Technical Field

The present invention relates to a modular vertebral stabilizer. More particularly, the invention relates to a modular vertebral stabilizer that is adapted to mutually connect at least two adjacent vertebrae by using at least two connecting elements which can prevent or allow some certain limited movement to the vertebrae. Background Art

As is known, many pathologies related to the functionality of the spinal column are treated by total or partial immobilization, particularly with a technique known as intervertebral arthrodesis, with the aid of connection means and/or with the addition of portions of bone tissue which join such adjacent vertebrae.

Vertebral stabilization devices of the static and dynamic types are known in the art and have a screw that is adapted to be connected to a vertebra and rigid elements or elements that have a limited mobility, which have two ends which are jointly connected to the two screws connected to two adjacent vertebrae.

In particular, a dynamic stabilizing device, i.e., capable of allowing relative movement between the vertebrae, is disclosed in EP 0 669 109. This vertebral stabilizer comprises a spacing body, which is resistant to compression and is adapted to transfer forces between two screws implanted in the respective vertebrae, and a tensioning cord, which is connected between the two screws described above and passes in an internal longitudinal cavity obtained in the spacing body.

However, this stabilizer has a drawback, due to the fact that it is directly assembled locally on the spinal column after inserting the screws in the vertebrae, with open surgery in a space that is close to the vertebra.

Therefore, the surgical procedure that allows to use such stabilization structure is highly invasive, since it is necessary to create close to the vertebra enough space to perform the various steps of assembly, with considerable difficulty for the surgeon, who must arrange and assemble each individual element directly on the vertebra.

Moreover, the stabilizer described above does not allow a transverse connection between screws mounted on different vertebrae in order to transmit forces in a diagonal direction with respect to the axis of the spinal column.

Further, the tensioning cord must be threaded in the spacing body, and this require a higher skill effort for the surgeon. Moreover, the surgeon may need a stabilizer that has both static and dynamic portions, i.e., he may have to create a hybrid stabilizer, in which the portions can be chosen by the surgeon according to the characteristics of the pathology.

Known types of stabilizer do not allow to create a stabilizer of the hybrid type.

WO2007/060534 A2 in the name of this same Applicant as the present invention, discloses a vertebral stabilizer of the dynamic modular type, which is adapted to be assembled separately from the spinal column and then fitted onto the spinal column in a few seconds. However, the known type of stabilizer device is unable to adapt to angle variations with which the pedicle screws might be fitted within the vertebrae, and therefore, if the positioning of such pedicle screws is not performed, in two adjacent vertebrae, with the same angle, the surgeon encounters difficulties in fitting the stabilizer device fitted over the head of the pedicle screws.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for stabilizing the spinal column which allows connection between adjacent vertebrae, allowing different angles between pedicle screws inserted in adjacent vertebrae. Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer device that can be assembled separately from the spinal column and then fitted onto the spinal column with reduced invasiveness for the patient. Another object of the present invention is to provide a spinal column stabilizer device that is modular, allowing therefore to provide a hybrid stabilizer device, i.e., a device that is static at one end and dynamic at the opposite end.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stabilizer device that is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and at competitive costs.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a stabilizer device for the spinal column, comprising a first body and a second body adapted to be mutually connected by a rod-like element, said first and second bodies being adapted to be fitted around first and second pedicle screws, which are adapted to be inserted in turn in two mutually adjacent vertebrae, said first and second bodies being fixable on said pedicle screws, characterized in that said first and second bodies are fork-shaped and adapted to accommodate locking means, said locking means being adapted to pass from a position for accommodating said pedicle screw to a position for locking said pedicle screw within said fork-shaped body. Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the device according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a stabilizer device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the stabilizer device according to the present invention, in a first embodiment, in an unassembled configuration around a pedicle screw;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the stabilizer device according to the present invention, in the first embodiment, in an assembled configuration around the pedicle screw;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the stabilizer device according to the present invention, in a second embodiment, in an unassembled configuration around the pedicle screw; Figure 5 is a top plan view of the stabilizer device according to the present invention, in the second embodiment, in an assembled configuration around the pedicle screw.

With reference to the figures, a stabilizer device according to the present invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises a fork-shaped body 2, which is adapted to engage a pedicle screw 3 designed to be inserted in a vertebra.

The fork-shaped body 2 is provided with a portion 4 which blends with the circular portion that forms the fork, the portion 4 having a seat that is adapted to accommodate a rod-like element 5. Conveniently, the portion 4 has at least one hole 6 that is adapted to allow the insertion of stabilizing means, which are conveniently constituted for example by a cord 7 which is connected to a second fork-shaped body 2 arranged at the opposite end of the rod-like element 5.

Substantially, the stabilizer device according to the invention has first and second fork-shaped bodies 2, which are adapted to be connected by the rod-like element 5 and to engage respectively two pedicle screws 3 arranged respectively in two adjacent vertebrae which are adapted to be mutually stabilized.

The pedicle screws are conveniently headless and cannulated, so that they can be screwed into the vertebrae. Conveniently, the rod-like element 5 is provided with a pair of mutually opposite lateral recesses 8, which are adapted to accommodate the cord 7 which must be fastened around the rod-like element 5.

Conveniently, the two ends of the cord 7 are provided with respective engagement means 9, which are adapted to allow tensioning of the cord 7.

Conveniently, the engagement means 9 can be provided for example with one end of the cord provided with a set of teeth and the opposite end provided with a receptacle, like a hose clamp.

In this manner, the surgeon can perform, separately from the spinal column, a fastening of the cord 7 around the rod-like element 5 and then, once the stabilizer device has been assembled, said device can be fitted around the pedicle screws 3 that are already accommodated in the holes provided in the vertebrae to be coupled in a stabilized manner.

Conveniently, the rod-like element 5 can be of the rigid type, in which case the presence of the cord 7 is not necessary, or of the elastic type, with which the cord 7 is therefore associated.

In a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, shown in Figures 4 and 5, the fork-shaped body 2 is provided in such a manner as to mate with a corresponding fork-shaped body 2 that is arranged in a diametrically opposite position with respect to the pedicle screw 3. In this case, the mating of the two fork-shaped bodies provides a complete disk-like element, which surrounds the pedicle screw 3 completely.

Therefore, differently from the first embodiment, in which the fork- shaped body 2 has a substantially U-shaped internal contour, the body 2 of the second embodiment has a semicircular internal contour, which is adapted to surround half of the pedicle screw 3, the other half of the screw being surrounded by the corresponding fork-shaped body 2 arranged diametrically opposite the first body.

In this manner it is possible to mutually connect more than two adjacent vertebrae and it is also possible to provide a hybrid modular stabilizer device, i.e., a device that is partially static and partially dynamic, depending on whether the rod-like element 5 is of the rigid or elastic type.

It is in fact possible to connect to each other first and second adjacent vertebrae by using a rigid rod-like element and connect the second vertebra and a third vertebra, which is adjacent to the second vertebra, by using an elastic rod-like element. In this manner a hybrid stabilizer device is obtained.

Conveniently, the mating of two fork-shaped bodies 2 arranged mutually opposite with respect to the pedicle screw 3, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, occurs by way of the presence of mating means 15 and 16 provided at each end of the fork.

Substantially, the mating means 15 are constituted for example by a protruding pin provided with a tooth 18, while the mating means 16 have a seat that is adapted to accommodate the pin 15 and the corresponding tooth 18.

Each fork-shaped body therefore has a mating means 15 and a mating means 16 which are adapted to mate complementarily with similar means on the opposite fork-shaped body 2.

Other mating means are of course possible, so long as they are capable of ensuring a stable mating of the two fork-shaped bodies which are mutually opposite with respect to the pedicle screw 3.

The stabilizer device according to the invention, assembled away from the spinal column, is then inserted under the skin of the patient so that the distal fork-shaped body 2 engages the distal pedicle screw 3 and then the proximal fork-shaped body 2 fits on the pedicle screw 3.

In the first embodiment, locking of the fork-shaped body 2 is provided by way of locking means, such as for example an open annular element 20, which is C-shaped and inserted within the U-shaped portion of the fork-shaped body 2. Such annular element is adapted to rotate freely within said U-shaped portion, so that it can be turned around the pedicle screw 3, as shown in Figure 3, so as to lock the fork-shaped body 2 around the pedicle screw 3.

The rotation of the annular element 20 can be performed thanks to the presence of a pair of holes 21 arranged at the face of the fork-shaped body 2, which allows the insertion of a tool that allows to turn the annular element 20.

In practice it has been found that the stabilizer device according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it allows to be assembled away from the spinal column, allows to adapt to different implantation angles of the pedicle screws within the vertebrae, and allows to provide hybrid structures with rigid portions and elastic portions.

The stabilizer device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MI2008A002240 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.