BONE FIXATION ASSEMBLY
A bone fixation element includes a bone fixation member having a base and a pair of arms elastically spreadable for reversibly clipping on a bone or an implant, and a connector assembly configured to be attached to the base so as to rigidly fix the fixation member to a bone fixation rod.
1 . A bone fixation element configured to attach a bone fixation rod to an underlying bone, the bone fixation element comprising a bone fixation member including 1) a fixation body including a base and a pair of spaced arms that extend from the base, and define a bone receiving space therebetween, the arms being spreadable from a first initial position to a second flexed position configured to attach the fixation body to an underlying bone, and 2) a connection interface that extends from the fixation body.
2 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arms are configured to be reversibly clippable on a lamina of a vertebra.
3 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bone fixation member is made from a material with a Young's modulus greater than 30 GPa.
4 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the bone fixation member is made from a memory metal.
5 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a connector assembly that is configured to attach to both the bone fixation rod and the bone fixation member.
6 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 5 , wherein the connector assembly comprises a fastener that has a closable form configured to enclose an entire periphery of the longitudinal rod.
7 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 5 , wherein the connector assembly is configured to secure the bone fixation rod with respect to translational and rotational movement relative to the bone fixation member.
8 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 5 , wherein the bone fixation body and the connector assembly are rigidly connected to each other.
9 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 8 , wherein the connector interface is configured to receive the bone fixation rod such that the bone fixation rod extends along a direction parallel to the direction in which the arms are spaced.
10 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 5 , wherein the fixation member is formed as a cable tie.
11 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 5 , wherein the connection interface and the connector assembly define a releasably fixable polyaxially pivotable joint.
12 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the fixation body defines a substantially elliptical shape that defines a first long dimension and a second short dimension that extend in a plane defined by the arms.
13 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the arc-shaped element comprises more than two arms.
14 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base comprises an inner surface that defines a first radius of curvature, and at least one of the arms comprises an inner surface that defines a second radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature.
15 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the two arms defines a distal end opposite the base, such that the distal ends define a mouth to the bone receiving space having a width that expands when the arms move from their first initial position to their second flexed position.
16 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein the each of the two arms comprises an engagement member configured to engage an insertion instrument that applies an expansion force onto the arms that causes the arms to flex away from each other.
17 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 16 , wherein the engagement member comprises a groove configured to receive a complementary tooth of the insertion instrument.
18 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the arms define an inner surface which is coated with hydroxylapatite, a polymer or titanium.
19 . The bone fixation element as recited in claim 18 , wherein the arms are elastically spreadable from the first initial position to the second flexed position.
20 . An insertion instrument configured to clip a bone fixation member having a base and a pair of opposed arms extending from the base onto an underlying bone, the insertion instrument comprising:
a clamp including an engagement member configured to engage the opposed arms of the bone fixation member; and
a shaft that carries a pusher that configured to apply a force against the base as the clamp is engaged to the opposed arms, such that as the shaft is advanced relative to the clamp, the clamp causes the opposed arms to spread apart.