TRANSVERSE CONNECTOR
A transverse connector system having a first and a second locking head, and a transverse rod that is secured by the first and second locking heads. The first and second locking heads are provided with a first and second pivot arm for engaging and securing first and second elongated rods. The first and second locking heads each simultaneously engage and secure the transverse and elongated rods separately.
This Patent Application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/426,260, filed Feb. 7, 2017 (published as U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2017-0265905), which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/485,938, filed Sep. 15, 2014, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,603,636, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/016,495, filed Jan. 18, 2008, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,864,798, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally directed for use in stabilizing the spine. In particular, the present invention is directed to a device that provides additional support for a posterior rod construct.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the United States, millions are affected by back pain. Most patients respond well to non-surgical treatments. However, many others are required to find other solutions to alleviate the pain. If the back pain persists and in addition, other symptoms such as arm pain and neurological dysfunction occur, the cause may be related to any number of problems associated with the vertebral column. Surgery is an option for those that require stabilization of the spine. To alleviate the symptoms and overcome the problems, a surgeon may utilize various devices to correct the structural integrity of the vertebrae. For instance a surgeon may align the vertebrae using a posterior rod construct. In this type of system, a surgeon places anchoring devices such as screws and/or hooks that are capable of receiving elongated rods on either side of the vertebrae covering at least one level in length. Since each rod is fixed to the vertebrae, the rod construct provides structural integrity. Thus, when a posterior dual rod construct is used to stabilize the human spine, it is often necessary to connect the elongated rods to further increase the stability of the overall construct. To connect the elongated rods to provide additional stability, surgeons typically use a horizontal transverse connector. In the prior art, transverse connectors generally utilize a mechanism wherein the elongated rods and the transverse rods are fastened separately. These types of systems also generally sacrifice adjustability or stability.
For instance, in one type of system, a set screw is used to lock the transverse connector to the elongated rod and then another set screw is used to lock the position of the transverse rod. In other words, the elongated rod is fastened and then the transverse rod fastened. In this type of system, simplicity is sacrificed since two separate locking mechanisms are utilized.
In another type of transverse connection, a hook system is used. This type of system generally fastens the transverse connector to the elongated rods using a hook type arm, however this type of system does not provide a means for allowing the transverse rod to be moved laterally and positioned in any angle along the horizontal axis. In other words, the transverse rod must be the exact size required prior to positioning the transverse connector. Thus, there is a need for a transverse connector that provides a locking mechanism that is capable of locking the transverse connector to the elongated rods and the transverse rod without sacrificing either adjustability or the stability of the posterior rod construct. There is also a need for a T-connector that provides surgeons with a locking mechanism that is easy to use and which requires very little time to execute in locking both the elongated and transverse rods.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the invention, a transverse connector system is provided. The system includes a first and a second locking head and a transverse rod having opposing first and a second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking head and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking head. The first locking head includes a first pivot arm for engaging and capturing the first elongated rod and the second locking head having a second pivot arm for engaging and capturing the second elongated rod. The first locking head is provided with a first locking mechanism which simultaneously secures the first end of the transverse rod and the first elongated rod. The second locking head also includes a second locking mechanism for simultaneously securing the second end of the transverse rod and the second elongated rod.
According to another aspect of the transverse connector system, the transverse connector includes a first pivot arm that is coupled to the first locking head by at least two lateral elements extending from a first base element of the first locking head and the second pivot arm is coupled to the second locking head by at least two lateral elements extending from a second base element of the second locking head.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is a method for stabilizing a posterior rod construct position in a spine comprising the steps of positioning a plurality of bone anchors on the spine and positioning at least two elongated rods so that the bone anchors capture and retain the at least two elongated rods. The method also includes positioning a transverse connector to be coupled to the at least two elongated rods. The transverse connector includes a transverse rod with opposing first and second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking head and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking head, and the first locking head having a first pivot arm for engaging and capturing one of the at least two elongated rods and the second locking head having a second pivot arm for engaging and capturing a second one of the at least two elongated rods. The method also includes securing the first end of the transverse rod and the first of the at least two elongated rods simultaneously with a fastener, and securing the second end of the transverse rod and the second of the at least two elongated rods simultaneously with a fastener.
In another aspect of the invention, a spine stabilization system for stabilizing a posterior rod construct is provided. The spine stabilization system includes a plurality of bone anchors and at least two elongated rods configured to be coupled to the plurality of bone anchors. The system also includes a transverse connector having a transverse rod with an opposing first and second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking head and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking head. The first locking head has a first pivot arm for engaging and capturing one of the at least two elongated rods and the second locking head having a second pivot arm for engaging and capturing a second one of the at least two elongated rods. The first locking head simultaneously secures the first end of the transverse rod and the first of the at least two elongated rods and the second locking head simultaneously securing the second end of the transverse rod and the second of the at least two elongated rods.
The attached drawings illustrate the elements of the present invention. Design and utility features of the present invention are also disclosed.
The following discussion is directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.
Referring now to
Now turning to
The base element 120 is also comprised of a clamping element 220, which is configured with a screw hole 260 that extends through the base portion 200 of the base element 120. The C-portion 270 of the clamping element 220 extends longitudinally from the base portion 200 to form a C-clamp and ends at the top portion of the base element 120 forming screw hole 260. The clamping element 220 is configured to retain and capture a traverse rod as illustrated in
Now turning to
The cross-sectional view of the transverse connector 350 as shown in
It should be further noted that each locking head is fastened separate from the other. For instance, the first locking head 360 is fastened to secure the first portion of the transverse rod and the first elongated rod. Then the second locking head 362 is fastened to secure the second portion of the transverse rod and the second elongated rod.
There are several major benefits of the invention for use in the human spine. First of all is the single step locking mechanism. This allows the surgeon to lock the construct with a single fastener, reducing surgery times. Second is the large amount of flexibility that is afforded to the surgeon in angular as well as linear adjustment. Because of the poly-axial connection between the gripping heads and the connecting rod, either end can be translated along the rod to account for rod spacing and can be adjusted to any angle necessary. Third is the top loading nature of the design. This allows for easy insertion and locking.
The above discussion is meant to be illustrative of the principles and various embodiments of the present invention. Numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.
Claims
1. A method of affixing a transverse connector system to a spine of a patient, said method comprising:
- securing a plurality of bone anchors to the spine;
- securing a first elongated rod and a second elongated rod to the spine, wherein the first elongated rod and the second elongated rod are retained by the plurality of bone anchors;
- coupling the transverse connector system to the first elongated rod and the second elongated rod, the transverse connector system further comprising: a first and a second locking head; a transverse rod having opposing first and a second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking head and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking head; wherein the first locking head having a first pivot arm for engaging and capturing the first elongated rod and the second locking head having a second pivot arm for engaging and capturing the second elongated rod; wherein the first locking head simultaneously secures the first end of the transverse rod and the first elongated rod and the second locking head simultaneously securing the second end of the transverse rod and the second elongated rod.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second elongated rods are parallel to one another.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking head further comprises a pivot arm and a clamping element.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second locking heads comprise a first and second screw hole.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein a first and second fastener are inserted into the first and second screw holes.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein when the first and second fastener are advanced in the first and second screw holes, the first and second clamping elements secure and retain the transverse rod and the pivot arm secures and retains the elongated rod simultaneously. The method of claim 3, wherein the clamping element comprises a collet.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein transverse rod is securable in any angle by the first and second locking heads.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pivot arm is coupled to the first locking head by at least two lateral elements extending from a first base element of the first locking head and the second pivot arm is coupled to the second locking head by at least two lateral elements extending from a second base element of the second locking head.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transverse rod is curved.
11. A method for stabilizing a posterior rod construct position in a spine of a patient, said method comprising:
- positioning a plurality of bone anchors or hooks on the spine;
- positioning at least two elongated rods so that the bone anchors capture and retain the at least two elongated rods;
- positioning a transverse connector to be coupled to the at least two elongated rods, the transverse connector having a transverse rod with opposing first and second ends, the first end being retained within a portion of the first locking head and the second end being retained within a portion of the second locking head, and the first locking head having a first pivot arm for engaging and capturing one of the at least two elongated rods and the second locking head having a second pivot arm for engaging and capturing a second one of the at least two elongated rods;
- securing the first end of the transverse rod and the first of the at least two elongated rods simultaneously with a fastener;
- securing the second end of the transverse rod and the second of the at least two elongated rods simultaneously with a fastener.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: positioning the at least two elongated rods parallel to one another.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: advancing the fastener in the first locking head so that a first clamping element secures and retains the transverse rod and a pivot arm secures and retains the elongated rod simultaneously.
14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: advancing the fastener in the second locking head so that a second clamping element secures and retains the transverse rod and the second pivot arm secures and retains the elongated rod simultaneously.
15. The method of claim 11, further comprising: positioning and securing the opposing ends of the transverse rod in any angle by the first and second locking heads.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second locking heads comprise a first and second screw hole.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein a first and second fastener are inserted into the first and second screw holes.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein when the first and second fasteners are advanced in the first and second screw holes, the first and second clamping elements secure and retain the transverse rod.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first and second clamping elements each comprise a collet.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the transverse rod is curved.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 26, 2019
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2020
Inventors: Mark Weiman (Downingtown, PA), Ryan Watt (Boyertown, PA)
Application Number: 16/695,499