Connector for attaching an alignment rod to a bone structure

Abstract

A connector for a spinal alignment system includes a base, a hook, a guide aperture, and a locking portion. The base includes a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod. The hook extends from the base. The guide aperture is adapted to receive a bone fastener and the locking portion is adapted to engage the bone fastener. The guide aperture extends through one of the base and the hook and the locking portion is located in the other of the base and the hook. The locking portion is coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. The bone fastener cooperates with the base and hook to form a tension band construct that resists opposing forces acting on the construct. A rod locking fastener engages the channel and the fixation rod to secure the fixation rod in the channel. The rod locking fastener and the base include mating surfaces that cooperate with each other to resist the force exerted by the fixation rod onto the rod locking fastener when the fixation rod is secured in the channel.

1 . A connector for an implantable system used in treating at least one of bone deformities and bone injuries comprising: a base including a channel extending therethrough to receive a fixation rod; a hook extending from the base; a guide aperture adapted to receive a bone fastener, the guide aperture extending through one of the base member and the hook member, and a locking portion adapted to lockingly engage the bone fastener, the locking portion being located in another one of the base and the hook, the locking portion being coaxial with the guide aperture such that the guide aperture guides a shaft of the bone fastener into alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is received by the guide aperture. 
   
   
       2 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is a threaded bore. 
   
   
       3 . The connector according to  claim 2 , wherein the threaded bore is a closed-end bore. 
   
   
       4 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is a slotted bore. 
   
   
       5 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion is a through-bore. 
   
   
       6 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion extends obliquely into another one of the base and the hook. 
   
   
       7 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking portion extends obliquely into the hook. 
   
   
       8 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a first open end and a second open end. 
   
   
       9 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises an open end and a closed end. 
   
   
       10 . The connector according to  claim 9 , wherein the closed end comprises a threaded portion and threaded cap engaged with the threaded portion. 
   
   
       11 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel comprises a tapered opening at each end of the channel. 
   
   
       12 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises: a first side wall portion; and a second side wall portion spaced from and extending parallel to the first side wall portion; and the hook further comprises: a first hook portion extending from the base; and a second hook portion joined to and extending from the first hook portion. 
   
   
       13 . The connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the channel includes a bottom portion and the guide aperture extends obliquely through the bottom portion; and the locking portion extends obliquely into a junction of the first hook portion and the second hook portion. 
   
   
       14 . The connector according to  claim 13 , wherein the bottom portion comprises a recess surrounding the guide aperture to receive the head of the bone fastener when the bone fastener is engaged with the locking portion. 
   
   
       15 . The connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the channel includes a bottom portion and the guide aperture extends obliquely through the bottom portion; and the locking portion extends obliquely into one of the first hook portion and the second hook portion. 
   
   
       16 . The connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the channel includes a bottom portion and the locking portion extends obliquely into the bottom portion; the guide aperture extends obliquely through one of the first hook portion and the second hook portion. 
   
   
       17 . The connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide aperture extends obliquely through one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion; and the locking portion extends obliquely into another one of the first hook portion and the second hook portion. 
   
   
       18 . The connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion comprise a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion, respectively, the second threaded portion cooperating with the first threaded portion to engage a rod locking fastener. 
   
   
       19 . The connector according to  claim 18 , wherein the first wall portion and the second wall portion each comprise one of an arcuate ridge and an arcuate groove to engage another one of an arcuate ridge and an arcuate groove on the rod locking fastener, the one of the arcuate ridge and the arcuate groove extending from a respective edge of the first wall portion and the second wall portion. 
   
   
       20 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector is adapted to be disposed on an anterior portion of a spinal column. 
   
   
       21 . The connector according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of an outer surface of the base is sculpted. 
   
   
       22 . A rod locking fastener for securing a rod in a channel of a connector, the rod locking fastener comprising: a thread to engage the connector and including a first side extending from an adjacent root portion at a first acute angle; an end to frictionally engage the rod and secure the rod to the connector, the end being adjacent to the thread; and a tool engagement portion adapted to receive a tool that drives the rod locking fastener into and out of engagement with the rod. 
   
   
       23 . The rod locking fastener according to  claim 22 , further comprising a head portion connected to the threaded portion, the head portion including one of an arcuate groove and an arcuate ridge to engage another one of an arcuate groove and an arcuate ridge on the connector to prevent the channel of the fastener from spreading after the rod is secured in the channel 
   
   
       24 . The rod locking fastener according to  claim 22 , wherein the thread includes a second side extending parallel to the first side. 
   
   
       25 . The fastener according to  claim 22 , wherein the thread includes a second side extending at a second acute angle with respect to an adjacent root portion. 
   
   
       26 . A spinal alignment system including: a connector adapted to engage a vertebra of a human spinal column, the connector comprising: a base having a channel; a hook extending from the base; a guide aperture extending through one of the base member and the hook member, and a locking portion being located in another one of the base member and the hook member, the locking portion being coaxial with the guide aperture; a bone fastener including a head and a shaft extending from the head, the guide aperture cooperating with the shaft to guide the bone fastener through the vertebra in alignment with the locking portion when the bone fastener is inserted into the guide aperture, and the locking portion engaging the shaft when the bone fastener is inserted into the vertebra; a fixation rod; and a rod locking fastener cooperating with the channel to secure the fixation rod to the connector when the fixation rod is received in the channel and the rod locking fastener is engaged with the channel. 
   
   
       27 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 26 , wherein the connector is adapted to engage an anterior portion of the vertebra. 
   
   
       28 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 26 , wherein the channel is detachable from the hook. 
   
   
       29 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 26 , wherein the bone fastener is a pin. 
   
   
       30 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 26 , wherein when the bone fastener is tightly received in the locking portion, the bone fastener is placed in tension and the connector is placed in compression such that the bone fastener and the connector cooperate to define a tension band that distributes a force exerted by the fixation rod throughout the connector and the bone fastener. 
   
   
       31 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 26 , wherein the rod locking fastener and the base include mating surfaces that cooperate with each other to resist a force exerted by the fixation rod onto the rod locking fastener when the fixation rod is secured in the channel. 
   
   
       32 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 31 , wherein the mating surfaces comprise threads formed on the rod locking fastener and in the channel. 
   
   
       33 . The spinal alignment system according to  claim 32 , wherein the mating surfaces further comprise one of an arcuate groove and an arcuate ridge on each side of the channel and another one of an arcuate groove and an arcuate ridge on the rod locking fastener. 
   
   
       34 . A fastener for securing a first component of an implant to a second component of the implant comprising: a body having a first end and a second end opposing the first end, the body extending along an axis; a thread disposed on and extending for a length along the body, the thread comprising: an engagement portion having a first face and a second face generally opposing the first face; and a root portion adjacent to and extending alongside the engagement portion; wherein a first segment of the length of the thread has the first face disposed at an acute angle to an adjacent root portion. 
   
   
       35 . The fastener according to  claim 34 , wherein the first portion having the second face extending at an obtuse angle with respect to an adjacent root portion. 
   
   
       36 . The fastener according to  claim 34 , wherein the first portion having the second face extending at an acute angle with respect to an adjacent root portion. 
   
   
       37 . The fastener according to  claim 34 , wherein the thread further comprising: a second portion having the first axial face extending perpendicularly with respect to the root portion and the second axial face extending perpendicularly with respect to an adjacent root portion; and a third portion having the first axial face extending at an obtuse angle with respect to an adjacent root portion.