location offset from the fastener, and a connector assembly which connects the fastener with the longitudinal member. The connector assembly includes a transverse member, a retainer block, and a set screw. The transverse member and retainer block have mating teeth. When the desired spatial relationship is achieved, the set screw is tightened thereby engaging the teeth and providing for a rigid locked assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig Glascott
- 👤 Martin H. Kraig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for use in retaining portions of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship, said apparatus comprising a fastener having a means for engaging a portion of the spinal column, a longitudinal member which is positionable along the spinal column at a location offset from said fastener, a transverse member connected with said fastener and having a central axis which extends transversely to a central axis of said longitudinal member, and retainer means for retaining said transverse member against movement relative to said longitudinal member, said retainer means including a retainer block into which said longitudinal member and said transverse member extend, said retainer means being effective to hold said transverse member against movement relative to said retainer block due to force transmitted between said transverse member and said longitudinal member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse member and said longitudinal member are disposed in engagement with each other, said retainer means includes means for pressing said longitudinal member against said transverse member to transmit force between said transverse member and said longitudinal member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer means includes a first plurality of teeth disposed on said retainer block and a second plurality of teeth disposed on said transverse member, said first and second pluralities of teeth being disposed in meshing engagement to retain said transverse member against rotation relative to said retainer block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer means includes means for pressing said transverse member and said longitudinal member against each other to retain said transverse member against movement relative to said longitudinal member in a direction transverse to a central axis of said longitudinal member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said retainer block has a first passage into which said longitudinal member extends and a second passage into which said transverse member extends, said first passage in said retainer block intersects said second passage in said retainer block, said longitudinal member and said transverse member being disposed in engagement with each other at the intersection between said first and second passages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said retainer means includes a member which is movable relative to said retainer block to press said longitudinal member and said transverse member together at the intersection between said first and second passages.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said retainer block includes a first plurality of teeth which at least partially define said second passage and have longitudinal axes which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis of said second passage, said transverse member having a second plurality of teeth which are disposed in meshing engagement with said first plurality of teeth to retain said transverse member against rotation relative to said retainer block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second plurality of teeth is pressed against said first plurality of teeth under the influence of force transmitted from said longitudinal member to said transverse member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first passage has a central axis which is aligned with the central axis of said longitudinal member, said second passage having a central axis which is aligned with the central axis of said transverse member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse member includes surface means for defining a recess into which said longitudinal member extends, said longitudinal member being pressed against said surface means by said retainer means to retain said transverse member against movement relative to said longitudinal member in a direction transverse to the central axis of said longitudinal member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim l wherein said' transverse member has surface means which defines an elongated opening through which said fastener extends.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
An apparatus for use in retaining portions of a spinal column in a desired spatial relationship, said apparatus comprising a fastener having means for engaging a portion of the spinal column, a longitudinal member which is positionable along the spinal column at a location offset from said fastener, a transverse member having a first portion connectable with said fastener and a second portion connectable with said longitudinal member, and a retainer block into which said longitudinal member and said transverse member extend, said retainer block including a first plurality of retainer surfaces, said transverse member including a second plurality of retainer surfaces which are disposed in engagement with said first plurality of retainer surfaces to retain said transverse member against rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first plurality of retainer surfaces at least partially define a first plurality of teeth which are disposed in a passage in said retainer block, said second plurality of retainer surfaces at least partially define a second plurality of teeth which are disposed on an end portion of said transverse member, said end portion of said transverse member extends into the passage in said retainer block to provide meshing engagement between said first and second pluralities of teeth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said transverse member includes surface means for defining a slot through which said fastener extends, said slot having a central axis which extends parallel to the longitudinal axes of said second plurality of teeth.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 further including clamp means operable between an engaged condition retaining said transverse member and said fastener against movement relative to each other and a disengaged condition in which said clamp means is ineffective to retain said transverse member and said fastener against movement relative to each other, said fastener and transverse member being movable relative to each other along a path which extends parallel to longitudinal axes of said first plurality of teeth when said clamp means is in the disengaged condition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said longitudinal member is pressed against said transverse member to retain said transverse member against movement relative to said retainer block.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and second pluralities of retainer surfaces are pressed together under the influence of force transmitted between said transverse member and said longitudinal member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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