Universal coupler for spinal fixation

Claim 2

A spinal rod coupler assembly providing four degrees of freedom for connecting a spinal rod to a vertebrae of a patient, comprising: a) a tubular coupler member having a longitudinal bore surrounded by a wall, the bore having a central axis and first and second end portions, the first end portion being open ended and internally threaded, the second end portion being closed; b) a plurality of openings through the wall of the tubular coupler member, each of the openings communicating with the bore; c) the plurality of openings including a first pair of openings aligning along a first line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, and a second pair of openings aligning along a second line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, the first and second lines being generally perpendicular to each other and spaced apart so that the periphery of the first pair of openings is spaced longitudinally from the periphery of the second pair of openings; d) the first pair of openings sized and shaped for receiving a spinal rod having a longitudinal axis, which can be aligned with the first line of the first pair of openings of the coupler body; e) an eyebolt having a shank portion with a central axis and an eye portion, the shank portion being insertable through the second pair of openings of the coupler body, aligning the central axis of the shank with the second line of the second pair of openings, the eye portion having an opening sized and shaped to mate with a selected fastener; f) an insert that fits within the bore, the insert having an outer surface that generally conforms to the shape of the bore, the insert having opposed, arc-shaped end portions with recesses for engaging the spinal rod the eyebolt shank portion; g) a set screw that threadably engages the internally threaded end portion of the bore so that the set screw tightens the assembly of the rod, insert, and eyebolt within the coupler member; h) whereby the coupler assembly provides for movement along four degrees of freedom which include a movement along and a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod, and a movement along and a rotation about the central axis of the eyebolt shank when the assembly is being implanted in a patient.

Claim 3

The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein the eye portion of the eyebolt has an upper and a lower surface with the eye portion opening having a spherically shaped surface on the upper and lower surface of the eye portion.

Claim 4

The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein the shank portion of the eyebolt has an outer surface with knurling on a portion of the outer surface.

Claim 5

The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein the shank portion of the eyebolt includes a shank end with a recess so as to allow slight flanging of the shank end after the shank portion is inserted through the second pair of openings in the coupler body.

Claim 6

The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein the tubular coupler member includes an upper portion and a lower portion with the first pair of openings positioned in the upper portion and the second pair of openings positioned in the lower portion.

Claim 7

The coupler assembly of claim 5, wherein the upper portion of the tubular coupler member has a larger diameter in relation to the lower portion of the tubular coupler member.

Claim 8

The coupler assembly of claim 1, wherein the set screw has an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being generally conical in shape and the upper surface being generally flat with a tool receptive socket for receiving a tool designed to thread the set screw into the threaded portion of the bore.

Claim 9

A spinal prosthesis providing four degrees of freedom, comprising: a) an elongated spinal rod having a central longitudinal axis; b) a tubular coupler member having a longitudinal bore surrounded by a wall, the bore having a central axis and first and second end portions, the first end portion being open ended and internally threaded, the second end portion being closed; c) a plurality of openings through the wall of the tubular coupler member, each of the openings communicating with the bore; d) the plurality of openings including a first pair of openings aligning along a first line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, and a second pair of openings aligning along a second line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, the first and second lines being generally perpendicular to each other and spaced apart so that the periphery of the first pair of openings is spaced longitudinally from the periphery of the second pair of openings; e) the first pair of openings sized and shaped to receive a spinal rod having a longitudinal axis with the rod being insertable through the first pair of openings, aligning the rod's longitudinal axis with the first line of the first pair of openings of the coupler body; f) an eyebolt having a shank portion with a central axis and an eye portion, the shank portion being insertable through the second pair of openings of the coupler body, aligning the central axis of the shank with the second line of the second pair of openings, the eye portion having an opening sized and shaped to mate with a selected fastener; g) an insert that fits within the bore, the insert having an outer surface that generally conforms to the shape of the bore, the insert having opposed, shaped end portions with recesses for engaging the spinal rod and the eyebolt shank portion; h) a set screw that threadably engages the internally threaded end portion of the bore so that the set screw tightens the assembly of the rod, insert, and eyebolt within the coupler member; i) the bone fastener for anchoring the coupler assembly to a patient's vertebrae, the bone bolt having a first threaded portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's bone tissue and a second portion having surfaces for engaging the eyebolt opening; j) whereby the assembled spinal prosthesis provides for movement along four degrees of freedom which include a movement along and a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod, and a movement along and a rotation about the central axis of the eyebolt shank when implanted in a patient.

Claim 10

A spinal prosthesis providing four degrees of freedom, comprising: a) an elongated spinal rod having a central longitudinal axis; b) a tubular coupler member having a longitudinal bore surrounded by a wall, the bore having a central axis and first and second end portions, the first end portion being open ended and internally threaded, the second end portion being closed; c) a plurality of openings through the wall of the tubular coupler member, each of the openings communicating with the bore; d) the plurality of openings including a first pair of openings aligning along a first line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, and a second pair of openings aligning along a second line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, the first and second lines being generally perpendicular to each other and spaced apart so that the periphery of the first pair of openings is spaced longitudinally from the periphery of the second pair of openings; e) the first pair of openings sized and shaped to receive a spinal rod having a longitudinal axis with the rod being insertable through the first pair of openings, aligning the rod's longitudinal axis with the first line of the first pair of openings of the coupler body; f) an eyebolt having a shank portion with a central axis and an eye portion, the shank portion being insertable through the second pair of openings of the coupler body, aligning the central axis of the shank with the second line of the second pair of openings, the eye portion having an opening sized and shaped to mate with a selected fastener; g) an insert that fits within the bore, the insert having an outer surface that generally conforms to the shape of the bore, the insert having opposed, shaped end portions with recesses for engaging the spinal rod and the eyebolt shank portion; h) a set screw that threadably engages the internally threaded end portion of the bore so that the set screw tightens the assembly of the rod, insert, and eyebolt within the coupler member; i) the bone fastener for anchoring the coupler assembly to a patient's vertebrae, the bone bolt having a first threaded portion configured to be surgically implantable into a patient's bone tissue and a second portion having surfaces for engaging the eyebolt opening; j) whereby the assembled spinal prosthesis provides for movement along four degrees of freedom which include a movement along and a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod, and a movement along and a rotation about the central axis of the eyebolt shank when implanted in a patient.

Claim 11

The coupler assembly of claim 8, wherein the eyebolt has an upper and a lower surface with the eyebolt opening having a spherically shaped surface on the upper and lower surface of the eyebolt that cooperates with the surface of the bone fastener;

Claim 12

The coupler assembly of claim 8, wherein the shank portion of the eyebolt has an outer surface with knurling on a portion of the outer surface.

Claim 13

The coupler assembly of claim 8, wherein the shank portion of the eyebolt includes a shank end with a recess so as to allow slight flanging of the shank end after the shank portion is inserted through the second pair of openings in the coupler body.

Claim 14

The coupler assembly of claim 8, wherein the tubular coupler member includes an upper portion and a lower portion with the first pair of openings positioned in the upper portion and the second pair of openings positioned in the lower portion.

Claim 15

The coupler assembly of claim 12, wherein the upper portion of the tubular coupler member has a larger diameter in relation to the lower portion of the tubular coupler member.

Claim 16

The coupler assembly of claim 8, wherein the set screw has an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface being generally conical in shape and the upper surface being generally flat with a tool receptive socket for receiving a tool designed to thread the set screw into the threaded portion of the bore.

Claim 17

The coupler assembly of claim 8, wherein the bone fastener further includes a central non-threaded portion having a load transfer surface and an second threaded portion for threadably receiving a nut, the second threaded portion sized to be insertable through the eyebolt opening and able to be locked into place with the nut.

Claim 18

A spinal rod coupler assembly providing four degrees of freedom for connecting a spinal rod to a vertebrae of a patient, comprising: a) a coupler member having a longitudinal bore surrounded by a wall, the bore having a central axis and first and second end portions, the first end portion being open ended and internally threaded, the second end portion being closed; b) a plurality of openings in the coupler member, each of the openings communicating with the bore; c) the plurality of openings including a first through opening aligning along a first line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, and a second through opening aligning along a second line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, the first and second lines being generally perpendicular to each other and spaced apart so that the periphery of the first opening is spaced longitudinally from the periphery of the second opening; d) the first opening being sized and shaped to receive a spinal rod having a longitudinal axis, the rod's longitudinal axis aligning with the first line of the first opening of the coupler body; e) an eyebolt member having a shank portion with a central axis and an eye portion, the shank portion being insertable through the second opening of the coupler body, aligning the central axis of the shank with the second line of the second opening, the eye portion having an opening sized and shaped to mate with a selected bone fastener; f) means for tightening the assembly of the rod and eyebolt in a selected position within the coupler member; g) whereby the coupler assembly provides for movement along four degrees of freedom which include a movement along and a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod, and a movement along and a rotation about the central axis of the eyebolt shank when the assembly is being implanted in a patient.

Claim 19

A spinal rod coupler assembly providing four degrees of freedom for connecting a spinal rod to a vertebrae of a patient, comprising: a) a coupler member having a longitudinal bore surrounded by a wall, the bore having a central axis and first and second end portions, the first end portion being open ended and internally threaded, the second end portion being closed; b) a plurality of openings in the coupler member, each of the openings communicating with the bore; c) the plurality of openings including a first through opening aligning along a first line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, and a second through opening aligning along a second line that intersects the central axis of the bore at generally right angles, the first and second lines being generally perpendicular to each other and spaced apart so that the periphery of the first opening is spaced longitudinally from the periphery of the second opening; d) the first opening being sized and shaped to receive a spinal rod having a longitudinal axis, the rod's longitudinal axis aligning with the first line of the first opening of the coupler body; e) an eyebolt member having a shank portion with a central axis and an eye portion, the shank portion being insertable through the second opening of the coupler body, aligning the central axis of the shank with the second line of the second opening, the eye portion having an opening sized and shaped to mate with a selected bone fastener; f) means for tightening the assembly of the rod and eyebolt in a selected position within the coupler member; g) whereby the coupler assembly provides for movement along four degrees of freedom which include a movement along and a rotation about the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod, and a movement along and a rotation about the central axis of the eyebolt shank when the assembly is being implanted in a patient.