Device for fixing bones in relation to one another

Abstract

A device for fixation of vertebral bodies including a longitudinal support with a central axis and n anchoring elements (2≦i≦n). Each anchoring element having a longitudinal axes, a front end, and a back end. The longitudinal axis of each anchoring elements may be arranged at an angle of between 65° and 115° relative to the central axis of the longitudinal support, while the anchoring elements are designed to abut the back end. The anchoring elements may be shaped in the form of a blade toward the front end.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for fixation of bones, especially vertebral bodies, relative to one another, comprising: 
 A) a longitudinal support ( 1 ) with a central axis ( 2 ); and    B) n anchoring elements ( 3 . i ) (2≦i≦n) with the longitudinal axes ( 4 ), one front end each ( 5 ) and one back end each ( 6 ), whereby    C) the longitudinal axes ( 4 ) of the anchoring elements ( 3 . i ) are arranged at an angle of between 65° and 115° relative to the central axis ( 2 ) of the longitudinal support ( 1 ); and    D) at least one of the anchoring elements ( 3 . j ) (1≦j≦n) is designed in the shape of a blade,    characterized by the fact that:    E) at the back end ( 6 ) at least the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) comprises receiving means ( 7 ) for the longitudinal support ( 1 ) with stopping means ( 8 ;  34 ) for reversibly securing the connection between the longitudinal support ( 1 ) and anchoring element ( 3 . j ), and the secured connection does not permit any relative movement between the longitudinal support ( 1 ) and anchoring element ( 3 . j ), as well as taking up forces and moments in all three axial directions of a three-dimensional coordinate system.    
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the one anchoring element ( 3 . j ) (1≦j≦n) is designed in the shape of a blade abutting the back end ( 6 ) of the anchoring element ( 3 . j ).  
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the stopping means ( 8 ) can be operated from the back end ( 6 ) of at least the one anchoring element ( 3 . j ).  
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the receiving means ( 7 ) is open at the side so that the longitudinal support ( 1 ) can be inserted into the receiving means ( 7 ) transverse to the longitudinal axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the receiving means ( 7 ) is open from the back end ( 6 ) so that the longitudinal support ( 1 ) can be inserted into the receiving means ( 7 ) parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein at least one anchoring element ( 3 . j ) comprises a transport device ( 15 ) for inserting the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) into a bone parallel to the longitudinal axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the transport device ( 15 ) is designed as a transport screw ( 16 ).  
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the transport screw ( 16 ) comprises a screw tip ( 17 ), a screw shaft ( 18 ), a threaded segment ( 21 ) that abuts the screw tip ( 17 ), and drive means ( 19 ), and the drive means ( 19 ) can be operated from the back end ( 6 ) of the anchoring element ( 3 . j ).  
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has a through hole ( 20 ) coaxially and the transport screw ( 16 ) can be accommodated in this hole ( 20 ) in such a way that the screw tip ( 17 ) and threaded segment ( 21 ) protrude axially over the front end ( 5 ) of the anchoring element ( 3 . j ).  
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has a through hole ( 20 ) coaxially and the transport screw ( 16 ) can be accommodated in this hole ( 20 ), whereby the threaded segment ( 21 ) is integrated into the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) and over a part of its circumference protrudes radially over the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) vertical to the longitudinal axis ( 4 ).  
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the back end ( 6 ) of at least one of the anchoring elements ( 3 . j ) has a coaxial cone segment ( 23 ).  
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the cone segment ( 23 ) has a concentric threaded hole ( 24 ) that is open at the end axially.  
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a concentric pin ( 25 ) with external threading axially abuts the cone segment ( 23 ) at the end.  
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the receiving means ( 7 ) comprise a coaxial ball head ( 26 ) that abuts the back end ( 6 ) of the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) at the end.  
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade has an essentially rectangular cross-section with a thickness (D) and a width (B) and the blade ( 9 ) has a first transverse axis ( 22 ) parallel to the long sides of the cross-section.  
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade, when viewed from above, converges toward the front end ( 5 ).  
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade, when viewed from above, diverges toward the front end ( 5 ).  
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade, when viewed from above, converges to a point ( 14 ) at the front end ( 5 ).  
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade, when viewed from above, slopes down downward on one side at the front end ( 5 ).  
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade, when viewed from above, is convex at the front end ( 5 ).  
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 20 , wherein the anchoring element ( 3 . j ) has an anchoring segment ( 27 ) that has at least one blade ( 9 ) and abuts the back end ( 6 ) over a length (L), whereby said blade, when viewed in longitudinal section, converges to a tip at the front end ( 5 ).