US5403315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Positionable spinal fixation device
Assignee: SDGI Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-13
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Granted: 1995-04-04
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Expires: 2013-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A device is provided on spinal fixation hook or screw elements along a spinal implant rod for preventing or inhibiting them from unintentional sliding on the rod during handling prior to implantation in vivo. One embodiment uses a set screw in an eyebolt and which engages the rod. Another uses a plastic plug in an eyebolt and which engages the rod. A third uses a grooved aperture in the eyebolt cooperating with a grooved rod to inhibit unintentional sliding of the eyebolt on the rod.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard B. Ashman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7002; A61B17/7004; A61B17/7005; A61B17/7032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for engaging a fixation element along a spinal implant rod to permit provisionally tightening the fixation element on the rod prior to placement in vivo comprising: an eyebolt defining a central aperture adapted to receive a spinal rod therethrough; inhibitor means intersecting said central aperture of said eyebolt for provisionally positioning said eyebolt in a position on the rod and for inhibiting gravity induced free sliding of said eyebolt on the rod while permitting relative sliding between said eyebolt and the rod upon application of a determinate external force; and clamping means on the eyebolt, independent of the inhibitor means, for tightly clamping said eyebolt on the rod to prevent relative movement between said eyebolt and the rod by application of said determinate external force, and wherein; said eyebolt includes an externally threaded shank and said inhibitor means includes a set screw extending through said eyebolt shank and intersecting said central aperture to engage a rod extending therethrough sufficiently snugly to prevent said eyebolt from freely sliding relative to the rod, but without relying on said set screw for clamping said eyebolt on said rod.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
A system for engaging a fixation element along a spinal implant rod to permit provisionally tightening the fixation element on the rod prior to placement in vivo comprising: an eyebolt defining a central aperture adapted to receive a spinal rod therethrough; inhibitor means intersecting said central aperture of said eyebolt for provisionally positioning said eyebolt in a position on the rod and for inhibiting gravity induced free sliding of said eyebolt on the rod while permitting relative sliding between said eyebolt and the rod upon application of a determinate external force; and clamping means on the eyebolt, independent of the inhibitor means, for tightly clamping said eyebolt on the rod to prevent relative movement between said eyebolt and the rod by application of said determinate external force, and wherein; said eyebolt includes an externally threaded shank and said inhibitor means includes a set screw extending through said eyebolt shank and intersecting said central aperture to engage a rod extending therethrough sufficiently snugly to prevent said eyebolt from freely sliding relative to the rod, but without relying on said set screw for clamping said eyebolt on said rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 and wherein: said clamping means include a nut threadedly received on said shank and operable thereon to clamp against a spinal fixation element mounted on eyebolt.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
165 words
A system for engaging a fixation element along a spinal implant rod to permit provisionally tightening the fixation element on the rod prior to placement in vivo comprising: an eyebolt defining a central aperture adapted to receive a spinal rod therethrough; inhibitor means intersecting said central aperture of said eyebolt for provisionally positioning said eyebolt in a position on the rod and for inhibiting gravity induced relative free sliding between said eyebolt and the rod while permitting relative sliding between said eyebolt and the rod upon application of a determinate external force; and clamping means on the eyebolt, independent of the inhibitor means, for tightly clamping said eyebolt on the rod to prevent relative movement between said eyebolt and the rod by application of said determinate external force, and wherein; said inhibitor means includes a deformable polymeric plug mounted in said eyebolt and extending into said central aperture of said eyebolt sufficiently to interfere with the free sliding of said eyebolt relative to the rod.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
165 words
A system for engaging a fixation element along a spinal implant rod to permit provisionally tightening the fixation element on the rod prior to placement in vivo comprising: an eyebolt defining a central aperture adapted to receive a spinal rod therethrough; inhibitor means intersecting said central aperture of said eyebolt for provisionally positioning said eyebolt in a position on the rod and for inhibiting gravity induced relative free sliding between said eyebolt and the rod while permitting relative sliding between said eyebolt and the rod upon application of a determinate external force; and clamping means on the eyebolt, independent of the inhibitor means, for tightly clamping said eyebolt on the rod to prevent relative movement between said eyebolt and the rod by application of said determinate external force, and wherein; said inhibitor means includes a deformable polymeric plug mounted in said eyebolt and extending into said central aperture of said eyebolt sufficiently to interfere with the free sliding of said eyebolt relative to the rod.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 3 and wherein: said eyebolt includes an externally threaded shank extending radially outward therefrom; and said deformable plug extends into said central aperture at a point thereon substantially diametrically opposite the location of said shank, said plug being resiliently deformed by the rod to frictionally resist movement of said eyebolt relative to the rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 4 and wherein: said clamping means include a not threadedly received on said shank and operable thereon to clamp against a spinal fixation element mounted on said eyebolt.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for engaging a fixation element along a spinal implant rod to permit provisionally tightening the fixation element on the rod prior to placement in vivo comprising: an eyebolt defining a central aperture adapted to receive a spinal rod therethrough; inhibitor means intersecting said central aperture of said eyebolt for provisionally positioning said eyebolt in a position on the rod and for inhibiting gravity induced relative free sliding between said eyebolt and the rod while permitting relative sliding between said eyebolt and the rod upon application of a determinate external force; and clamping means on the eyebolt, independent of the inhibitor means, for tightly clamping said eyebolt on the rod to prevent relative movement between said eyebolt and the rod by application of said determinate external force, and wherein; said inhibitor means include an inwardly projecting rib defined in said central aperture of said eyebolt.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for engaging a fixation element along a spinal implant rod to permit provisionally tightening the fixation element on the rod prior to placement in vivo comprising: an eyebolt defining a central aperture adapted to receive a spinal rod therethrough; inhibitor means intersecting said central aperture of said eyebolt for provisionally positioning said eyebolt in a position on the rod and for inhibiting gravity induced relative free sliding between said eyebolt and the rod while permitting relative sliding between said eyebolt and the rod upon application of a determinate external force; and clamping means on the eyebolt, independent of the inhibitor means, for tightly clamping said eyebolt on the rod to prevent relative movement between said eyebolt and the rod by application of said determinate external force, and wherein; said inhibitor means include an inwardly projecting rib defined in said central aperture of said eyebolt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 6 and wherein: said inhibitor means include longitudinally spaced circumferential grooves in the exterior of the rod for engagement by said rib of said eyebolt to inhibit free sliding of said eyebolt along the rod.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 7 and wherein: said rib is a spiral rib, and the pitch of said rib spiral is equal to the spacing between said grooves.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 8 and wherein: said clamping means include a nut threadedly received on said shank and operable thereon to clamp against a spinal fixation element mounted on said eyebolt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
A spinal rod system for implantation in the spine of the patient comprising: a spinal rod configured to extend adjacent the spine; means for engaging said rod to a vertebra of the spine, said means including; a component having an aperture receiving said rod therethrough; clamping means carried by said component for clamping said component to said rod by a clamping force acting on said rod; and inhibitor means, carried by said component and acting separate from said clamping means against said rod at said aperture, for provisionally positioning said component on said rod by inhibiting gravity induced relative free sliding between said component and said rod while permitting relative movement between said component and said rod upon application of a determinate external force less than said clamping force.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
A spinal rod system for implantation in the spine of the patient comprising: a spinal rod configured to extend adjacent the spine; means for engaging said rod to a vertebra of the spine, said means including; a component having an aperture receiving said rod therethrough; clamping means carried by said component for clamping said component to said rod by a clamping force acting on said rod; and inhibitor means, carried by said component and acting separate from said clamping means against said rod at said aperture, for provisionally positioning said component on said rod by inhibiting gravity induced relative free sliding between said component and said rod while permitting relative movement between said component and said rod upon application of a determinate external force less than said clamping force.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
93 words
The spinal rod system of claim 10, wherein: said means for engaging said rod to a vertebra includes a fixation element having a vertebra engaging portion and a rod engaging portion; and said component is an eyebolt having a body defining said aperture and including an externally threaded shank extending from said body for receiving a threaded nut thereon, said rod engaging portion of said fixation element receiving said externally threaded shank therethrough whereby said component and said fixation element are clamped to said rod by tightening said nut onto said threaded shank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The spinal rod system of claim 10, wherein said inhibitor means includes a set screw extending through said eyebolt shank and intersecting said aperture to act against said rod when said set screw is threaded into said eyebolt shank.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The spinal rod system of claim 10 wherein said inhibitor means includes an inwardly projecting rib in said aperture for frictionally engaging said rod extending therethrough.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-04-03 | 1998-10-03 | 1999-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-10-03 | 2003-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |