Spinal stabilization system
View Patent ↗A spinal stabilization system includes a connecting rod and a bone screw. The connecting rod includes an elongate rounded section, an elongate head portion, and a neck portion connecting the elongate rounded section with the elongate head portion. The bone screw includes a head portion defining a slot, a shank extending longitudinally from the head portion, and a set screw configured to secure the connecting rod in the slot. The slot includes a leading end portion configured to receive the elongate rounded section of the connecting rod and a trailing end portion configured to threadably engage the set screw, wherein the slot is flared such that elongate rounded section of the connecting rod is pivotable about the leading end portion of the slot.
1. A spinal stabilization system comprising:
a connecting rod including an elongate rounded section having a circular cross-section, an elongate head portion having a non-circular cross-section, and a neck portion connecting the elongate rounded section with the elongate head portion, the connecting rod being monolithically formed; and
a bone screw including a head portion defining a slot, a shank extending longitudinally from the head portion, and a set screw configured to secure the connecting rod in the slot, the slot including a leading end portion configured to receive the elongate rounded section of the connecting rod and a trailing end portion configured to threadably engage the set screw, wherein the slot is flared such that elongate rounded section of the connecting rod is pivotable about the leading end portion of the slot.
2. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein a radius of the trailing end portion of the slot is larger than a radius of the leading end portion of the slot.
3. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 2 , wherein the leading end portion of the slot has an arcuate configuration dimensioned to accommodate the circular cross-section of the elongate rounded section of the connecting rod.
4. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion of the bone screw includes a pair of radially opposing walls defining the slot therebetween, the elongate head portion of the connecting rod movable toward and away from the pair of radially opposing walls of the slot.
5. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 4 wherein the pair of radially opposing walls of the head portion of the bone screw includes internal threads.
6. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the neck portion of the connecting rod is narrower than the elongate rounded section of the connecting rod.
7. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein a radius of elongate rounded section of the connecting rod is smaller than a radius of the leading end portion of the slot.
8. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the shank of the bone screw includes threads.
9. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the head portion and the shank of the bone screw are monolithically formed.
10. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the bone screw is made of titanium or titanium alloy.