IP Library Granted Patent US 7,967,846
Granted Patent B2
US 7,967,846 · App. 09/956,055 · Granted Jun 28, 2011

Pedicle screw for intervertebral support elements

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,967,846
App. No.
09/956,055
Granted
Jun 28, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pedicle screw for intervertebral support elements consists of a shaft and a head comprising at least two parts. The head is formed as a securing means for at least one support element. Each support element consists of a piece of a cable-like band and a cylindrical support body with an axial lumen containing the band. The band is securable outside end surfaces of the support body in the head. The head is formed with a contact surface via which a pressure stress can be exerted on the support body in the band direction, and indeed using the band and in cooperation with a further pedicle screw. A part of the head which is firmly connected to the shaft at the one end of the latter, contains a base groove which is oriented transversely to the shaft and into which the part of the band to be secured or a connecting piece which contains the band can be introduced during the securing of the support element by means of a translatory movement in the direction of the shaft and fixed there.

Claims (21)

1. A pedicle screw for intervertebral support elements, consisting of a shaft and a head which comprises at least two parts, with the head being formed as a securing means for at least one support element, with each support element consisting of a piece of a cable-like band and an elastical cylindrical support body with an axial lumen which contains the band, with the band being securable outside end surfaces of the support body in the head and with the head being formed with a contact surface via which a pressure stress can be exerted on the support body in the band direction, namely using the band and in cooperation with a further pedicle screw,

wherein a part of the head, which is firmly connected to the shaft at the one end of the latter, contains a base groove which is oriented transversally to the shaft and into which the part of the band to be secured may be introduced during the securing of the support element by means of a translatory movement in the direction of the shaft and fixed there,

wherein the head comprises a core part and a separate sleeve-like part that tightly encloses the core part,

wherein the core part contains the base groove, and

wherein the band is connectable to the sleeve-like part prior to the sleeve-like part being pushed onto the core part for introducing the band into the base groove.

2. A pedicle screw in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the band may be fixed in the head with a screw.

3. A pedicle screw in accordance with claim 1 , wherein that the base groove has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the band in such a manner that the base groove is formed complementarily in the insertion region.

4. A pedicle screw in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the base groove is arranged between two lugs in their base region; and wherein the lugs have on their inner side thread-like or groove-like depressions into which a securing part may be anchored by means of a form lock, with the lugs advantageously being elastically spread apart somewhat by the securing part after the production of the form lock so that the position of the securing part is additionally fixed as a result of a force lock.

5. A pedicle screw in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the band may be secured in a connector, and wherein the connector may be secured on the core part of the head, with the core part being the part which is firmly connected to the one shaft end.

6. A pedicle screw in accordance with claim 4 wherein the securing part is a screw.

7. A supporting system for vertebrae, the supporting system including intervertebral support elements and pedicle screws, each pedicle screw consisting of a shaft and a head which comprises at least two parts, with the head being formed as a securing means for at least one support element, with each support element consisting of a piece of a cable-like band and an elastical cylindrical support body with an axial lumen which contains the band, with the band being securable outside end surfaces of the support body in the head and with the head being formed with a contact surface via which a pressure stress can be exerted on the support body in the band direction, namely using the band and in cooperation with a further pedicle screw,

wherein a part of the head, which is firmly connected to the shaft at the one end of the latter, contains a base groove which is oriented transversally to the shaft and into which the part of the band to be secured may be introduced during the securing of the support element by means of a translatory movement in the direction of the shaft and fixed there,

wherein the head comprises a core part and a separate sleeve-like part that tightly encloses the core part,

wherein the core part contains the base groove, and

wherein the band is connectable to the sleeve-like part prior to the sleeve-like part being pushed onto the core part for introducing the band into the base groove.

8. A supporting system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein each band may be fixed in the head with a screw.

9. A supporting system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein each base groove has a shape which corresponds to the shape of the band in such a manner that the base groove is formed complementarily in the insertion region.

10. A supporting system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein each base groove is arranged between two lugs in their base region; and wherein the lugs have on their inner side thread-like or groove-like depressions into which a securing part may be anchored by means of a form lock, with the lugs advantageously being elastically spread apart somewhat by the securing part after the production of the form lock so that the position of the securing part is additionally fixed as a result of a force lock.

11. A supporting system in accordance with claim 7 , wherein each band may be secured in a connector; and wherein the connector may be secured on the core part of the head, with the core part being the part which is firmly connected to the one shaft end.

12. A supporting system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the securing part is a screw.

13. A supporting system in accordance with claim 7 wherein each head comprises a core part and a sleeve-like part which tightly encloses the core part.

Assignments (3)
CORPORATE TRANSFORMATION Recorded Sep 19, 2005
From: CENTERPULSE ORTHOPEDICS LTD.
To: ZIMMER GMBH
Reel/Frame 016553/0983 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 4, 2004
From: SULZER ORTHOPEDICS LTD.
To: CENTERPULSE ORTHOPEDICS LTD.
Reel/Frame 015400/0554 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2001
From: WALDER, RETO; BRAUNSCHWEILER, RETO
To: SULZER ORTHOPEDICS, LTD.
Reel/Frame 012191/0489 →