Vertebral fixing system
View Patent ↗A vertebral fixing system suitable for being mounted on a vertebra of the spine for connecting it to a rod. The system includes: a connecting part suitable for being connected to the rod, a flexible ligature of elongate shape having two free ends suitable for connecting together the connecting part and at least a portion of a vertebra and/or a rib, and an adjustable locking member mounted on the connecting part. The connecting part defines at least one passageway for passing the ligature in such a manner that two distinct strands of the ligature can be engaged in the passageway so that the two strands of the ligature define a first ligature portion forming a loop extending from one side of the connecting part, and second and third ligature portions extending from the other side of the connecting part.
1. A vertebral fixing system for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, comprising:
a one-piece connector including a passage extending through the one-piece connector for receiving a spinal rod therethrough;
a flexible ligature having a first end, a second end, an intermediate portion, a first portion between the intermediate portion and the first end, and a second portion between the intermediate portion and the second end, the first portion and the second portion of the flexible ligature both extending through the one-piece connector such that during surgery the intermediate portion provides a loop portion extending from a first opening of the one-piece connector to pass around a bony structure of a vertebra; and
a threaded fastener configured to threadably engage the one-piece connector to secure the flexible ligature to the one-piece connector;
wherein threaded engagement of the threaded fastener with the one-piece connector causes the first portion of the flexible ligature to bear against the second portion of the flexible ligature within the one-piece connector.
2. The vertebral fixing system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the flexible ligature is a free end extending from a second opening of the one-piece connector.
3. The vertebral fixing system of claim 2 , wherein the second end of the flexible ligature is a free end extending from the second opening of the one-piece connector.
4. The vertebral fixing system of claim 1 , wherein the threaded fastener is a clamping ring.
5. The vertebral fixing system of claim 1 , wherein the threaded fastener engages exterior threads of the one-piece connector.
6. The vertebral fixing system of claim 1 , wherein the passage configured to receive a spinal rod is generally perpendicular to the first opening.
7. A vertebral fixing system for securement to a vertebra, comprising:
an elongate spinal rod;
a one-piece connector including a passage sized for receiving the spinal rod therethrough;
a flexible ligature including a first end, a second end, an intermediate portion, a first portion between the intermediate portion and the first end, and a second portion between the intermediate portion and the second end, the first portion and the second portion of the flexible ligature both extending through the one-piece connector such that during surgery the first end extends from a first opening of the one-piece connector, the second end extends from the first opening of the one-piece connector, and the intermediate portion forms a loop portion extending from a second opening of the one-piece connector; and
a threaded fastener configured to threadably engage the one-piece connector to secure the flexible ligature to the one-piece connector;
wherein threaded engagement of the threaded fastener with the one-piece connector causes the first portion of the flexible ligature to bear against the second portion of the flexible ligature within the one-piece connector.
8. The vertebral fixing system of claim 7 , wherein the threaded fastener urges the spinal rod against at least one of the first portion and the second portion.
9. The vertebral fixing system of claim 7 , wherein the threaded fastener urges the spinal rod against at least one of the first portion and the second portion within the one-piece connector.
10. The vertebral fixing system of claim 7 , wherein the threaded fastener is a clamping ring.
11. The vertebral fixing system of claim 7 , wherein the threaded fastener engages exterior threads of the one-piece connector.
12. The vertebral fixing system of claim 7 , wherein the spinal rod extends through the one-piece connector generally perpendicular to the ligature.
13. The vertebral fixing system of claim 7 , wherein the spinal rod has a central longitudinal axis and the threaded fastener has a central longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the spinal rod.