Percutaneous Transverse Connector System

Abstract

A system and method for stabilizing a spine of an animal subject involving a transverse rod installation instrument assembly for inserting a transverse rod on the spine of a subject percutaneously comprising: a first rod clamp extender mounted on a ipsilateral rod clamp and a second rod clamp extender mounted on a contralateral rod clamp wherein the ipsilateral rod clamp and the contralateral rod clamp are secured to a vertebra at the ipsilateral and contralateral pedicle; and a pivoting installation instrument pivotably mounted to the first rod clamp extender and the second rod clamp extender to pass a transverse rod percutaneously through a head portion of the ipsilateral side rod clamp and to the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp after passing through a spinous process of the vertebra through pivot axis “A” such that the transverse rod is secured at the head portion of the ipsilateral rod clamp and the head portion of the contralateral rod clamp.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An orthopedic clamp system for use with a rod for immobilizing bone comprising:
 a rod clamp assembly having a clamp with an upper surface and a lower surface and a rod receiving section positioned superior to the clamp the rod receiving section having a pair of opposing wings that extend from the rod receiving section, the clamp including a tightening screw through its upper surface for securing the clamp to a longitudinal rod immobilized to the bone and a polyaxial head that is positioned between the rod receiving section and the clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The orthopedic clamp system of  claim 1  wherein the polyaxial head allows for freedom of movement when positioning a transverse rod passer in the rod receiving section. 
     
     
         3 . The orthopedic clamp system of  claim 1  wherein the rod receiving section is threaded to mate with a set screw to tighten a transverse rod positioned in the rod receiving section. 
     
     
         4 . The orthopedic clamp system of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing wings include a bolt on an outer surface of the pair of opposing wings used to secure a docking ring of a rod clamp extender when the rod clamp extender is positioned over the pair of opposing wings. 
     
     
         5 . The orthopedic clamp system of  claim 1  wherein the pair of opposing wings create an open space along the length “L” of the rod clamp assembly which space permits a transverse rod receiving section to be observed from above. 
     
     
         6 . The orthopedic clamp system of  claim 1  wherein the wings above the rod receiving section are releaseably attached to the rod receiving section.