IP Library Granted Patent US 9,820,779
Granted Patent B2
US 9,820,779 · App. 15/010,172 · Granted Nov 21, 2017

Spinal stabilization system

Inventors: Oheneba Boachie-Adjei (Briarcliff, NY); Kevin R. Strauss (Atlanta, GA); Clint Boyd (Winchester, VA); Michael Barrus (Ashburn, VA); Scott Jones (McMurray, PA); Jennifer Moore (Summit Point, WV)
Assignee: K2M, Inc.
A61B17/701A61B17/70A61B17/7002A61B17/7037A61B17/8863A61B17/7035A61B2017/681
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,820,779
App. No.
15/010,172
Granted
Nov 21, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spinal stabilization system includes a connecting rod, a rod bending device, and a plurality of bone screws. The connecting rod includes an elongate round portion, an elongate head portion and a neck portion connecting the elongate round portion with the elongate head portion. The rod bending device includes an elongate body defining an aperture configured and dimensioned to receive the connecting rod therethrough in a single orientation. The bone screws include a housing portion and a screw shaft distally extending from the housing portion. The housing portion includes an inner housing and an outer housing slidably surrounding at least a portion of the inner housing. The inner housing defines a slot configured and dimensioned to releasably secure the elongate round portion of the connecting rod therein. The outer housing is movable relative to the inner housing between an unlocked state and a locked state.

Claims (32)

1. A spinal stabilization system comprising:

a bone screw including a housing defining a slot; and

a connecting rod formed as a unitary construct, the connecting rod including:

an elongate round section configured to be received in the slot of the bone screw;

an elongate head portion; and

a neck portion defining a pair of concave sides connecting the elongate round section to the elongate head portion, wherein a cross-section of the connecting rod is asymmetric about a first axis of the connecting rod.

2. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate head portion has a non-circular cross-section.

3. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 2 , wherein the elongate head portion has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

4. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the neck portion and the elongate head portion extend away from the housing when the elongate round section is disposed in the slot.

5. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 4 , wherein the neck portion is rotatable about a longitudinal axis defined by the elongate round section with the elongate round section disposed in the slot of the bone screw.

6. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-section of the connecting rod is symmetric about a second axis transverse to the first axis.

7. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the neck portion is narrower than the elongate round section.

8. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate head portion, the elongate round section, and the neck portion are monolithically formed.

9. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the elongate round section, the elongate head portion, or the neck portion is formed from a biocompatible material.

10. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the elongate round section, the elongate head portion, or the neck portion is formed from a material selected from a group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, cobalt-chrome alloy, and stainless steel.

11. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an inner housing and an outer housing selectively positionable relative to the inner housing to lock the connecting rod positioned within the slot defined in the inner housing.

12. A spinal stabilization system comprising:

a connecting rod including an elongate round portion defining a longitudinal axis, an elongate head portion, and a neck portion connecting the elongate round portion with the elongate head portion wherein the neck portion is narrower than the elongate round portion, the connecting rod including a cross-section asymmetric about an axis of the connecting rod; and

a bone screw including a housing portion and a screw shaft extending distally from the housing portion, the housing portion defining a slot dimensioned to releasably secure the elongate round portion of the connecting rod therein, wherein the elongate head portion extends away from the housing and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the elongate round portion when the elongate round portion is disposed in the slot of the housing portion.

13. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 12 , wherein the elongate head portion of the connecting rod has a non-circular cross-section.

14. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 13 , wherein the elongate head portion includes a planar surface.

15. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 13 , wherein the elongate head portion of the connecting rod has a substantially rectangular cross-section.

16. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 12 , wherein the housing portion of the bone screw is transitionable between a locked position and an unlocked position.

17. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 16 , wherein the elongate head portion is rotatable when the housing portion is in the unlocked position.

18. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 12 , wherein the connecting rod is monolithically formed.

19. The spinal stabilization system of claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of bone screws.

20. The spinal stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein the housing portion of the bone screw includes an inner housing and an outer housing slidably surrounding at least a portion of the inner housing, the inner housing defining the slot, wherein the outer housing is movable relative to the inner housing between an unlocked state in which the elongate round portion of the connecting rod is releasable from the slot defined in the inner housing and a locked state in which the connecting rod is secured in the slot.

21. A spinal stabilization system comprising:

a connecting rod including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion including an elongate round portion, an elongate head portion including a planar surface, and a neck portion connecting the elongate round portion with the elongate head portion, the second portion including a circular rod coupled to the elongate round portion, the first portion of the connecting rod having a cross-section asymmetric about an axis of the first portion; and

a bone screw including a housing portion and a screw shaft extending distally from the housing portion, the housing portion defining a slot configured to releasably secure the connecting rod therein, wherein the elongate head portion extends away from the inner housing when the elongate round portion is disposed in the slot of the inner housing.

22. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 21 , wherein the connecting rod further includes a transition portion connecting the first and second portions, the transition portion being longitudinally tapered.

23. The spinal stabilization system according to claim 22 , wherein the transition portion includes a first end having a cross-section substantially identical to a cross-section of the first portion, and a second end having a cross-section substantially identical to a cross-section of the second portion.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2026
From: K2M, INC.
To: VB SPINE LLC
Reel/Frame 075801/0592 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2025
From: K2M, INC.; VB SPINE US OPCO LLC
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072340/0397 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: K2M, INC.; VB SPINE US OPCO LLC; VB SPINE LLC
To: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071682/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2016
From: BOACHIE-ADEJI, OHENEBA; STRAUSS, KEVIN R.; BOYD, CLINT; BARRUS, MICHAEL; JONES, SCOTT; MOORE, JENNIFER
To: K2M, INC.
Reel/Frame 037618/0905 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 13636416 · Nov 8, 2012
Continuation In Part PCTUS2011042127 · Jun 28, 2011
Provisional Application 61359028 · Jun 28, 2010
Provisional Application 61537112 · Sep 21, 2011
Related Publication 20160256195A1 · Sep 8, 2016