Anti-splay apparatus
View Patent ↗An anti-splay apparatus having a bridge and frangible connection points for use with mechanical fasteners having a shank portion and a receiving member with opposing arms is provided. The bridge may take a number of forms including a ring, a notched ring, a tube, or a notched tube and the connection points join the opposing arms of the receiving member with the bridge. Also provided is the anti-splay apparatus also having tabs connected between frangible connection points.
1. An anti-splay apparatus, comprising:
a head that secures to a bone by a shank, the shank extending from the head in a first direction when the head is secured to the bone by the shank;
a plurality of opposing arms of a receiving member of a mechanical fastening assembly, the plurality of opposing arms extending from the head in a second direction different from the first direction, and the plurality of opposing arms being joined to the head by a first plurality of frangible connection points; and
a bridge proximal to an end of the plurality of opposing arms distal to the head, the bridge joining the plurality of opposing arms wherein the bridge is joined to the arms by a second plurality of frangible connection points.
2. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising one or more tabs joined to the bridge at a location between frangible connection points of the second plurality of frangible connection points.
3. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the one or more tabs further comprises an opening or indentation.
4. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bridge comprises a ring, a tube, two or more arcs, a notched arc, a notched ring or a notched tube.
5. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiving member comprises two opposing arms.
6. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a depression on an upper portion of one or more of the plurality of opposing arms.
7. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a scored section on one or more of the second frangible connection points.
8. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of opposing arms remain connected to the head when the second frangible connection points are broken.
9. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is the opposite of the second direction.
10. An anti-splay apparatus, comprising:
a head that secures to a bone by a shank, the shank extending from the head in a first direction when the head is secured to the bone by the shank;
a plurality of opposing arms of a receiving member of a mechanical fastening assembly, the plurality of opposing arms extending from the head in a second direction different from the first direction;
a bridge proximal to an end of the plurality of opposing arms distal to the head, the bridge joining the plurality of opposing arms wherein the bridge is joined to the arms by a plurality of frangible connection points; and
a plurality of tabs, wherein
the bridge is ring-shaped and the tabs extend upwardly from the bridge and are connected to the bridge by four frangible connection points.
11. An anti-splay apparatus, comprising:
a head that secures to a bone by a shank, the shank extending from the head in a first direction when the head is secured to the bone by the shank;
two arms of a receiving member of a mechanical fastening assembly, the two arms extending from the head in a second direction different from the first direction, and the two arms being joined to the head by a first pair of frangible connection points; and
a plurality of bridge/tab combinations proximal to an end of the arms distal to the head wherein each bridge/tab combination is attached between the two arms by a second pair of frangible connection points wherein the second frangible connection points of each pair are spaced apart laterally.
12. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 11 , wherein one or more of the plurality of bridge/tab combinations further comprises an opening or indentation.
13. The anti-splay apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a scored section on one or more of the second frangible connection points.
14. A pedicle screw assembly, comprising:
a shank;
a receiving member comprising a U-shaped head having an opening through which the shank passes, the U-shape head being securable to a bone by the shank, and the shank extending from the U-shape head in a first direction when the U-shaped head is secured to the bone with the shank;
a plurality of arms that extend upwardly from the U-shaped head in a second direction different from the first direction, the plurality of arms being joined to the head by a first plurality of frangible connection points; and
a bridge proximal to an end of the plurality of arms distal to the U-shaped head, the bridge joining the plurality of arms wherein the bridge is joined to the arms by a second plurality of frangible connection points.
15. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 14 , further comprising one or more tabs joined to the bridge at a location between frangible connection points of the second plurality of frangible connection points.
16. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one or more tabs further comprises an opening or indentation.
17. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 15 , wherein there are two tabs joined to the bridge by two of the second frangible connection points.
18. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 14 , wherein the bridge comprises a ring, a tube, two or more arcs, a notched arc, a notched ring or a notched tube.
19. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a scored section on one or more of the second plurality of frangible connection points.
20. A pedicle screw assembly, comprising:
a shank;
a receiving member comprising a U-shaped head having an opening through which the shank passes, the U-shape head being securable to a bone by the shank, and the shank extending from the U-shape head in a first direction when the U-shaped head is secured to the bone with the shank;
a plurality of arms that extend upwardly from the U-shaped head in a second direction different from the first direction;
a bridge proximal to an end of the plurality of arms distal to the U-shaped head, the bridge joining the plurality of arms wherein the bridge is joined to the arms by a plurality of frangible connection points; and
one or more tabs joined to the bridge, wherein
the tabs are rectangular, the bridge is ring-shaped and the tabs extend upwardly or downwardly from the bridge.
21. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 20 , wherein the tabs extend upwardly from the bridge.
22. The pedicle screw assembly of claim 20 , wherein the tabs extend downwardly from the bridge.