Surgery – Instruments – Orthopedic instrumentation
Patent
1988-01-26
1990-06-05
Yu, Mickey
Surgery
Instruments
Orthopedic instrumentation
606 61, A61F 504
Patent
active
049310550
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to spinal rods, and in particularly, to an improved system of spinal rodding of subcutaneous, compression and distraction rods which are used in the treatment of patients suffering from anomalies in the curvatuve of the spine. The systems are inserted internally and are hooked onto the respective vertebrae to support the spine, to prevent such from growing incorrectly during child growth and initially give correction to both children and adolescents.
The prior art such as those shown in FIG. 1 comprise both spinal rods 16 and 17 which comprise a threaded rod 17 with a hook like connector 19 located at one end with a similar hook like connector 18 having an internal thread to engage on the threaded rod 17 to move up and down the threaded rod 17; the position of the second hook like connector being stabilised by a nut located on the threaded shaft. For insertion into the patient, a major operation is required to allow access to the spine for a length some distance greater than the total length of the rod. As the rods are also inserted in children, it is necessary, due to the growth of the child, that the hook like connections are adjusted to ensure correct contact with the respective vertebra, as the child grows. To allow for this adjustment, a section of the threaded rod must extend past the top hook like connector. However, to prevent this shaft from protruding through the patient's skin, it is necessary that only a small length of rod extend beyond the adjustable hook like connector.
The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the prior art showing how it is used;
FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a cutaway assembly view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.;
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a prior art rod and a distraction rod according to one embodiment of the present invention, shown in use, not necessarily showing correct surgical placement into the spine.
A distraction rod made in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is as shown in the FIGS. 2 and 3 and comprises an elongated housing 1 into which an elongated member 2 slidably fits. The fit between the housing 1 and the member 2 is such to prevent the ingress of tissue and body fluids into the cavity 3 of the housing. Located at the top of the elongated member 2 is a connection 4, for the hook like vertebra connectors (not shown). The connectors 4 have a non circular connecting rod 5 to prevent the hook like connectors from rotating thereon. The profile of the connecting rods 5 can be any shape, such as rectangular, square, hexagonal, octagonal or elliptical.
A drive rod 6 is inserted through the lower end 7 of the housing 1 to extend through the neck 8 into the cavity 3. The drive rod 6 has located at its lower end a bevel gear 9. The drive gear 10 is inserted through the opening 11 to engage the bevel gear 9 of the drive rod 6. A locking means 12 is inserted into the opening 11 to hold the drive gear 10 in position and to co-operate with the drive gear 10 to prevent the ingress of any tissue or body fluids into the gear housing 13.
The drive rod 6 is threaded and mates with a complimentary threaded section 14 of the elongated member 2 (as shown in FIG. 3). Connection 4 is inserted into the lower end 7 to seal said gear housing 13.
In use it is necessary that the patient's spine be exposed and that the vertebra hook like clamps (not shown) are connected to the respective connectors 4, and the drive gear operated to extend the elongated member 2 to position the vertebra clamps at the appropriate position, and the drive gear 10 is operated to correctly increase the length of the distraction rod to the appropriate position needed for the patient. The drive gear 10 can be operated by any suitable connection, such as an Allen wrench socket 15, as shown in FIG. 3. This socket would be positi
REFERENCES:
patent: 4404967 (1983-09-01), Bacal et al.
patent: 4658809 (1987-04-01), Ulrich et al.
Bumpus John
Woodbridge Trevor
Sam Charles H.
Yu Mickey
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