Bone anchoring element and stabilization device for bones, in particular for the spinal column

1. A bone anchoring element comprising:

an anchoring section for anchoring to a bone;

a receiving part pivotably connected to the anchoring section, the receiving part comprising two legs defining a generally U-shaped channel extending from free ends of the legs to second ends of the legs that join to define a seat, the seat being configured to receive a stabilization rod along a longitudinal axis of the channel, wherein each leg has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side along the longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of each leg has a thread; and

a threaded locking element configured to engage the threads of the legs;

wherein each leg has a substantially straight opening generally oriented along the longitudinal axis and extending through the leg for guiding a connection rod from the first side of the leg to the second side of the leg;

wherein each of the openings is located in a corresponding leg at a location along the leg from the seat to the free end of the leg, and has a bottom that is positioned closer to an end of the receiving part with the free ends of the legs than a bottom of the seat is positioned to the end of the receiving part with the free ends of the legs; and

wherein the bone anchoring element is adjustable from a first position where the anchoring section and the receiving part are pivotable relative to one another to a second position where an angular orientation between the anchoring section and the receiving part is locked, and

wherein a profile of each of the openings at the first side and at the second side of each corresponding leg to the outside of the bone anchoring element is the same between the first position and the second position.

2. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the openings are configured as through-holes extending completely through the legs generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

3. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , further comprising a securing structure configured to prevent removal of an inserted connection rod from each respective opening.

4. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the openings are open to the channel.

5. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the openings are open to an exterior of the receiving part.

6. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the openings are provided on an outer side of the legs and are integrally formed in the legs.

7. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the openings are provided on a separate part mounted on an outer side of the legs.

8. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the openings are smaller than an opening defined by the free ends of the legs of the receiving part.

9. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring section and the receiving part form a polyaxial bone screw.

10. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein the opening of each leg has at least a portion with a constant cross-section that extends parallel to the longitudinal axis through the leg.

11. The bone anchoring element of claim 1 , wherein each of the openings has at least a portion with a closed cross-section.

12. A stabilization system for bones or a spinal column comprising:

a stabilization rod comprising a flexible section;

two connection rods that are less flexible than the flexible section of the stabilization rod; and

at least two bone anchoring elements, each bone anchoring element comprising:

an anchoring section for anchoring to a bone; and

a receiving part connected to the anchoring section, the receiving part comprising two legs defining a generally U-shaped channel extending from free ends of the legs to second ends of the legs that join to define a seat, the seat being configured to receive the stabilization rod along a longitudinal axis of the channel, wherein each leg has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side along the longitudinal axis, and an opening generally oriented along the longitudinal axis and extending through the leg from the first side to the second side;

wherein the stabilization rod is configured to be received in the channels of the bone anchoring elements to connect the bone anchoring elements; and

wherein each connection rod is configured to be guided through the opening of a corresponding one of the legs of each of the bone anchoring elements, such that when the stabilization rod and the connection rods are received in the bone anchoring elements, the flexible section of the stabilization rod is positioned between the connection rods.

13. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein the connection rods are connectable to each other at one end.

14. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein each bone anchoring element further comprises a locking element configured to engage the legs, the locking element being moveable between an unlocked position wherein an inserted stabilization rod is freely movable in the channel and a locked position wherein an inserted stabilization rod is fixed in the channel, and wherein the connection rods are freely moveable in the openings in both the unlocked and the locked positions.

15. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein each of the openings is located in a corresponding leg at a location along the leg from the seat to the free end of the leg, and has a bottom that is positioned closer to the free end of the leg than a bottom of the seat.

16. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein a diameter of each of the connection rods is smaller than a diameter of the stabilization rod.

17. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein the at least two bone anchoring devices comprise polyaxial bone screws, and wherein the connection rods align the receiving parts of the polyaxial bone screws when the connection rods are guided in the openings of the bone anchoring elements.

18. The stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein the connection rods are entirely spaced apart in the bone anchoring elements.

19. A method of attaching a stabilization device to bone or vertebra, the stabilization device comprising a stabilization rod comprising a flexible section, two connection rods that are less flexible than the flexible section of the stabilization rod, and at least two bone anchoring elements, each bone anchoring element comprising an anchoring section for anchoring to a bone and a receiving part connected to the anchoring section, the receiving part comprising two legs defining a generally U-shaped channel extending from free ends of the legs to second ends of the legs, wherein each leg has a first side, a second side opposite to the first side along a longitudinal axis of the channel, and an opening generally oriented along the longitudinal axis and extending through the leg from the first side to the second side, the method comprising:

anchoring the anchoring sections of the bone anchoring elements to bone or vertebra;

inserting the stabilization rod in the channel of each receiving part; and

guiding the connection rods through corresponding ones of the openings in the legs of each receiving part, such that the flexible section of the stabilization rod is positioned between the connection rods.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the stabilization rod is inserted in the channel of each receiving part before guiding the connection rods through the openings of the legs of each receiving part.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the connection rods are guided through the openings of the legs of each receiving part before inserting the stabilization rod in the channel of each receiving part.

22. The method of claim 19 , further comprising moving a locking element of each bone anchoring element from an unlocked position wherein the stabilization rod is freely movable in the channel of each receiving part, to a locked position wherein the stabilization rod is fixed in the channel of each receiving part, and wherein the connection rods are freely moveable in the openings in both the unlocked and the locked positions.

23. A bone anchoring element comprising:

an anchoring section for anchoring to a bone;

a receiving part connected to the anchoring section, the receiving part comprising two legs defining a generally U-shaped channel extending from free ends of the legs to second ends of the legs that join to define a seat, the seat being configured to receive a stabilization rod along a longitudinal axis of the channel, wherein each leg has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side along the longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of each leg has a thread; and

a threaded locking element configured to engage the threads of the legs;

wherein each leg has an opening generally oriented along the longitudinal axis and extending through the leg for guiding a connection rod from the first side of the leg to the second side of the leg; and

wherein each of the openings is located in a corresponding leg at a location along the leg from the seat to the free end of the leg, is open to the channel and to an outer wall of the receiving part at the first side and the second side of the leg, and has a bottom that is positioned closer to an end of the receiving part with the free ends of the legs than a bottom of the seat is positioned to the end of the receiving part with the free ends of the legs.

24. The bone anchoring element of claim 23 , wherein the openings are configured as through-holes extending completely through the legs generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

25. The bone anchoring element of claim 23 , further comprising a securing structure configured to prevent removal of an inserted connection rod from each respective opening.

26. The bone anchoring element of claim 23 , wherein the openings are open to an exterior of the receiving part.

27. The bone anchoring element of claim 23 , wherein the openings are smaller than an opening defined by the free ends of the legs of the receiving part.

28. The bone anchoring element of claim 23 , wherein the anchoring section is pivotably connected to the receiving part.

29. The bone anchoring element of claim 28 , wherein the anchoring section and the receiving part form a polyaxial bone screw.

30. A bone anchoring element comprising:

an anchoring section for anchoring to a bone;

a receiving part connected to the anchoring section, the receiving part comprising two legs defining a generally U-shaped channel extending from free ends of the legs to second ends of the legs that join to define a seat, the seat being configured to receive a stabilization rod along a longitudinal axis of the channel, wherein each leg has a first side and a second side opposite to the first side along the longitudinal axis, and wherein at least a portion of each leg has a thread; and

a threaded locking element configured to engage the threads of the legs;

wherein each leg has a substantially straight opening generally oriented along the longitudinal axis and extending through the leg for guiding a connection rod from the first side of the leg to the second side of the leg; and

wherein each of the openings is located in a corresponding leg at a location along the leg from the seat to the free end of the leg, and opens laterally on a side of the leg opposite a side facing the channel in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel.

31. The bone anchoring element of claim 30 , wherein the openings are provided on a separate part mounted on an outer side of the legs.

32. The bone anchoring element of claim 30 , wherein the openings are configured as through-holes extending completely through the legs generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

33. The bone anchoring element of claim 30 , further comprising a securing structure configured to prevent removal of an inserted connection rod from each respective opening.

34. The bone anchoring element of claim 30 , wherein the openings are smaller than an opening defined by the free ends of the legs of the receiving part.

35. The bone anchoring element of claim 30 , wherein the anchoring section is pivotably connected to the receiving part.

36. The bone anchoring element of claim 35 , wherein the anchoring section and the receiving part form a polyaxial bone screw.