Spine fixator for holding a vertebral column

Claim 2

A spinal fixator for aligning and holding a vertebral column, comprising two spaced assemblies, each of the assemblies including: a. a slideway having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom portion, an open slot in said bottom portion; b. a plurality of first rings, each of said first rings having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said first rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, each of said first rings including a bore in said upper portion which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof and which hole is oriented generally perpendicularly to said slideway opening; c. a plurality of pedicular screws each having a self-tapping thread portion and a head portion, said self-tapping thread portion being of a size to extend through said hole in said lower portion of said first rings and said head portion being of a size to be receivable within said first rings through said bore in said upper portion thereof; and d. a plurality of cap means receivable within said bores of said first rings, whereby after said slideway is received through said slideway openings in a plurality of spaced first rings, pedicular screws are inserted with their self-tapping thread portions extending through said holes in said bottom portions of said first rings so that said head portions are seated within said slideway and said cap means are received in said bores to thereby secure said slideway relative to said first rings.

Claim 3

The spinal fixator of claim 1 wherein each first ring is provided with a side opening in at least one of said side walls thereof.

Claim 4

The spinal fixator of claim 2 wherein said assemblies are connected by at least one rod extending therebetween, said rod having first and second ends, said first end being received within said side opening of one of said first rings of one of said assemblies and said second end of said rod being received within said side opening of one of said first rings of the other of said assemblies.

Claim 5

The spinal fixator of claim 3 in which each of said assemblies includes a second ring having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said second rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, said second rings having a bore in said upper portion thereof which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof, cap means receivable within said bore of said second ring, and said second ring including a plate extending outwardly from said lower portion thereof.

Claim 6

The spinal fixator of claim 4 in which said first rings have side openings in each of said side walls, and said rod being received through said side openings in said side walls of said one of said first rings of each of said assemblies.

Claim 7

The spinal fixator of claim 4 in which said plate includes a pair of opposite outer edges, a slot defined between said outer edges and through said plate, a plurality of spaced teeth extending outwardly in opposite directions along each of said outer edges, a washer means selectively engagable with said plate in overlaying relationship with respect to said slot therein, said washer means having a pair of projections extending on opposite sides thereof, each of said projections including a tooth which is cooperatively receivable between said teeth of said plate.

Claim 8

The spinal fixator of claim 6 in which said washer means includes an opening, at least one of said pedicular screws being mounted with said self-tapping thread portion extending through said opening in said washer means and through said slot in said plate with said head portion thereof seated against said washer means.

Claim 9

The spinal fixator of claim 7 wherein said opening in said washer means is defined by a concave bevelled edge, and said head of said at least of said one pedicular screws has a profile which is complementary to the concave bevelled edge of said opening in said washer.

Claim 10

The spinal fixator of claim 8 wherein each of said first and second rings includes an outer profile in which said upper portions are relatively square and said lower portions are generally rounded.

Claim 11

The spinal fixator of claim 1 in which each of said assemblies includes a second ring having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said second rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, said second rings having a bore in said upper portion thereof which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof, cap means receivable within said bore of said second ring, and said second ring including a plate extending outwardly from said lower portion thereof.

Claim 12

The spinal fixator of claim 10 in which said first rings for each of said assemblies include a side opening in one of the side walls thereof, and a rod extending between at least one of said first rings of each of said assemblies and having opposite ends extending into said side openings in said side walls of said at least one of said first rings of each of said assemblies, said opposite ends of said rod being engagable by said cap means to thereby secure said rod to said at least one of said first rings of each of said assemblies.

Claim 13

The spinal fixator of claim 11 wherein each of said at least one of said first rings further includes an additional opening in the other side wall, said additional opening being aligned with said side opening.

Claim 14

The spinal fixator of claim 11 in which said head portion of said pedicular screws is generally spherical and each of said cap means includes a lower surface having an arcuate profile which is complementary to said head portion of said pedicular screws.

Claim 15

The spinal fixator of claim 13 in which said plate includes a pair of opposite outer edges, a slot defined between said outer edges and through said plate, a plurality of spaced teeth extending outwardly in opposite directions along each of said outer edges, a washer means selectively engagable with said plate in overlaying relationship with respect to said slot therein, said washer means having a pair of projections extending on opposite sides thereof, each of said projections including a tooth which is cooperatively receivable between said teeth of said plate.

Claim 16

The spinal fixator of claim 14 in which said washer means includes an opening, at least one of said pedicular screws being mounted with said self-tapping thread portion extending through said opening in said washer means and through said slot in said plate with said head portion thereof seated against said washer means.

Claim 17

The spinal fixator of claim 1 in which said head portion of said pedicular screws is generally spherical and each of said cap means includes a lower surface having an arcuate profile which is complementary to said head portion of said pedicular screws.

Claim 18

A spinal fixator for aligning and holding a vertebral column, comprising two spaced assemblies, each of the assemblies including: a. a slideway having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom portion, an open slot in said bottom portion; b. a plurality of first rings, each of said first rings having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said first rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, each of said first rings including a bore in said upper portion which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof; c. a plurality of pedicular screws each having a self-tapping thread portion and a head portion, said self-tapping thread portion being of a size to extend through said hole in said bottom portion of said first rings and said head portion being of a size to be receivable within said first rings through said bore in said upper portion thereof; d. a rod, and means for assembling said rod to one of said first rings of each of said assemblies; and e. a plurality of cap means receivable within said bores of said first rings, whereby after said slideway is received through said slideway openings in a plurality of spaced first rings, pedicular screws are inserted with their self-tapping thread portions extending through said holes in said bottom portions of said first rings so that said head portions are seated within said slideway and said cap means are received in said bores to thereby secure said slideway relative to said first rings.

Claim 19

A spinal fixator for aligning and holding a vertebral column, comprising two spaced assemblies, each of the assemblies including: a. a slideway having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom portion, an open slot in said bottom portion; b. a plurality of first rings, each of said first rings having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said first rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, each of said first rings including a bore in said upper portion which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof; c. a plurality of pedicular screws each having a self-tapping thread portion and a head portion, said self-tapping thread portion being of a size to extend through said hole in said bottom portion of said first rings and said head portion being of a size to be receivable within said first rings through said bore in said upper portion thereof; d. a rod, and means for assembling said rod to one of said first rings of each of said assemblies; and e. a plurality of cap means receivable within said bores of said first rings, whereby after said slideway is received through said slideway openings in a plurality of spaced first rings, pedicular screws are inserted with their self-tapping thread portions extending through said holes in said bottom portions of said first rings so that said head portions are seated within said slideway and said cap means are received in said bores to thereby secure said slideway relative to said first rings.

Claim 20

The spinal fixator of claim 17 in which said head portion of said pedicular screws is generally spherical and each of said cap means includes a lower surface having an arcuate profile which is complementary to said head portion of said pedicular screws.

Claim 21

The spinal fixator of claim 17 in which each of said assemblies includes a second ring having upper and lower portions and opposing side walls, each of said second rings defining a slideway opening of a profile to cooperatively receive said slideway therethrough, said second rings having a bore in said upper portion thereof which is aligned with a hole in said lower portion thereof, cap means receivable within said bore of said second ring, and said second ring including a plate extending outwardly from said lower portion thereof having a slot therein through which a pedicular screw is receivable.