Device for connecting a longitudinal bar to a pedicle screw

Abstract

A device for connecting a longitudinal bar to a pedicle screw for fixation of the spine includes a body having an axis, an upper end, a lower end, a hole coaxial with the axis, and a through hole positioned perpendicular to the axis. The device also includes a collet chuck slidably disposed within the hole. The collet chuck includes a through hole substantially aligned with the through hole of the body for receiving the longitudinal bar. The collet chuck also includes a chamber defined by elastic tongues for receiving the head of the pedicle screw.

1 . A spinal fixation system comprising: 
 a longitudinal member;    a fastener having a head, the fastener being configured and dimensioned for engaging vertebrae; and    a connector for coupling the fastener and longitudinal member comprising: 
 a body having a through hole extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and a first opening in a side surface for receiving the longitudinal member;  
 a collet chuck with at least a portion slidably received in the through hole of the body, the collet chuck having external threads and having a second opening for receiving the longitudinal member, the second opening being alignable with the first opening, and a plurality of resilient tongues defining a chamber for receiving the fastener head therein; and  
 a locking element threadably associated with the external threads of the collet chuck for releasably locking movement of the longitudinal member with respect to the collet chuck;  
 wherein engagement of the body with the tongues of the collet chuck moves the tongues inward to secure the fastener at a surgeon selected angle.  
   
     
     
         2 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises top and bottom portions, the bottom portion having a sufficient height so that the longitudinal member is in contact with the bottom portion when secured in the first and second openings.  
     
     
         3 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 1  wherein the second opening comprises a U-shaped portion.  
     
     
         4 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 3  wherein the second opening communicates with the chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 1  wherein the body and collet chuck are disposed about a central axis.  
     
     
         6 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 5  wherein the collet chuck has upper and lower ends and an outside surface defined there between, with the second opening extending through the outside surface transverse to the central axis.  
     
     
         7 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 6  wherein the second opening is remote from the upper and lower ends.  
     
     
         8 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 5  wherein the collet chuck has upper and lower ends, and the second opening extends along the central axis through the upper end.  
     
     
         9 . A spinal fixation system comprising: 
 a longitudinal member;    a fastener having a head and a threaded end for engaging a vertebra; and    a connector for connecting the fastener and the longitudinal member comprising: 
 a body having top, bottom, and side surfaces, a first opening in the side surface for receiving the longitudinal member, and a second opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface;  
 a collet chuck configured and dimensioned to be slidably received in the second opening of the body and having upper and lower ends, a third opening in the upper end with threading, a fourth opening alignable with the first opening of the body for receiving the longitudinal member, a plurality of resilient tongues, and a chamber defined by the tongues configured and dimensioned to receive the fastener head; and  
 a threaded locking element for releasably fixing movement of the longitudinal member with respect to the first and fourth openings,  
 wherein flexing of the tongues permits the fastener head to be received and retained in the chamber, and threading of the locking element with the threading of the collet chuck causes translation of the collet chuck and body with respect to each other.  
   
     
     
         10 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 9  wherein a portion of the locking element abuts the body when the locking element is threadably associated with the threads of the collet chuck.  
     
     
         11 . The spinal fixation system of  claim 9  wherein the fourth opening comprises a U-shaped portion.  
     
     
         12 . A spinal fixation element system comprising: 
 a spinal rod;    a bone fastener having a head and an end portion for engaging a vertebra; and    a connector for coupling the bone fastener to the spinal rod, the connector including: 
 a first member having a first end, a second end, a through hole extending therebetween, and a first rod receiving channel;  
 a second member at least partially slidably received in the through hole of the first member, the second member includes a top end, a second rod receiving channel substantially aligned with the first rod receiving channel when the second member is partially disposed within the first member, and a resilient bottom end defining a chamber for receiving the head of the bone fastener; and  
 clamping securing means associated with the top end of the second member for releasably fixing the position of the spinal rod with respect to the second member and for moving the second member with respect to the first member without the securing means directly engaging the first member;  
 wherein movement of the second member with respect to the first member causes the inward movement of the bottom end of the second member so that the position of the bone fastener is fixed with respect to the second member.  
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first member includes a bottom portion and a top portion, the bottom portion having a sufficient height so that the spinal rod is in contact with the bottom portion when secured in the first and second rod receiving channels.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the clamping means includes an externally threaded surface formed adjacent the top end of the second member for threadably engaging an internally threaded nut.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the clamping means includes an inner threaded surface and an external threaded surface formed adjacent the top end of the second member for threadably engaging an externally threaded set screw and an internally threaded nut, respectively.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein rotation of the internally threaded nut fixes the position of the bone fastener with respect to the second member while rotation of the externally threaded set screw fixes the position of the spinal rod with respect to the second member.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the clamping means includes an inner threaded surface formed adjacent the top end of the second member for engaging an externally threaded locking screw, the locking screw further including an internally threaded surface for engaging an externally threaded set screw.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein rotation of the externally threaded locking screw fixes the position of the bone fastener with respect to the second member while rotation of the externally threaded set screw fixes the position of the spinal rod with respect to the second member.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the rod receiving channel of the second member is opened towards a side thereof so that the spinal rod is side-loading.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the rod receiving channel of the first member is opened towards a side thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the rod receiving channel of the second member is opened towards the top end so that the second rod receiving channel is U-shaped.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the rod receiving channel of the first member is opened towards the top end so that the first rod receiving channel is U-shaped.