US5415659A — Spinal fixation system and pedicle clamp

Claim 1

Independent Claim 89 words

A surgically implanted posterior spinal fixation system comprising: a plurality of pedicle clamps with each pedicle clamp having three hooks for attaching the respective pedicle clamps to selected vertebrae of a patient's spinel each of the pedicle clamps having a body means with one of the three hooks comprising a fixed hook extending therefrom from the body means: the three hooks further comprising a pair of movable hooks slidably attached to the body means; and means for releasably locking the pair of movable hooks to the respective body means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 89 words

A surgically implanted posterior spinal fixation system comprising: a plurality of pedicle clamps with each pedicle clamp having three hooks for attaching the respective pedicle clamps to selected vertebrae of a patient's spinel each of the pedicle clamps having a body means with one of the three hooks comprising a fixed hook extending therefrom from the body means: the three hooks further comprising a pair of movable hooks slidably attached to the body means; and means for releasably locking the pair of movable hooks to the respective body means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 1 wherein the releasable locking means further comprises a locking screw engaged with a threaded opening in the body means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 84 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 1 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises: matching sets of tongues and grooves formed on the body means and each of the movable hooks; the tongues and grooves cooperating to provide a portion of the means for releasably locking the movable hooks to the body means; and a locking screw engaged with a threaded opening in the body means providing an additional portion of the means for releasably locking the movable hooks to the body means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 64 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 3 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises: a connecting post and a connector having a first opening and a second opening longitudinally offset from each other; the first opening sized to receive the locking screw therein; the second opening sized to receive the connecting post therein; and means for securing the connecting post to the connector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 64 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 4 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises: a recess formed within the first opening of the connector; and a head on the locking screw sized to engage the recess within the first opening whereby engaging the locking screw with the threaded opening in the body means releasably locks the movable hooks relative to the body means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 56 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 4 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises the body means having a longitudinal axis and the first opening in the connector sized to allow rotation of the connector relative to the longitudinal axis of the body means prior to releasably locking the movable hooks to the body means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 6 further comprising means for attaching a spinal instrumentation to the connecting posts.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 6 further comprising means for attaching a spinal plate to the connecting posts.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 64 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 8 further comprising: each connecting post having a head disposed within the second opening of the connector; matching surfaces formed on the head of each connecting post and within the second opening to allow limited angular movement of the connecting post relative to the connector; and means for securing the connecting post within the second opening.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 9 further comprising a flat surface formed longitudinally on the exterior of each connecting post.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 105 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 1 further comprising: a first pair of pedicle clamps for attachment to the selected vertebrae on the posterior of one side of the patient's spine; a second pair of pedicle clamps for attachment to the selected vertebrae on the posterior of the other side of the patient's spine; a first elongated member for attachment with the first pair of pedicle clamps and extending posteriorly along the one side of the patient's spine; and a second elongated member for attachment with the second pair of pedicle clamps and extending posteriorly along the other side of the patient's spine.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 11 wherein the elongated members further comprise spinal instrumentation.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 11 wherein the elongated members further comprise a pair of spinal plates.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 59 words

A surgically implanted posterior spinal fixation system having a plurality of pedicle clamps with each pedicle clamp comprising: a fixed hook extending therefrom; a pair of movable hooks slidably attached thereto; and means for releasably locking the movable hooks with respect to the fixed hook for attaching the respective pedicle clamp to a selected vertebrae of a patient's spine.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 59 words

A surgically implanted posterior spinal fixation system having a plurality of pedicle clamps with each pedicle clamp comprising: a fixed hook extending therefrom; a pair of movable hooks slidably attached thereto; and means for releasably locking the movable hooks with respect to the fixed hook for attaching the respective pedicle clamp to a selected vertebrae of a patient's spine.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 63 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 14 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises: a connecting post and a connector having a first opening and a second opening longitudinally offset from each other; the first opening sized to receive a locking screw; the second opening sized to receive a connecting post therein; and means for securing the connecting post to the connector.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 68 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 15 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises: the connecting post having a head disposed within the second opening of the connector; matching surfaces formed on the head of the connecting post and within the second opening to allow limited angular movement of the connecting post relative to the connector; and means for securing the connecting post within the second opening.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 16 further comprising a flat surface formed longitudinally on the exterior of the connecting post.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 91 words

The spinal fixation system as defined in claim 16 wherein each pedicle clamp further comprises: the connecting post further comprising a threaded portion and a smooth outside diameter portion adjacent to the head of the connecting post; a washer having internal threads for engagement with the threaded portion of the connecting post; and the smooth outside diameter portion of the connecting post sized to receive the washer and allow limited rotation and angular movement of the connecting post relative to the connector while retaining the connecting post within the second opening.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The spinal fixation as defined in claim 18 further comprising a plurality of nuts for engagement with the threaded portion of each connecting post to secure spinal instrumentation to the respective pedicle clamp.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 143 words

A pedicle clamp for attaching a surgical construct to a selected portion of a patient's spine comprising: a fixed hook and a pair of movable hooks for attaching the clamp to the selected portion of the patient's spine; a clamp body with the fixed hook extending therefrom; the pair of movable hooks slidably attached to the clamp body; means for releasably locking the movable hooks relative to each other and the clamp body; matching tongues and grooves on the exterior of the clamp body and the interior of each movable hook; the tongues and grooves cooperating to provide a portion of the means for releasably locking the movable hooks to the clamp body; and a locking screw engaged with a threaded opening in the clamp body providing an additional portion of the means for releasably locking the movable hooks to the clamp body.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 143 words

A pedicle clamp for attaching a surgical construct to a selected portion of a patient's spine comprising: a fixed hook and a pair of movable hooks for attaching the clamp to the selected portion of the patient's spine; a clamp body with the fixed hook extending therefrom; the pair of movable hooks slidably attached to the clamp body; means for releasably locking the movable hooks relative to each other and the clamp body; matching tongues and grooves on the exterior of the clamp body and the interior of each movable hook; the tongues and grooves cooperating to provide a portion of the means for releasably locking the movable hooks to the clamp body; and a locking screw engaged with a threaded opening in the clamp body providing an additional portion of the means for releasably locking the movable hooks to the clamp body.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 58 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claim 20 further comprising: a connecting post and a connector having a first opening and a second opening longitudinally offset from each other; the first opening sized to receive the locking screw; the second opening sized to receive the connecting post therein; and means for securing the connecting post to the connector.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 60 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claims 21 further comprising: a recess formed within the first opening of the connector; and a head on the locking screw sized to engage the recess within the first opening whereby engagement of the locking screw with the threaded opening in the clamp body releasably locks the movable hooks relative to the clamp body.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 39 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claim 22 further comprising the first opening of the connector sized to allow rotation of the connector relative to the clamp body prior to releasably locking the movable hooks with the clamp body.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claim 23 further comprising means for attaching a spinal instrumentation to the connecting post.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 20 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claim 23 further comprising means for attaching a spinal plate to the connecting post.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 74 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claim 25 further comprising: the connecting post having a head disposed within the second opening of the connector; matching surfaces formed on the head of the connecting post and within the second opening to allow limited angular movement of the connecting post relative to the connector; and said means for securing the connecting post to the connector includes means for securing the connecting post within the second opening.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 29 words

The pedicle clamp as defined in claim 21 further comprising the connecting post having an exterior and a flat surface formed longitudinally on the exterior of the connecting post.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-05-15	1998-11-14	1999-05-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-05-15	2002-11-14	2003-05-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-05-15	2006-11-14	2007-05-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Spinal fixation system and pedicle clamp

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