Spinal fixator

Claim 2

A spinal fixator, comprising: first and second means having respective bearing portions for bearing against respective vertebral portions respectively above and below a broken vertebral portion and movable relative to each other, adjusting means arranged to adjust the distance between said bearing portions for thereby setting the distance between said respective vertebral portions, wherein said first and second means and said adjusting means are provided by upper and lower and intermediate sections, respectively, of a turnbuckle, and a staple for bridging said respective vertebral portions, and connecting means for connecting said staple to said intermediate section to prevent rotation of said intermediate section relative to said upper and lower sections and said staple.

Claim 3

A device according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate section is formed with approximately radial threaded holes for receiving a tommy bar, said connecting means comprises an externally threaded elongate element for screwing into one of the threaded holes, and said staple is formed with an aperture therethrough for closely receiving said element.

Claim 4

A device according to claim 1 further in which said connecting means is a screw held by said staple and operable to engage the intermediate section of said turnbuckle and prevent that section from rotating.

Claim 5

A device according to claim 3 further including a vertical slot in said staple whereby the vertical position of said screw may be varied.

Claim 6

A prosthetic spinal fixator for insertion between the lower face of a first vertebra portion and the upper face of a second vertebral portion that is below the first one comprising: jacking means, composed of material suitable for bone surgery, for insertion directly between said upper and lower faces, said jacking means having an upper end for engaging said lower face and a lower end for engaging said upper face and a rigid intermediate section adjustable to rigidly vary the distance between said upper and lower ends for thereby decompressing the spinal cord and setting the distance between said first and second vertebral portions, said upper and lower ends having spike means for penetrating their complementary faces and each of said ends also having a surface that will be flush with its complementary face over a substantial area, said jacking means also having a height about equal to the height of a vertebral portion.

Claim 7

A prosthetic spinal fixator for insertion between the lower face of a first vertebra portion and the upper face of a second vertebral portion that is below the first one comprising: jacking means, composed of material suitable for bone surgery, for insertion directly between said upper and lower faces, said jacking means having an upper end for engaging said lower face and a lower end for engaging said upper face and a rigid intermediate section adjustable to rigidly vary the distance between said upper and lower ends for thereby decompressing the spinal cord and setting the distance between said first and second vertebral portions, said upper and lower ends having spike means for penetrating their complementary faces and each of said ends also having a surface that will be flush with its complementary face over a substantial area, said jacking means also having a height about equal to the height of a vertebral portion.

Claim 8

A prosthetic spinal fixator as defined in claim 5 in which said jacking means is a turnbuckle, said intermediate section being rotatable to vary said distance.

Claim 9

In a prosthetic spinal fixator as defined in claim 5, said jacking means comprising a turnbuckle which replaces a part of a broken vertebra and is comprised of upper, lower and intermediate sections aligned with the spinal cord in a substantially linear manner of which the upper and lower sections bear upwardly and downwardly against respective vertebral portions respectively above and below a broken vertebral portion and are movable relative to each other, and of which the intermediate section is adjustable to vary the distance between the upper and lower sections for thereby decompressing the spinal cord and setting the distance between said respective vertebral portions.

Claim 10

A device according to claim 5, including a U-shaped staple, longer than said jacking means, having means for penetrating the vertical sidewalls of the upper and lower vertebrae portions respectively to attach the staple to said portions.

Claim 11

In a device according to claim 8, said staple including means connecting the staple to said jacking means for maintaining the selected height of the jacking means.

Claim 14

The method of positioning spaced vertebral portions as defined in claim 10 which includes the step of preventing slippage between each end of the jacking means and its complementary vertebral face.

Claim 15

The method of positioning spaced vertebral portions as defined in claim 10 which includes effecting penetration of each end of the jack into its complementary face of a vertebral portion, whereby to prevent slippage.

Claim 16

The method of positioning spaced vertebral portions as defined in claim 12 which also includes connecting a staple to (a) a vertical side wall of the upper vertebral portion and also (b) a vertical side wall of the lower vertebral portion.

Claim 17

The method of positioning spaced vertebral portions as defined in claim 13 which also includes connecting the staple to the jacking means to maintain its position.