Occipito-cervical stabilization system and method

1. A system for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine, the system comprising:

a plate configured to contact the region of the skull and be secured thereto;

a spinal rod configured to extend from a first location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a second location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto, the rod and the plate forming an angle Φ with respect to one another about a transverse axis relative to the spine; and

a variable connection configured to secure the rod to the plate, the variable connection having:

a first mode connecting the rod and the plate and allowing continuous movement of the rod relative to the plate in a range defined by the angle Φ, wherein the angle Φ can be freely varied relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate; and

a second mode connecting the rod and the plate wherein the rod and the plate are locked at a particular value of the angle Φ selected to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises:

a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and

a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises:

a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and

a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection is configured to also allow the rod to be adjusted laterally with respect to the plate in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate, and to be locked at a lateral position relative to the plate in the second mode.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection is configured to also allow the rod to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the plate in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate, and to be locked at a longitudinal position relative to the plate in the second mode.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the connection is configured to allow a second angle formed between the rod and the plate to be adjusted in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate, and for the rod and the plate to be locked at a particular value of the angle in the second angle in the second mode.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the lateral arm and the transverse opening are configured to also allow the connector to be adjusted laterally with respect to the plate in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate, and to be locked at a lateral position relative to the plate in the second mode.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal opening is configured to also allow the rod to be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the plate in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate, and to be locked at a longitudinal position relative to the plate in the second mode.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the lateral arm and the transverse opening are configured to allow a second angle formed between the rod and the plate to be adjusted in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate, and for the rod and the plate to be locked at a particular value of the second angle in the second mode.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the lateral arm has a first set of spline teeth and the plug has a second set of spline teeth, the first and second sets of spline teeth being disengaged in the first mode and engaged in the second mode.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the lock has external threads and the locking opening has internal threads that mate with the external threads in both the first and second modes.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second spinal rod configured to extend from a location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto, the first and second rods positioned on laterally opposite sides of the plate from each other; and

a second variable connection configured to secure the second rod to the plate, the second connection having a first mode connecting the second rod and the plate wherein an angle formed between the second rod and the plate can be freely varied without requiring deformation of the second rod and the plate and a second mode connecting the second rod and the plate wherein the second rod and the plate are locked at a particular value of the angle selected to maintain a desired curvature of the spine.

11. A system for mechanically fixating a region of a skull to a portion of a spine, the system comprising:

a plate configured to contact the region of the skull and be secured thereto;

a spinal rod configured to extend from a first location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a second location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto;

a variable connection configured to secure the rod to the plate, the variable connection having first and second modes connecting the rod and the plate:

in the first mode the rod being freely rotatable relative to the plate in a range defined by an angle Φ formed by the rod relative to the plate, a relative position of the rod and the plate being adjustable with respect to at least four degrees of freedom of motion without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate; and

in the second mode the rod and the plate being locked in a particular relative position with respect to the at least four degrees of freedom of motion to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises:

a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and

a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises:

a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and

a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the variable connection is configured to allow adjustment of the relative position for the rod and the plate with respect to a fifth degree of freedom of motion in the first mode without requiring deformation of the rod and the plate.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the degrees of freedom of motion is a rotation or pivoting of the variable connection about a laterally extending axis relative to the spine.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the degrees of freedom of motion is a rotation of the variable connection about an axis that is perpendicular to a laterally extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis relative to the spine.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the degrees of freedom of motion is a translation of the variable connection along a laterally extending axis relative to the spine.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the degrees of freedom of motion is a translation of the rod along a longitudinally extending axis relative to the spine.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein one of the degrees of freedom of motion is a rotation of the rod about a longitudinally extending axis relative to the spine.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein the at least four degrees of freedom of motion comprises:

a rotation of the variable connection about an axis that is perpendicular to the laterally extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis relative to the spine;

a translation of the variable connection along the laterally extending axis;

a translation of the rod along the longitudinally extending axis; and

a rotation of the rod about the longitudinally extending axis.

19. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

a second spinal rod configured to extend from a location adjacent to the plate for connection thereto to a location adjacent at least one vertebra for connection thereto, the first and second rods positioned on laterally opposite sides of the plate from each other;

a second variable connection configured to secure the second rod to the plate, the second connection having first and second modes connecting the second rod and the plate, in the first mode a relative position of the second rod and the plate being adjustable with respect to at least four degrees of freedom of motion without requiring deformation of the second rod and the plate, in the second mode the second rod and the plate being locked in a particular relative position with respect to the at least four degrees of freedom of motion to maintain a desired curvature of the spine.

20. A method of coupling a plate to a rod in a system where the plate is to be secured to a region of a skull and the rod is to be secured to at least one vertebra of a spine, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting the rod and a portion of the plate via a variable connection to form a relative angle Φ between the rod and a plane defined by the plate;

in a first mode of the variable connection, freely rotating the rod relative to the plate in a range defined by the angle Φ, thereby adjusting the relative angle Φ about a transverse axis relative to the spine to a particular value of the angle Φ selected to position the skull relative to the spine and define a desired curvature of the spine without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate; and

in a second mode of the variable connection, locking the rod and the plate to maintain the particular value of the angle Φ between the rod and the plane defined by the plate, wherein the variable connection comprises:

a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and

a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises:

a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and

a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a lateral position of the rod relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:

adjusting a longitudinal position of the rod relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:

adjusting an angular position of the rod relative to the plate about an axis that is perpendicular to both a laterally extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of:

adjusting an angular position of the rod relative to the plate about a longitudinal axis defined by the rod without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising at least three of the following steps:

adjusting a lateral position of the rod relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate;

adjusting a longitudinal position of the rod relative to the plate without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate;

adjusting an angular position of the rod relative to the plate about an axis that is perpendicular to both a laterally extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate; and

adjusting an angular position of the rod relative to the plate about a longitudinal axis defined by the rod without requiring deformation of the rod or the plate.

26. A method of coupling a plate to a rod in a system where the plate is to be secured to a region of a skull and the rod is to be secured to at least one vertebra of a spine, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting the rod and a portion of the plate via a variable connection to form a relative position between the rod and a plane defined by the plate;

in a first mode of the variable connection, adjusting the relative position of the rod and the plate with respect to at least four degrees of freedom of motion comprising:

a rotation of the variable connection about a laterally extending axis relative to the spine;

a rotation of the variable connection about an axis that is perpendicular to the laterally extending axis and a longitudinally extending axis relative to the spine;

a translation of the variable connection along the laterally extending axis; and

a translation of the rod along the longitudinally extending axis; and

in a second mode of the variable connection, locking the rod and the plate via the variable connection at a particular relative position with respect to the at least four degrees of freedom of motion to maintain a desired curvature of the spine, wherein the variable connection comprises:

a lateral arm integral with the plate and extending laterally along the transverse axis relative to the spine; and

a connector comprising a body having a transverse opening configured to receive the arm and a longitudinal opening configured to receive a proximate portion of the rod adjacent the plate, the transverse opening configured to pivot about the transverse axis in the first mode, wherein the body has a lock opening connecting the transverse and longitudinal openings and extending normal to the transverse and longitudinal openings, and wherein the connector further comprises:

a clamp plug configured to be received in the lock opening at a location between the transverse and longitudinal openings; and

a lock configured to engage the lock opening and the lateral arm, wherein the clamp plug and the lock are configured to operate in the lock opening to allow free rotational and translation movement of the lateral arm and the rod in the transverse and longitudinal openings in the first mode and to clamp the lateral arm, the clamp plug, and the rod against the rotational and translation movements in the second mode.