Transverse fixation device for a spinal osteosynthesis system

Claim 2

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a spinal rod configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a transverse bar; and a fixation element including; a body; and a bifurcated hook portion attached to said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body and defining a first surface for engaging the rod, said blades being spaced apart along their outward extension a distance at least equal to a width of the transverse bar, and said body defining a second surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding side of the transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades.

Claim 3

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 1, wherein said outwardly extending hook-shaped blades curve in a radius corresponding to the radius of a spinal rod to slidingly enclose the rod when it is fully seated within the curvature.

Claim 4

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 1, further comprising: a locking means for providing a rigid connection between the transverse bar and a spinal rod, said locking means including a threaded plug having a head portion at one end and a tip portion at an opposite end, said threaded plug configured for engagement in a corresponding tapped hole formed through said body, said tapped hole extending from said second surface of said body to an opposite surface of said body, so that when a transverse bar is fully seated between said blades of said fixation element and when a rod is enclosed within the curvature of the hook-shaped blades, said threaded plug may be screwed into said tapped hole until said tip portion of said threaded plug contacts the transverse bar and presses the transverse bar firmly against the enclosed rod, thereby locking the rod and transverse bar together in position.

Claim 5

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a pair of spinal rods each configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a transverse fixation device, including, a rigid transverse bar, and a pair of fixation elements, each of said fixation elements including a body and a bifurcated hook portion, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body for engaging the rod, said blades being spaced apart an equal distance from one another along their outward extension so that they are parallel and correspond to a width of said rigid transverse bar, and said body defining a planar surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding planar side of said transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades; said transverse fixation device providing a rigid transverse connection between said rods when each of said fixation elements are engaged to the bar and a corresponding one of said rods.

Claim 6

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a pair of spinal rods each configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a transverse fixation device, including, a rigid transverse bar, and a pair of fixation elements, each of said fixation elements including a body and a bifurcated hook portion, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body for engaging the rod, said blades being spaced apart an equal distance from one another along their outward extension so that they are parallel and correspond to a width of said rigid transverse bar, and said body defining a planar surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding planar side of said transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades; said transverse fixation device providing a rigid transverse connection between said rods when each of said fixation elements are engaged to the bar and a corresponding one of said rods.

Claim 7

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 4, further comprising: a locking means for providing a rigid connection between the rigid transverse bar and a spinal rod, said locking means comprising a threaded plug having a head portion at one end and a tip portion at an opposite end, said threaded plug configured for engagement in a corresponding tapped hole formed through said body, said tapped hole extending from said planar surface to an opposite surface of said body, so that when a transverse bar is fully seated between said blades of said fixation element and when a rod is enclosed within the curvature of the hook-shaped blades, said threaded plug may be screwed into said tapped hole until said tip portion of said threaded plug contacts the transverse bar an presses the transverse bar firmly against the enclosed rod, thereby locking the rod and transverse bar together in position.

Claim 8

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 5, wherein said head portion of said threaded plug has a recess formed therein which is configured for receiving a screwing tool.

Claim 9

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 5, wherein said head portion and said tip portion of said threaded plug have the same cross-sectional diameter.

Claim 10

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 5, wherein said threaded plug is threaded along its entire length including said head portion of said threaded plug.

Claim 11

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 3, wherein said head portion of said threaded plug has a recess formed therein which is configured for receiving a screwing tool.

Claim 12

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 3, wherein said head portion and said tip portion of said threaded plug have the same cross-sectional diameter.

Claim 13

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 3, wherein said threaded plug is threaded along its entire length including said head portion of said threaded plug.

Claim 14

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a first elongate member configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a second elongate member configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a transverse fixation device, including; a body; and a bifurcated hook portion extending from said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades spaced apart to receive the first elongate member, said hook-shaped blades having a first bearing surface facing said body and configured to receive the second elongate member, wherein said body defines a second bearing surface spanning between said blades configured to receive the first elongate member such that the first elongate member is engageable between said second surface and the second elongate member.

Claim 15

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a first elongate member configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a second elongate member configured to be implanted on a spinal segment; a transverse fixation device, including; a body; and a bifurcated hook portion extending from said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades spaced apart to receive the first elongate member, said hook-shaped blades having a first bearing surface facing said body and configured to receive the second elongate member, wherein said body defines a second bearing surface spanning between said blades configured to receive the first elongate member such that the first elongate member is engageable between said second surface and the second elongate member.

Claim 16

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 12, in which the second elongate member is a spinal rod having a substantially circular cross-section, wherein said first surface of said hook-shaped blades is a curved surface to receive the circular rod.

Claim 17

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 12, in which the first elongate member is a bar having a planar face, wherein; said second surface is planar; and said blades are spaced apart at said second bearing surface a distance at least equal to the width of the bar at said planar face.

Claim 18

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 12, further comprising: a hole defined in said body and opening at said second bearing surface; and a plug engageable within said hole to extend from said opening and bear against the first elongate member to clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member.

Claim 19

A spinal osteosynthesis system including a fixation element for connection between a spinal rod and a transverse bar of a transverse fixation device, said fixation element comprising: a body; and a bifurcated hook portion attached to said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body and defining a first surface for engaging the rod, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the rod, said blades being spaced apart along their outward extension a distance at least equal to a width of the transverse bar, and said body defining a second surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding side of the transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades, said second surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the bar.

Claim 20

A spinal osteosynthesis system including a fixation element for connection between a spinal rod and a transverse bar of a transverse fixation device, said fixation element comprising: a body; and a bifurcated hook portion attached to said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body and defining a first surface for engaging the rod, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the rod, said blades being spaced apart along their outward extension a distance at least equal to a width of the transverse bar, and said body defining a second surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding side of the transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades, said second surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the bar.

Claim 21

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 16, further comprising: a hole defined in said body and opening at said second surface; and a plug engageable within said hole to extend from said opening and bear against the first elongate member to clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member.

Claim 22

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 17, wherein said plug defines a recess, said recess configured for receiving a screwing tool.

Claim 23

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 17, wherein the portion of the outer surface of said transverse bar is planar; said second surface is planar; and said blades are spaced apart at said second surface a distance at least equal to the width of the bar at the portion of the transverse bar.

Claim 24

A transverse fixation device for insuring a rigid transverse connection between two rods of a spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising in combination: a rigid transverse bar, and a pair of fixation elements, each of said fixation elements including a body and a bifurcated hook portion, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body and configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of one of said rods, said blades being spaced apart an equal distance from one another along their outward extension so that they are parallel and correspond to a width of said rigid transverse bar, and said body defining a planar surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding planar side of said transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades.

Claim 25

A transverse fixation device for insuring a rigid transverse connection between two rods of a spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising in combination: a rigid transverse bar, and a pair of fixation elements, each of said fixation elements including a body and a bifurcated hook portion, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades extending outwardly from said body and configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of one of said rods, said blades being spaced apart an equal distance from one another along their outward extension so that they are parallel and correspond to a width of said rigid transverse bar, and said body defining a planar surface between said blades configured to slidingly engage a corresponding planar side of said transverse bar when the bar is fully seated between said blades.

Claim 26

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 20, further comprising: a hole defined in said body and opening at said second surface; and a plug engageable within said hole to extend from said opening and bear against the first elongate member to clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member.

Claim 27

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 21, wherein said plug defines a recess, said recess configured for receiving a screwing tool.

Claim 28

A transverse fixation device for connecting a first and a second elongate member of a osteosynthesis system, comprising: a body; and a bifurcated hook portion extending from said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades spaced apart to receive the first elongate member, said hook-shaped blades having a first surface facing said body and configured to receive the second elongate member, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the second elongate member; and wherein said body defines a second surface spanning between said blades configured to receive the first elongate member, said second surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the first elongate member such that the first elongate member is engageable between said second surface and the second elongate member.

Claim 29

A transverse fixation device for connecting a first and a second elongate member of a osteosynthesis system, comprising: a body; and a bifurcated hook portion extending from said body, said hook portion defining two hook-shaped blades spaced apart to receive the first elongate member, said hook-shaped blades having a first surface facing said body and configured to receive the second elongate member, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the second elongate member; and wherein said body defines a second surface spanning between said blades configured to receive the first elongate member, said second surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the first elongate member such that the first elongate member is engageable between said second surface and the second elongate member.

Claim 30

The transverse fixation device of claim 23, in which the second elongate member is a spinal rod having a substantially circular cross-section, wherein said first surface of said hook-shaped blades is a curved surface to receive the circular rod.

Claim 31

The transverse fixation device of claim 23, in which the first elongate member is a bar having a planar face, wherein; said second surface is planar; and said blades are spaced apart at said second surface a distance at least equal to the width of the bar at said planar face.

Claim 32

The transverse fixation device of claim 23, further comprising: a hole defined in said body and opening at said second bearing surface; and a plug engageable within said hole to extend from said opening and bear against the first elongate member to clamp the first elongate member against the second elongate member.

Claim 33

The spinal osteosynthesis system of claim 23, wherein said plug defines a recess, said recess configured for receiving a screwing tool.