Spinal stabilization using bone anchor seat and cross coupling with improved locking feature

1. A stabilization system for implantation in a patient, comprising:

a bone anchor including a head and a shaft, the shaft extending away from the head along a bone insertion axis and being operable for connection to a bone of the patient; and

a tulip including: (i) a first pivot element including a first body having at least one first wall member through which at least one first aperture extends, a first anchor engagement element of the first body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage the head of the bone anchor and terminating at a first edge, and a first lever arm extending from the first body and forming at least a portion of a first locking element; and (ii) a second pivot element including a second body having at least one second wall member through which at least one second aperture extends, a second anchor engagement element of the second body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage the head of the bone anchor and terminating at a second edge, and a second lever arm extending from the second body and forming at least a portion of a second locking element, wherein:

the first and second wall members are disposed adjacent to one another such that the first and second apertures are sized, shaped and disposed in substantial axial alignment, and such that they are operable to receive a stabilization rod therethrough, and

displacement of the first and second lever arms of the respective first and second locking elements away from one another: (i) urges the first and second wall members to pivot about a central portion of the first and second apertures, (ii) urges the first and second apertures to misalign and thereby clamp the stabilization rod, and (iii) causes the first pivot element and the second pivot element to pivot in opposite directions about the stabilization rod thereby creating a corresponding movement of the first and second anchor engagement elements toward one another such that the respective inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements are directed toward one another to engage opposite sides of the head of the bone anchor, thereby clamping the head of the bone anchor therebetween.

2. The stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein displacement of the first and second lever arms causes the first and second wall members to pivot about, and clamp, the stabilization rod.

3. The stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one of the first and second lever arms includes a bore extending therethrough towards the other of the at least one of the first and second lever arms; and

the stabilization system further includes a locking element operable to engage the bore and cause the displacement of the first and second lever arms by direct or indirect engagement with the other of the at least one of the first and second lever arms.

4. The stabilization system of claim 3 , wherein the bore is threaded and the locking element includes a threaded shaft having first and second ends, the first end extending toward and engaging the other of the at least one of the first and second lever arms, the threaded shaft causing the displacement of the first and second lever arms in response to turning through the bore.

5. The stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first body includes at least two first wall members in a spaced apart orientation, each first wall member including a first aperture therethrough; and

the second body includes one second wall member disposed in the space between the at least two first wall members,

wherein the first apertures and the second aperture are in substantial axial alignment, with the second aperture located between the first apertures.

6. The stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein:

the first and second lever arms are spaced apart defining a gap therebetween; and

the stabilization system further comprises a cross-link member of generally elongate construction having first and second ends, at least one of the first and second ends being positioned in the gap.

7. The stabilization system of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the cross-link member being operable to couple to another stabilization system.

8. The stabilization system of claim 6 , wherein:

the first lever arm includes a bore extending therethrough towards the second lever arm;

the stabilization system further includes a locking element operable to engage the bore and extend into the gap; and

the locking element is operable to engage the cross-link member and directly or indirectly bias against the second lever arm to: (i) fix the cross-link member to the tulip, and (ii) cause the displacement of the first and second lever arms.

9. The stabilization system of claim 8 , wherein the cross-link member includes at least one aperture therethrough sized and shaped to engage locking element.

10. The stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein:

the inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements define an inner volume operable to receive the head of the bone anchor to achieve various articulations of the tulip about the head;

the first and second edges define an aperture through which the bone anchor may extend out of the inner volume; and

the inner volume and the aperture are positioned along the bone insertion axis.

11. The stabilization system of claim 10 , wherein displacement of the first and second lever arms cause at least portions of the inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements to engage the head of the bone anchor to fix the tulip to the bone anchor.

12. The stabilization system of claim 10 , wherein displacement of the first and second lever arms cause at least portions of the inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements to engage the head of the bone anchor to fix the tulip to the bone anchor.

13. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein the head of the bone anchor includes a friction enhancement feature.

14. The stabilization system of claim 13 , wherein the friction enhancement feature includes at least one of ridges, grooves, protrusions, dimples, crosshatching, and knurling.

15. The stabilization system of claim 10 , wherein:

the first and second apertures define a rod axis therethrough, which is axially aligned with a central axis of the stabilization rod when disposed within the apertures; and

the rod axis is generally transverse to the bone insertion axis.

16. The stabilization system of claim 15 , wherein:

the first lever arm extends from the first body transversely with respect to both the rod axis and the bone insertion axis; and

the second lever arm extends from the second body transversely with respect to both the rod axis and the bone insertion axis.

17. The stabilization system of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second lever arms extends substantially perpendicularly from the first and second bodies, respectively.

18. The stabilization system of claim 15 , wherein:

the first lever arm extends from the first body transversely with respect to the rod axis and substantially parallel with respect to the bone insertion axis; and

the second lever arm extends from the second body transversely with respect to the rod axis and substantially parallel with respect to the bone insertion axis.

19. A stabilization rod engaging apparatus for implantation in a patient, comprising:

a first pivot element including a first body having at least one first wall member through which at least one first aperture extends, a first anchor engagement element of the first body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage a head of a bone anchor and terminating at a first edge, and a first lever arm extending from the first body and forming at least a portion of a first locking element; and

a second pivot element including a second body having at least one second wall member through which at least one second aperture extends, a second anchor engagement element of the second body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage the head of the bone anchor and terminating at a second edge, and a second lever arm extending from the second body and forming at least a portion of a second locking element, wherein:

the first and second wall members are disposed adjacent to one another such that the first and second apertures are sized, shaped and disposed in substantial axial alignment, and such that they are operable to receive the stabilization rod therethrough, and

displacement of the first and second lever arms of the respective first and second locking elements away from one another: (i) urges the first and second wall members to pivot about a central portion of the first and second apertures, (ii) urges the first and second apertures to misalign and thereby clamp the stabilization rod, and (iii) causes the first pivot element and the second pivot element to pivot in opposite directions about the stabilization rod thereby creating a corresponding movement of the first and second anchor engagement elements toward one another such that the respective inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements are directed toward one another, and such that they are operable to clamp the head of the bone anchor therebetween.

20. The stabilization rod engaging apparatus of claim 19 , the first and second engagement elements are operable to engage a stabilization member for extension in a transverse direction relative to the stabilization rod in response to the displacement of the first and second locking elements relative to one another.

21. A method, comprising: providing a first pivot element including a first body having at least one first wall member through which at least one first aperture extends, a first anchor engagement element of the first body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage a head of a bone anchor and terminating at a first edge, and a first lever arm extending from the first body and forming at least a portion of a first locking element;

providing a second pivot element including a second body having at least one second wall member through which at least one second aperture extends, a second anchor engagement element of the second body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage the head of the bone anchor and terminating at a second edge, and a second lever arm extending from the second body and forming at least a portion of a second locking element; and

disposing the first and second wall members adjacent to one another such that the first and second apertures such that they are in substantial axial alignment and are operable to receive a stabilization rod therethrough,

wherein:

displacement of the first and second lever arms of the respective first and second locking elements away from one another: (i) urges the first and second wall members to pivot about a central portion of the first and second apertures, (ii) urges the first and second apertures to misalign and thereby clamp the stabilization rod, and (iii) causes the first pivot element and the second pivot element to pivot in opposite directions about the stabilization rod thereby creating a corresponding movement of the first and second anchor engagement elements toward one another such that the respective inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements are directed toward one another to engage opposite sides of the head of the bone anchor and are operable to clamp the head of the bone anchor.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

implanting the first and second pivot elements and a stabilization rod in a patient; and

displacing the first and second locking elements relative to one another such that the first and second apertures clamp the stabilization rod.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

implanting a bone anchor in a bone of the patient; and displacing the first and second locking elements relative to one another such that the first and second engagement elements engage the head of the bone anchor and fix the stabilization rod to the bone anchor.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first and second anchor engagement elements are operable to engage a bone anchor for extension in a transverse direction relative to a stabilization rod in response to the displacement of the first and second locking elements relative to one another.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

implanting the bone anchor in a patient; and displacing the first and second locking elements relative to one another such that the first and second anchor engagement elements engage the bone anchor and fix the bone anchor to the stabilization rod.

26. A stabilization system for implantation in a patient, comprising:

a bone anchor including a head and a shaft, the shaft extending away from the head along a bone insertion axis and being operable for connection to a bone of the patient; and

a tulip including: (i) a first pivot element including a first body having at least one first wall member through which at least one first aperture extends, a first anchor engagement element of the first body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage the head of the bone anchor and terminating at a first edge, and a first lever arm extending from the first body and forming at least a portion of a first locking element; and (ii) a second pivot element including a second body having at least one second wall member through which at least one second aperture extends, a second anchor engagement element of the second body including an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface including a contour operable to engage the head of the bone anchor and terminating at a second edge, and a second lever arm extending from the second body and forming at least a portion of a second locking element, wherein:

the first and second wall members are disposed adjacent to one another such that the first and second apertures are sized, shaped and disposed in substantial axial alignment, and such that they are operable to receive a stabilization rod therethrough, and

displacement of the first and second lever arms of the respective first and second locking elements away from one another (i) urges the first and second wall members to pivot about a central portion of the first and second apertures, (ii) urges the first and second apertures to misalign and thereby clamp the stabilization rod, and (iii) directs the respective inner surfaces of the first and second anchor engagement elements toward one another to engage opposite sides of the head of the bone anchor, thereby clamping the head of the bone anchor therebetween.