Surgical cross connector
View Patent ↗Example embodiments relate generally to an apparatus operable to couple a pair of implantation rods that are surgically implanted adjacent to a plurality of vertebrae. Each implantation rod is secured by at least one fastener element having a head. The apparatus comprises at least one main assembly, said main assembly operable to move relative to a head of one of the fastener elements when not in a locked position. The apparatus also comprises a center link extending in an axial direction, said center link operable to move relative to the main assembly when not in a locked position. The main assembly is operable to receive the center link and a head of one of the fastener elements and secure the center link and the head relative to the main assembly when in a locked position.
1. An apparatus operable to couple a pair of implantation rods, wherein each implantation rod is secured by at least two fastener elements having a head, the apparatus comprising:
at least one main assembly operable to move relative to a head of one of the fastener elements when not in a locked position, the main assembly including
a main body, and
a center link clamp having an adjustable bore and housed within the main body; and
a center link extending in an axial direction, the center link operable to move relative to the main assembly when not in a locked position;
wherein the main assembly is operable to receive the center link and a head of one of the fastener elements;
wherein the main assembly is operable to secure the center link and the head relative to the main assembly when in a locked position;
wherein the adjustable bore is a throughhole defined in the center link clamp; and
wherein a portion of the center link clamp including the throughole is disposed inside the main body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main assembly comprises an outer sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the main body, an anchor clamp having an adjustable portion and proximate to the main body and the outer sleeve, and an adjustment member operable in cooperation with the main body to adjust the adjustable bore and the adjustable portion.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the center link is received by the adjustable bore of the center link clamp and the head is received by the adjustable portion of the anchor clamp.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the center link is secured relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated into a locked position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment member is a set cam assembly and wherein the set cam assembly secures the center link when a wall of the adjustable bore is contacted against the center link.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the adjustment member is a set screw and wherein the set screw secures the center link when a wall of the adjustable bore is contacted against the center link.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the head is secured relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated into a locked position.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the adjustment member is a set cam assembly and wherein the set cam assembly secures the head when a wall of the adjustable portion is contacted against the head.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the adjustment member is a set screw and wherein the set screw secures the head when a wall of the adjustable portion is contacted against the head.
10. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the center link is movable relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated from a locked position.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the adjustment member is a set cam assembly and wherein the center link is movable when a wall of the bore is released by the set cam assembly from contacting the center link.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the adjustment member is a set screw and wherein the center link is movable when a wall of the bore is released by the set screw from contacting the center link.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the main body is movable relative to the head when the adjustment member is actuated from a locked position.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the adjustment member is a set cam assembly and wherein the main body is movable relative to the head when a wall of the set cam assembly is released from contacting the anchor clamp.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the adjustment member is a set screw and wherein the main body is movable relative to the head when a wall of the set screw is released from contacting the anchor clamp.
16. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the center link clamp is disposed in the outer sleeve.
17. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer sleeve is distinct from the main body.
18. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the outer sleeve is separable from the main body.
19. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the center link clamp is distinct from the main body.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the center link clamp is separable from the main body.
21. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the center link is operable to be inserted into the throughhole.
22. An apparatus operable to fixably couple a pair of implantation rods, wherein each implantation rod is secured by at least two fastener elements, the apparatus comprising:
a center link extending in an axial direction;
two or more main assemblies, wherein each main assembly is operable to receive the center link and a head of one of the fastener elements when not in a locked position, each main assembly comprising:
a main body;
a center link clamp having an adjustable bore and housed within the main body;
an outer sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the main body;
an anchor clamp having an adjustable portion and proximate to the main body and the outer sleeve; and
an adjustment member operable in cooperation with the main body to adjust the adjustable bore and the adjustable portion;
wherein the center link is received in the adjustable bore of the center link clamp;
wherein the head is received in the adjustable portion of the anchor clamp;
wherein the center link and the head are securable relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated into a locked position;
wherein the center link is movable relative to the main body and the adjustable portion is movable relative to each main body when the adjustment member is actuated from the locked position;
wherein the adjustable bore is a throughhole defined in the center link clamp; and
wherein a portion of the center link clamp including the throughole is disposed inside the main body.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the adjustable member is a set cam assembly and wherein the set cam assembly secures the center link when a wall of the adjustable bore is contacted against the center link and secures the head when a wall of the adjustable portion is contacted against the head.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the adjustable member is a set screw and wherein the set screw secures the center link when a wall of the adjustable bore is contacted against the center link and secures the head when a wall of the adjustable portion is contacted against the head.
25. An apparatus operable to couple an implantation rod to a center link, wherein the implantation rod is secured by at least two fastener elements having a head, the apparatus comprising:
a main body;
a center link clamp having an adjustable bore and housed within the main body;
an outer sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the main body;
an anchor clamp having an adjustable portion and proximate to the main body and the outer sleeve; and
an adjustment member operable in cooperation with the main body to adjust the adjustable bore and the adjustable portion;
wherein the adjustable bore is a throughhole defined in the center link clamp; and
wherein a portion of the center link clamp including the throughole is disposed inside the main body.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the center link is received by the adjustable bore of the center link clamp and the head is received by the adjustable portion of the anchor clamp.
27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the center link is securable relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated into a locked position.
28. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the head is securable relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated into a locked position.
29. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the center link is movable relative to the main body when the adjustment member is actuated from the locked position.
30. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the main body is movable relative to the head when the adjustment member is actuated from the locked position.
31. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the adjustment member is a set cam assembly or a set screw.