Transverse fixation device for ensuring a rigid transverse connection between two rods of a spinal osteosynthesis system

Claim 2

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a pair of spinal rods configured to be implanted adjacent a spinal segment; a transverse bar configured to be implanted adjacent a spinal segment; and a pair of transverse fixation devices for connecting said transverse bar to each of said spinal rods, each of said fixation devices including a body and a hook portion, said hook portion including a hook-shaped blade extending outwardly from said body and defining a first bearing surface for engaging one of said rods, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of said one of said rods, and said body defining a second bearing surface configured to abut a portion of said bar when said bar is transverse to one of said rods.

Claim 3

The spinal osteosynthesis system according to claim 1 wherein said hook-shaped blade curves in a radius of curvature corresponding to that of the rods, and thus to enclose one of said rods when one of said rods is fully seated within the hook-shaped blade.

Claim 4

The spinal osteosynthesis system according to claim 2, wherein the bar has a rectangular cross-section and said second surface is planar.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 1 wherein said rods are knurled.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 1, further comprising a locking means for providing a rigid connection between said transverse bar and said rods, said locking means including: a hole defined through said body of each said fixation device, said hole intersecting said second bearing surface of said body; and a plug configured for engagement in said hole, said plug having a head portion at one end and a tip portion at an opposite end, whereby when said bar is engaged to said second bearing surface and said rod is engaged to said first bearing surface, said plug is extendable into said hole until said tip portion of said plug contacts said bar and presses said bar against the rod, thereby locking said rod and said transverse bar together.

Claim 7

The spinal osteosynthesis system according to claim 5, wherein said head portion of said plug defines an orifice profiled to receive a screwing tool.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 6 wherein said orifice is hexagonal shaped.

Claim 9

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

Claim 10

The system according to claim 5, wherein said plug further includes catching means for engaging said bar.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 9 wherein said catching means includes a point extending from said tip of said plug.

Claim 12

The system according to claim 5 wherein said plug defines external threads and said hole defines internal threads, said external threads mating with internal threads defined in said hole.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 11, wherein said plug is threaded along its entire length including said head portion of said plug.

Claim 14

A transverse fixation device for connecting a first elongate member to a second elongate member of a spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a body and a hook portion attached to said body; said hook portion including a hook-shaped blade extending outwardly from said body and defining a first bearing surface for engaging the first elongate member, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the first elongate member; and said body defining a second bearing surface transverse to said first bearing surface configured to abut a portion of the second elongate member when the second elongate member is transverse to the first elongate member.

Claim 15

A transverse fixation device for connecting a first elongate member to a second elongate member of a spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a body and a hook portion attached to said body; said hook portion including a hook-shaped blade extending outwardly from said body and defining a first bearing surface for engaging the first elongate member, said first surface configured to conform to a portion of an outer surface of the first elongate member; and said body defining a second bearing surface transverse to said first bearing surface configured to abut a portion of the second elongate member when the second elongate member is transverse to the first elongate member.

Claim 16

The transverse fixation device according to claim 13, wherein said outwardly extending hook-shaped blade curves in a radius corresponding to a radius of the first elongate member to slidingly enclose the first elongate member when the first elongate member is fully seated within said blade.

Claim 17

The transverse fixation device according to claim 14 wherein the first elongate member is a spinal rod and the second elongate member is a transverse bar.

Claim 18

The transverse fixation device according to claim 13, wherein the portion of the outer surface of the second elongate member is planar and said second bearing surface is planar.

Claim 19

The transverse fixation device according to claim 13, further comprising: a hole defined in said body and opening at said second bearing surface; and a plug engageable within said hole to extend through said opening and bear against the second elongate member to clamp the second elongate member against the first elongate member when the first elongate member is engaged to said first bearing surface and the second elongate member is transverse to the first elongate member.

Claim 20

The transverse fixation device according to claim 17, wherein said head portion of said plug defines an orifice profiled for receiving a screwing tool.

Claim 21

The transverse fixation device according to claim 18 wherein said orifice is hexagonal shaped.

Claim 22

The transverse fixation device according to claim 17, wherein said head portion and said tip portion of said plug have the same cross-sectional diameter.

Claim 23

The transverse fixation device according to claim 17, wherein said plug further includes catching means for engaging the second elongate member.

Claim 24

The transverse fixation device according to claim 21 wherein said catching means includes a point extending from said tip of said plug, said point configured to contact the second elongate member.

Claim 25

The transverse fixation device according to claim 17 wherein said plug defines external threads and said hole defines internal threads, said external threads mating with internal threads defined in said hole.

Claim 26

The transverse fixation device according to claim 23, wherein said plug is threaded along its entire length including said head portion of said plug.

Claim 27

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a spinal rod configured to be implanted adjacent a spinal segment; a transverse bar configured to be implanted adjacent a spinal segment; and a fixation element for insuring a rigid transverse connection between said rod and said bar, said fixation element including a body and a hook portion attached to said body, said hook portion defining a hook-shaped blade extending outwardly from said body and defining a first bearing surface for engaging said rod, and said body defining a second bearing surface transverse to said first bearing surface configured to bear on a portion of said bar.

Claim 28

A spinal osteosynthesis system, comprising: a spinal rod configured to be implanted adjacent a spinal segment; a transverse bar configured to be implanted adjacent a spinal segment; and a fixation element for insuring a rigid transverse connection between said rod and said bar, said fixation element including a body and a hook portion attached to said body, said hook portion defining a hook-shaped blade extending outwardly from said body and defining a first bearing surface for engaging said rod, and said body defining a second bearing surface transverse to said first bearing surface configured to bear on a portion of said bar.

Claim 29

The system according to claim 25, wherein said outwardly extending hook-shaped blade curves in a radius corresponding to the radius of said spinal rod to slidingly enclose said rod when it is fully seated within said blade.

Claim 30

The system according to claim 26 wherein said rod is knurled.

Claim 31

The system according to claim 25, wherein the portion of the outer surface of said transverse bar is planar and said second surface is planar.

Claim 32

The system according to claim 25, further comprising a locking means for providing a rigid connection between said rod and said bar, said locking means including: a hole defined through said body, said hole extending from said second bearing surface of said body to an opposite surface of said body; and a plug having a head portion at one end and a tip portion at an opposite end, said plug configured for engagement in said hole so that when said bar is engaged to said second bearing surface and when said rod is engaged to said first bearing surface said plug may be placed into said hole until said tip portion of said plug contacts said bar and presses said bar firmly against said rod to lock said rod and said transverse bar together in position.

Claim 33

The system according to claim 29, wherein said head portion of said plug defines an orifice profiled for receiving a screwing tool.

Claim 34

The system according to claim 30 wherein said orifice is hexagonal shaped.

Claim 35

The system according to claim 29, wherein said head portion and said tip portion of said plug have the same cross-sectional diameter.

Claim 36

The system according to claim 29 wherein said plug defines external threads and said hole defines internal threads, said external threads mating with said internal threads defined in said hole.

Claim 37

The system according to claim 33, wherein said plug is threaded along its entire length including said head portion of said plug.

Claim 38

The system according to claim 29, wherein said plug further includes catching means for engaging said bar.

Claim 39

The system according to claim 35 wherein said catching means includes a point extending from said tip of said plug.