Patent US6547790B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6547790B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Orthopaedic rod/plate locking mechanisms and surgical methods
Assignee: DePuy Spine LLC
•
Filing: 2001-04-17
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Granted: 2003-04-15
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Expires: 2021-04-17
Abstract
Abstract An orthopaedic method and anchor assemblies for anchoring a linkage such as a rod or cable used for fixation or reduction. One assembly includes an anchor plate and a slotted anchor bolt that captures the plate in a one-piece assembly for convenient installation. The base of the anchor bolt lies below the plate, and a cap or nut tightens down to secure a linking member, e.g., a rod or cable, in the slot, simultaneously clamping the bolt to fix both its position and its orientation on the plate. One occipital plate has lateral arms that hold the anchor bolts, and a Y-shaped embodiment is mounted in an inverted orientation to position the anchor bolts well down in soft tissue for more effective wound closure. A cable connector is used together with an anchor plate, vertebra anchor screws and fixation rods to secure ends of a cable at the level of one or more vertebrae, providing a versatile and highly stable system for alignment, fixation and fusing of the cervical and thoracic spine. The cable connectors have an open-sided channel that fits onto and securely clamps to an already-positioned fixation rod, with an eyelet or other structure providing a rigid and fixed securing point for a cable that is threaded about the vertebrae under tension. Methods of fixation are described.
Inventors
- 👤 Haynes Louis Harkey, III
- 👤 Bradford Currier
- 👤 David M. Selvitelli
- 👤 Martin A. Reynolds
- 👤 Thomas V. Doherty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:17
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/56; A61B17/58; A61B17/68; A61B17/70; A61B17/7053; A61B17/7001; A61B17/7044; A61B17/7055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
An anchor assembly for spinal fixation, comprising: an anchor plate having a central trunk and first and second arms extending outwardly and inferiorly to the trunk, the anchor plate being configured to be attached to bone below a patient's external occipital protuberance and below the inferior nuchal line; at least one bolt fixed to at least one of the first and second arms, the bolt having a slot configured to capture and clamp a fixation member, the bolt being freely rotatably with respect to the anchor plate before fixation member clamping.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
An anchor assembly for spinal fixation, comprising: an anchor plate having a central trunk and first and second arms extending outwardly and inferiorly to the trunk, the anchor plate being configured to be attached to bone below a patient's external occipital protuberance and below the inferior nuchal line; at least one bolt fixed to at least one of the first and second arms, the bolt having a slot configured to capture and clamp a fixation member, the bolt being freely rotatably with respect to the anchor plate before fixation member clamping.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The anchor assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first bolt is affixed to the first arm and a second bolt is affixed to the second arm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The anchor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the central trunk is configured to be attached to bone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The anchor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the central trunk includes at least two apertures and at least two bone screws for fixing the anchor plate to bone through the apertures.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The anchor assembly of claim 1 , wherein the anchor plate includes at least one elongated aperture on at least one of the first and second arms, a bolt being adjustably positionable along the length of the elongated aperture before clamping.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The anchor assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support platform, wherein the support platform is configured to slide over the bolt to capture the anchor plate between the bolt and the support platform.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The anchor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the support platform comprises a split washer for mating with a catch or detent on the bolt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: a first anchor element in the form of an occipital plate having a central trunk and first and second arms extending outwardly and inferiorly to the trunk, the occipital plate being configured to be attached to bone below a patient's external occipital protuberance and below the inferior nuchal line, the first anchor element having at least one anchor screw hole disposed therein and at least one bolt-receiving aperture disposed therein; at least one anchor bolt seated in the bolt-receiving aperture of the first anchor element, the bolt having a slot extending transversely through a portion thereof; and a linking member having a proximal end portion clamped in said slot and having a distal end anchorable to a patient's vertebral body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
125 words
A spinal fixation system comprising: a first anchor element in the form of an occipital plate having a central trunk and first and second arms extending outwardly and inferiorly to the trunk, the occipital plate being configured to be attached to bone below a patient's external occipital protuberance and below the inferior nuchal line, the first anchor element having at least one anchor screw hole disposed therein and at least one bolt-receiving aperture disposed therein; at least one anchor bolt seated in the bolt-receiving aperture of the first anchor element, the bolt having a slot extending transversely through a portion thereof; and a linking member having a proximal end portion clamped in said slot and having a distal end anchorable to a patient's vertebral body.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein a first bolt is affixed to the first arm and a second bolt is affixed to the second arm and a first linking member is clamped in a slot in the first bolt and a second linking member is clamped in a slot in the second bolt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the central trunk is configured to be attached to bone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 10 , wherein the central trunk includes at least two apertures and at least two bone screws for fixing the anchor plate to bone through the apertures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the first anchor element includes at least one elongated aperture on at least one of the first and second arms, the bolt being adjustably positionable along the length of the elongated aperture before clamping.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 8 , further comprising a support platform, wherein the support platform captures the anchor plate between the bolt and the support platform.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the support platform comprises a split washer for mating with a catch or detent on the bolt.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one cable connector fixable to the linking member in a predetermined position and at least one cable attached to an eyelet in the cable connector and fixable to a patient's vertebra.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 8 , wherein the system is configured to clamp the linking member in the slot below a patient's inferior nuchal line.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for occipital coupling of a spinal fixation element, comprising: a) providing a spinal fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end and fixing the distal end to a patient's vertebrae; b) providing a first anchor element in the form of an occipital plate having a central trunk and first and second arms extending outwardly and inferiorly to the trunk, and attaching the occipital plate to a patient's bone below an external occipital protuberance and below an inferior nuchal line, the first anchor element having at least one anchor screw hole disposed therein for attaching to the patient's bone and at least one aperture having a bolt therethrough, the bolt having a base and a shank extending through the aperture, the shank having a slot for receiving the spinal fixation element; and c) coupling the proximal end of the spinal fixation element to the slot.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for occipital coupling of a spinal fixation element, comprising: a) providing a spinal fixation element having a proximal end and a distal end and fixing the distal end to a patient's vertebrae; b) providing a first anchor element in the form of an occipital plate having a central trunk and first and second arms extending outwardly and inferiorly to the trunk, and attaching the occipital plate to a patient's bone below an external occipital protuberance and below an inferior nuchal line, the first anchor element having at least one anchor screw hole disposed therein for attaching to the patient's bone and at least one aperture having a bolt therethrough, the bolt having a base and a shank extending through the aperture, the shank having a slot for receiving the spinal fixation element; and c) coupling the proximal end of the spinal fixation element to the slot.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the proximal end of the spinal fixation element is coupled to the slot below the inferior nuchal line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
131 words
A cable connector system for coupling a spinal fixation rod to a vertebral body, comprising: a body having a generally elongated channel extending therethrough sized to receive a spinal fixation rod therein, the channel being open sided such that the body may be placed from a side onto a fixation rod at a selected position while the rod is at least partly anchored in position, the body further having an eyelet portion adapted to receive a cable; a clamping screw fitted in the body adjacent the channel for locking the spinal fixation rod and securely fixing the position of the body on the spinal fixation rod; a cable passing through said eyelet for securing a vertebral body to the body and thereby securing the vertebral body to the spinal fixation rod.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
131 words
A cable connector system for coupling a spinal fixation rod to a vertebral body, comprising: a body having a generally elongated channel extending therethrough sized to receive a spinal fixation rod therein, the channel being open sided such that the body may be placed from a side onto a fixation rod at a selected position while the rod is at least partly anchored in position, the body further having an eyelet portion adapted to receive a cable; a clamping screw fitted in the body adjacent the channel for locking the spinal fixation rod and securely fixing the position of the body on the spinal fixation rod; a cable passing through said eyelet for securing a vertebral body to the body and thereby securing the vertebral body to the spinal fixation rod.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein the cable includes a leadered end and an eyelet wherein when the cable is laced to a vertebra, the leadered end passes through the cable connector body eyelet and through the cable eyelet for securing the cable to the cable connector body, and the vertebra to the spinal fixation rod.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 20 , further comprising a crimping element crimped onto the cable where the cable has passed through the cable eyelet to fix the cable to the cable connector body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system claim 19 , further of comprising a plurality of cable connector and a plurality of cables, each cable having a leadered end and an eyelet, wherein a leadered end of a first cable passes through a cable connector body eyelet of a first cable connector and a cable eyelet of a second cable for fixing the first and second cables to the first cable connector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 22 , further comprising a first crimping element crimped onto the leadered end of the first cable where the cable has passed through the eyelet of the second cable to fix the first and second cables to the first cable connector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system claim 19 , wherein the body further comprises a lateral flange and the eyelet is provided on the flange.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-04-14 | 2006-10-14 | 2007-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-04-14 | 2010-10-14 | 2011-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-04-14 | 2014-10-14 | 2015-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |