US6328739B1 | 2001-12-11 | |||
US6050997A | 2000-04-18 |
What is claimeά is:
1. A bone fastener assembly comprising:
a bone fastener having an attaching portion for attaching the bone fastener to
a bone or bone part, and also having a supporting portion and a securing
portion;
an adjusting member supported by the supporting portion of the bone
fastener, the adjusting member having an opening extending through it, the
opening in the adjusting member being in registration with the securing
portion of the bone fastener, and the adjusting member including an engaging
surface adapted to engage an appliance adjacent to an aperture in the
appliance;
the supporting portion of the bone fastener and the adjusting member
being configured so that the adjusting member is supported by the supporting
portion of the bone fastener for universal movement relative to the supporting
portion of the bone fastener; and
a securing fastener having a first end adapted to pass through the
aperture in the appliance, the first end of the securing fastener extending
through the opening in the adjusting member and being secured to the
securing portion of the bone fastener, a second end of the securing fastener
having a bearing surface adapted to bear against the appliance in opposition
to the engaging surface of the adjusting member, whereby the appliance may
be securely fastened to the bone fastener. 2. The ne fastener assembly of claim 1 whereir ie supporting
portion of the bone fastener includes a terminal portion, and the adjusting
member is sized so that the engaging surface of the adjusting member
extends beyond the terminal portion of the supporting portion of the bone
fastener in the direction of the appliance, whereby the terminal portion of the
supporting portion of the bone fastener may be maintained out of contact with
the appliance.
3. The bone fastener assembly of claim 1 wherein the attaching
portion of the bone fastener comprises a shank having a longitudinal axis
extending from a bottom end to a top end of the shank and the outer portion
of the shank has threads suitable for attaching the bone fastener to a bone or
bone part.
4. The bone fastener assembly of claim 3 wherein the supporting portion of the bone fastener is positioned at the top end of the shank and
includes a spherical recess in which the supporting portion of the bone
fastener supports the adjusting member, the adjusting member where it is
supported by the supporting portion of the bone fastener having a
complementary spherical surface.
5. The bone fastener assembly of claim 4 wherein the supporting portion of the bone fastener includes a terminal portion, and the adjusting
member is sized so that the engaging surface of the adjusting member extends beydW the terminal portion of the supportii >g pcWion of the bone
fastener in the direction of the appliance, whereby the terminal portion of the
supporting portion of the bone fastener may be maintained out of contact with
the appliance.
6. The bone fastener assembly of claim 5 wherein the securing
portion of the bone fastener comprises a threaded cavity and the outer
portion of the securing fastener includes threads that secure the securing
fastener to the threaded cavity of the bone fastener.
7. The bone fastener of claim 6 wherein the bearing surface of the
securing fastener has a generally convex configuration that is adapted to
engage a complementary concave surface in the appliance.
8. The bone fastener of claim 7 wherein the opening in the adjusting member extends from a first end at the engaging surface of the adjusting
member to a second end that abuts the threaded cavity in the securing
portion of the bone fastener, and the second end of the opening is larger than
the first end of the opening in the adjusting member.
9. The bone fastener of claim 8 wherein the opening in the adjusting member has the shape of a frustrum of a cone. 10 Ari^fpparatus for use in retaining bone bodies in a desired spatial
relationship, the apparatus including
an appliance for attachment to one or more of the bone bodies, the
appliance having an aperture at the location where the appliance is attached
to a bone body, and
a bone fastener assembly for fastening the appliance to the bone
body, the bone fastener assembly comprising
a bone fastener having an attaching portion for attaching the bone
fastener to a bone body, and also having a supporting portion and a securing
portion,
an adjusting member supported by the supporting portion of the bone
fastener, the adjusting member having an opening extending through it, the
opening in the adjusting member being in registration with the securing
portion of the bone fastener, and the adjusting member including an engaging
surface engaging the appliance adjacent to the aperture in the appliance,
the supporting portion of the bone fastener and the adjusting member
being configured so that the adjusting member is supported by the supporting
portion of the bone fastener for universal movement relative to the supporting
portion of the bone fastener, and
a securing fastener having a first end adapted to pass through the
aperture in the appliance, the first end of the securing fastener extending
through the opening in the adjusting member and being secured to the
securing portion of the bone fastener, a second end of the securing fastener
having a bearing surface adapted to bear against the appliance in opposition to the engagi"surface of the adjusting member, wnerec^the appliance is
secureϊy ' fastehed ' to " the " Bone fastener.
1 1. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the supporting portion of the
bone fastener includes a terminal portion, and the adjusting member is sized
so that the engaging surface of the adjusting member extends beyond the
terminal portion of the supporting portion of the bone fastener in the direction
of the appliance, whereby the terminal portion of the supporting portion of the
bone fastener is maintained out of contact with the appliance.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member.
14. The bone apparatus of claim 10 wherein the attaching portion of
the bone fastener comprises a shank having a longitudinal axis extending from a bottom end to a top end of the shank and the oute^ortion of the
shank has threads suitable for attaching the bone fastener to a spinal bone
body
15 The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the supporting portion of the
bone fastener is positioned at the top end of the shank and includes a
spherical recess in which the supporting portion of the bone fastener
supports the adjusting member, the adjusting member where it is supported
by the supporting portion of the bone fastener having a complementary
spherical surface.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member u '"' " i -bdnέ Ms : t ; yH^Pi'ric!ftafes ' ' ' a4§Ffninai portion, and the adjusting member is sized
so that the engaging surface of the adjusting member extends beyond the
terminal portion of the supporting portion of the bone fastener in the direction
of the appliance, whereby the terminal portion of the supporting portion of the
bone fastener is maintained out of contact with the appliance.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the securing portion of the
bone fastener comprises a threaded cavity and the outer portion of the
securing fastener includes threads that secure the securing fastener to the
threaded cavity of the bone fastener.
21 . The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member. 22.The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the openingTn the adjusting
member extends from a first end at the engaging surface of the adjusting
member to a second end that abuts the threaded ^ cavity in the securing
portion of the bone fastener, and the second end of the opening is larger than
the first end of the opening in the adjusting member.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the appliance comprises a
coupling member and an elongated member, the coupling member having a
first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the coupling member
being secured to the bone fastener assembly and a second portion of the
coupling member connected to the elongated member.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the opening in the adjusting member has the shape of a frustrum of a cone.
25. The bearing fastener assembly of claim 1 wherein the bearing
surface of the securing fastener has a generally convex configuration that
engages a complementary concave surface in the appliance.
26. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the bearing surface of the
securing fastener has a generally convex configuration that engages a
complementary concave surface in the appliance.
27.
bone fastener comprises a shank having a longitudinal axis extending from a
bottom end to a top end of the shank and the outer portion of the shank has
threads suitable for attaching the bone fastener to a spinal bone body.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein the supporting portion of the
bone fastener is positioned at the top end of the shank and includes a
spherical recess in which the supporting portion of the bone fastener
supports the adjusting member, the adjusting member where it is supported
by the supporting portion of the bone fastener having a complementary
spherical surface.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the securing portion of the bone
fastener comprises a threaded cavity and the outer portion of the securing
fastener includes threads that secure the securing fastener to the threaded cavity of the bone fastener. |
BONE FASTETTER ASSEMBLY FOR BONE RETENl lOfWpPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to apparatuses that have utility in
connection with the retention of bone bodies in a desired spatial relationship. More
particularly, the invention concerns a pedicle screw assembly for an appliance that
maintains a desired spatial relationship among the vertebrae of a spine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A variety of devices are known for the fixation, internally or
otherwise, of bone bodies in humans and animals. In the case of the internal
fixation of the vertebrae of a spinal column, so that the vertebrae are maintained in a
desired spatial relationship with respect to one another, the devices often include
pedicle screw, or bone fastener, assemblies. These assemblies include a pedicle
screw, or bone fastener, that is anchored, typically by a threaded arrangement, into
the pedicle of each of the vertebrae that are to be maintained in a desired spatial
relationship. One or more appliances such as longitudinal supports, which may
comprise plates or rods, that extend longitudinally of the spinal column are
connected securely to the pedicle screw assemblies in a manner that allows the
vertebrae to be maintained in a desired alignment In order to achieve the desired
stability, the bone fasteners must be attached securely to the vertebrae and
connected firmly to the appliance
[0003] The B^ne fasteners may be connected directly to^he rods or plates,
or the connection between the bone fasteners and the rods may be accomplished by
the use of a connector or coupling member that forms a part of the appliance. In the
latter instance, the end of the bone fastener that is not attached to the vertebrae is
secured to one end of the coupling member and the other end of the coupling
member is secured to the rod or plate.
[0004] The secure placement of a rod with a rigid bone fastener, whether or
not a coupling member is used, or the placement of a plate between two or more
rigid screws is difficult for a variety of reasons. For example, the displacement or
angulation of the vertebrae may be such that the rigidity of the bone fastener and/or
coupling member, where a coupling member is used, prevents a secure connection
from being made among the components of the bone alignment system.
Additionally, installation is difficult because the rod or plate must align precisely with
all of the bone fasteners.
[0005] Although a bend can be made in the rod or plate in order that the
bone fasteners be firmly secured to the rod or plate, the possibility exits that
stresses can be created that cause the bone bodies or vertebrae to fracture or the
screws to loosen over time. This is even the case when rods having a degree of
flexibility are used. Thus it is important that bone fastener assemblies be provided
that minimize the likelihood of the establishment of undesirable stresses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a bone fastener assembly
comprises a bone fastener, an adjusting member and a securing fastener. The
bone fastener has an attaching portion for attaching the bone fastener to a bone or
bone part; a supporting portion; and a securing portion. The adjusting member is
supported by the supporting portion of the bone fastener and includes an opening
extending through it. The opening in the adjusting member is in registration with the
securing portion of the bone fastener. The adjusting member also includes an
engaging surface that is adapted to engage an appliance adjacent to an aperture in
the appliance. The supporting portion of the bone fastener and the adjusting
member are configured so that the adjusting member is supported by the supporting
portion of the bone fastener for universal movement relative to the supporting
portion of the bone fastener. The securing fastener has a first end that is adapted to
pass through the aperture in the appliance. The first end of the securing fastener
extends through the opening in the adjusting member and is secured to the securing portion of the bone fastener. A second end of the securing fastener has a bearing
surface that is adapted to bear against the appliance in opposition to the engaging
surface of the adjusting member, whereby the appliance may be securely fastened
to the bone fastener.
[0007] According to another aspect, the supporting portion of the bone
fastener includes a terminal portion and the adjusting member is sized so that the
engaging surface of the adjusting member extends beyond the terminal portion of
the supporting portion of the bone fastener in the direction of the appliance. With
this arrangement, thelerminal portion of the supporting portion " 3? the bone fastener
may be maintained out of contact with the appliance.
[0008] According to still another aspect, the attaching portion of the bone
fastener comprises a shank having a longitudinal axis extending from a bottom end
to a top end of the shank. The outer portion of the shank has threads that are
suitable for attaching the bone fastener to a bone or bone part. In a particular
aspect, the supporting portion of the bone fastener is positioned at the top end of
the shank. The supporting portion includes a spherical recess in which the
supporting portion of the bone fastener supports the adjusting member, and the
adjusting member, where it is supported by the supporting portion of the bone
fastener, has a complementary spherical surface.
[0009] According to yet another aspect, the securing portion of the bone
fastener comprises a threaded cavity and the outer portion of the securing fastener
includes threads that secure the securing fastener to the threaded cavity of the bone
fastener.
[0010] According to a further aspect, the opening in the adjusting member
extends from a first end at the engaging surface of the adjusting member to a
second end that abuts the threaded cavity in the securing portion of the bone
fastener. The second end of the opening is larger than the first end of the opening
in the adjusting member. According to a particular aspect, the opening in the
adjusting member has the shape of a frustrum of a cone.
[0011] According to another aspect, the bone fastener assembly fastens the
appliance to bone bodies and the apparatus retains the bone bodies in a desired
spatial relationship. The apertures in the appliance are located where the appliance
is attached to the bo?Wbodies. The bearing surface of the secδWhg fastener has a
generally convex configuration That " engages a complementary concave surface in
the appliance.
[0012] According to still another aspect, the appliance comprises a coupling
member having a first portion and a second portion and an elongated member such
as a rod or plate. The first portion of the coupling member is secured to the bone
fastener assembly and the second portion of the coupling member is connected to
the elongated member.
[0013] According to all the foregoing aspects, the combined rotational and
translatioπal degrees of freedom provided by the adjusting member and securing
fastener permit the bone fastener to remain firmly fixed but easily attached to the
appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The detailed description of the present invention that follows is
presented with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein the same
reference numerals denote the same elements in the several views and wherein:
[0015] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus comprising the bone
fastener assembly and appliance of an embodiment of the invention;
[00161 Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the bone fastener and assembly
depicted in Fig. 1 ; and
[0017] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the line 3-3 of Fig.1 .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Referring first to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is shown in an
assembled state apparatus for use in retaining bone bodies, such as spinal
vertebrae, in a desired spatial relationship. The apparatus includes an appliance,
indicated generally at 10, for aligning bone bodies, and a bone fastener assembly,
indicated generally at 30, for fastening the appliance to one of the bone bodies.
[0019] in the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 , the appliance
comprises a coupling member, indicated generally at 12, and an elongated member
or fixation rod 26. The coupling member 12 has a first portion, indicated generally
at 13, that is secured to the bone fastener assembly 30 and a second portion,
indicated generally at 14, that is connected to the rod 26. Typically, for the purpose
of stabilizing the vertebrae in a spinal column so that the vertebrae are retained in a
desired spatial relationship, a respective coupling member 12 and an associated
bone fastener assembly 30 secured to the respective coupling member are provided
for each of the vertebrae to be stabilized. Each of the coupling members 12 is
connected to the rod 26 which serves to retain the vertebrae in a desired spatial
relationship.
[0020] There are a variety of means known in the art for connecting a
coupling member, such as the coupling member 12, to a fixation rod, such as rod
26, and many of these known means can be adapted to the apparatus of the present
invention. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the
coupling member 12 includes two individual substantially identical halves consisting
of a top half 23 and a bottom half 24. The second portion 14 of each of the top and
bottom halves 23 an^4 are inclined away from the first portion^ of the top and
bottom halves, respectively, so as to form a yoke 15. A grommet 25 is located
within the yoke 15. The inside of the yoke may include a recess in which the
grommet 25 is positioned. The rod 26 extends through an opening 27 in the
grommet, the opening being equal to or slightly smaller than the diameter of the rod
26 so that the grommet will be in good contact with the rod. The rod 26 is finally
secured to the coupling member 12 at such time as the bone fastener assembly 30
is secured to coupling member as is described in further detail below.
[0021] Turning now to a description of the bone fastener assembly 30, the
bone fastener assembly includes a bone fastener, indicated generally at 32, an
adjusting member, indicated generally at 44, and a securing fastener, indicated
generally at 50. The bone fastener 32 has an attaching portion 33 for attaching the
bone fastener to a bone or bone part, such as the pedicle of a vertebra. In the
embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the attaching portion 33
comprises a shank having a longitudinal axis extending from the bottom end of the
shank, indicated generally at 34, to the top end of the shank just before the top end,
indicated generally at 35, of the bone fastener. The outer portion of the shank has
threads suitable for attaching the bone fastener 32 to a bone or bone part such as
the pedicle of a vertebra. Thus, typically as an initial step in a procedure for
aligning and retaining spinal vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship, a respective
bone fastener 32 is screwed into each of the vertebrae to be aligned. For that
purpose, the top end 35 of the bone fastener 32 is provided with a hexagonally
shaped circumference so that the bone fastener can be securely gripped by a
fastening tool, such as a wrench, and the bone fastener screwed into the vertebrae.
The bone fastener 3?may also be fastened to a vertebra by means other than a
threaded connection as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0022] The bone fastener 32 also includes both a supporting portion 40 that
is positioned at the top end 35 of the shank and a securing portion 37. The
supporting portion 40 includes a spherical recess 41 in the embodiment of the
invention illustrated in the drawings. The adjusting member 44 is supported by the
supporting portion 40 of the bone fastener 32 in the spherical recess 41 of the
supporting portion 40 and has a complementary spherical surface 45 where the
adjusting member 44 is supported by the supporting portion 40 of the bone fastener.
[0023] The securing portion 37 of the bone fastener 32 comprises a
threaded cavity for receiving the securing fastener 50 which is provided with threads
51 that secure the securing fastener to the threaded cavity. The adjusting member
44 has an opening 46 that extends through the adjusting member and is in
registration with the threaded cavity of the securing portion 37 of the bone fastener
32.
[0024] From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the
supporting portion 40 of the bone fastener 32 and the adjusting member 44 are
configured so that the adjusting member 44 is supported by the supporting portion
40 of the bone fastener 32 for universal movement relative to the supporting portion
of the bone fastener. Thus, the concave spherical recess 41 of the supporting
portion 40 of the bone fastener and the convex spherical surface 45 of the adjusting
member 44 allow for the adjusting member to be universally pivoted within spherical
recess 41 .
[0025] The adjusting member 44 includes an engaging surface 47 that,
essentially, is flat and engages the underside 17 of the first portion 13 of the
coupling member 12. As discussed in greater detail below, it is important that there
be good contact between the engaging surface 47 of the adjusting member and the
underside 17 of the first portion 13 of the coupling member 12. To provide such
contact, any angularity that exists between the engaging surface 47 and the
underside 17 of the coupling member when the bone fastener assembly is being
secured to the coupling member 12 can be corrected by appropriate pivoting of the
adjusting member 44 in the spherical recess 41 of the supporting portion 40 of the
bone fastener 32. In this connection, as can be seen in Fig. 3, the adjusting
member 44 is sized so that the engaging surface 47 of the adjusting member
extends sufficiently beyond the terminal portion 42 of the supporting portion 40 of
the fastener in the direction of the underside 17 of the coupling member 12 so that
the terminal portion 42 is maintained out of contact with the underside 17 of the
coupling member. Otherwise, good contact between the engaging surface 47 and
the coupling member 12 would be compromised.
[0026] It can be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that the opening 46 in the adjusting
member 44 extends from a first end at the engaging surface 47 of the adjusting
member to a second end that abuts the threaded cavity of the securing portion 37 of
the bone fastener. The second end of the opening 46 is larger than the first end of
the opening so that the opening will remain in registration with the threaded cavity of
the securing portion 37 of the bone fastener regardless of any anticipated
adjustment of the adjusting member 44 in the spherical recess 41. In the
embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the opening 46 has the
shape of a frustrum oTa cone. This arrangement insures tnat the securing fastener
50 will be able to pass through opening 46 and be secured within the threaded
cavity in the securing portion 31 of the bone fastener 32 without interfering with any
adjustment of the adjusting member 44.
[0027] The first portion 13 of the coupling member 12 of the appliance 10
includes an elongated aperture 18 in the top half 23 and the bottom half 24 of the
coupling member 12 which enables the coupling member to be fastened to the bone
fastener 32 through the instrumentality of the securing fastener 50. The securing
fastener has a first end 52 that passes through aperture 18 and extends through the
opening 46 in the adjusting member 44. The first end 52 of the securing fastener 50
is secured to the securing portion 37 of the bone fastener 32 by means of the
threads 51 on the securing fastener and the threads in the cavity in the securing
portion 37.
[0028] A second end 53 of the securing fastener 50 has a bearing surface
54 that bears against the topside 19 of the first portion 13 of the coupling member
12 of the appliance 10. The bearing surface 54 bears against the coupling member
in opposition to the engaging surface 47 of the adjusting member 44 whereby the
appliance 10 is securely fastened to the bone fastener 32. As noted above, any
angularity between the underside 17 of the coupling member 12 and the engaging
surface 47 of the adjusting member 44 will be corrected by appropriate pivoting of
the adjusting member 44 in the spherical recess 41 of the supporting portion 40 of
the bone fastener 32. However, in that instance because the securing fastener 50
will be aligned with the longitudinal axis of the shank 33 of the bone fastener, the
securing fastener 50 will engage the coupling member 12 at an angle. To provide
good contact betweerTϊhe bearing surface 54 and the coupling member 12 under
such circumstances, the bearing surface 54 has a convex spherical configuration
and the perimeter 21 of aperture 18 in the top half 23 of the coupling member 12
which engages the bearing surface 54 is provided with a complementary concave
spherical surface. Similarly, the perimeter 20 of aperture 18 in the bottom half 24 of
trie-coupling member 12 which also engages the bearing surface 54 is provided with
a concave complementary concave spherical surface. Although the securing
fastener 50 is depicted in the Figures with a slotted drive mechanism, other types of
drive mechanisms, such as mechanisms familiar to those skilled in the art may be
employed.
[0029] The invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 through 3, depicts the
engaging surface 47 of the adjusting member 44 and the underside 17 of the
coupling member 12 as being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shank 33
of the fastener 32. However, rarely will that be case and, as indicated in the
foregoing description of the invention, an angularity will exist between the underside
17 of the coupling member 12 and the longitudinal axis of the shank and that
angularity will be compensated for by the adjusting member 44. Thus, in order to
install the apparatus of the invention for the purpose of retaining a plurality of
vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship, typically, a respective bone fastener 32
will be screwed into each of the vertebrae. With existing technology, it is not
possible to. attach the bone fasteners to the vertebrae so that no angularity exits
between the mutually engaging surfaces of each of the bone fasteners 32 and
respective coupling members 12; and as has been described above, the angularity
is compensated for by the pivoting of each adjusting member 44 in the spherical
recess 41 of a respective supporting portion 40 of a bone fastener 32. This
adjustment places the engaging surface 47 of the adjusting member in a parallel,
rather than angular, relationship with the underside 17 of the coupling member 12.
The opening 46 in the adjusting member 44 is sufficiently large that such adjustment
of the adjusting member 44 will not place the opening 46 out of registration with the
threaded cavity in the securing portion 37 of the bone fastener. Consequently, the
securing fastener 50 is able to pass through the opening 46 in the adjusting member
44 and be secured in the threaded cavity in the securing portion 37 of the bone
fastener.
[0030] For aligning the vertebrae in their desired orientation, the fact that
the aperture 18 is elongated allows the distance between the fixation rod 26 and the
bone fastener assembly 30 to be adjusted. Once the proper distance is established,
the securing fastener 50 is tightened in the threaded cavity in the securing portion
37 of the bone fastener. Tightening of the securing fastener 50 will cause the
engaging surface 47 of the adjusting member 44 to come into contact with the
underside 17 of the coupling member 12 whereby the adjusting member 44 will pivot
in the spherical recess 41 of the supporting portion 40 of the bone fastener 32,
resulting in full contact between the engaging surface 47 and the underside 17 of
the coupling member 12. Additionally, the convex bearing surface 54 of the
securing fastener 50 will engage and bear on the complementary concave surfaces
of the perimeters 20 and 21 of the aperture 18. In the embodiment of the invention
shown in the drawings, the convex bearing surface 54 of the securing fastener 50,
the surface 45 of adjusting member 44, spherical recess 41 and the concave
spherical surfaces 20 and 21 all have a common center of rotation so that forces
applied by the securing fastener are normal to the engaging surfaces of the various
elements of the bone fastener assembly and appliance. This procedure is carried
out with each bone fastener assembly and a respective coupling member until the
apparatus is completely secured so as to retain the vertebrae in a desired spatial
relationship. Tightening of the securing fastener 50 also will cause the yoke 15 to
compress the grommet 25 and securely attach the coupling member 12 to the rod
26.
[0031] Although the invention has been described in relation to the use of a
rigid rod 26 so that an essentially immovable stabilizing apparatus is provided, rods
may be employed that possess a degree of flexibility such that limited movement of
the apparatus can take place once it is installed. Additionally, the appliance to
which the bone fastener assembly of the invention is applied can be other than a rod
and coupling member. For example, a plurality of the bone fastener assemblies
attached to bone bodies can be secured directly to a plate provided with
cooperating apertures and the bone bodies to which the assemblies are attached thereby retained in a desired spatial relationship.
[0032] The foregoing description and discussion of the invention has been
presented for purposes of illustration and to facilitate the presentation of aspects of
the invention. The foregoing is not intended to limit the invention to those aspects.
Although the description of the invention has included discussions of certain
variations and modifications, other variations and modifications may become
apparent to those skilled in the art and it is intended that the scope of the invention
as set forth in the claims below be inclusive of such variations and modifications.