Intervertebral Connecting Device

Abstract

The invention concerns a device comprising at least a fixed element ( 2 ), secured to a vertebra, at least a mobile element ( 10 ), capable of moving relative to the or each fixed element, and at least an intermediate element ( 22 ) for articulating the mobile element relative to the fixed element. The intermediate element ( 22 ) is received in an internal volume of the mobile element, ( 10 ), and the fixed element ( 2 ) is received at least partly in an internal volume ( 26 ) of the intermediate element ( 22 ). Means are provided for securing, at least in translation, said intermediate element ( 22 ) to the fixed element ( 2 ), comprising the periphery of the substantially rigid outlet of the internal volume of the intermediate element.

1 . An intervertebral connecting device, which is intended to connect at least two vertebrae together, this device being characterized in that it includes:
 at least one stationary element ( 2 ;  2 ′;  2 ″;  2 ′″;  52 ,  53 ;  152 ,  153 ), connected with a vertebra or the sacrum,   at least one mobile connecting element ( 10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″;  10 ′″;  60 ;  110 ;  165 ;  215 ;  265 ;  315 ) capable of moving with respect to the stationary element or each stationary element,   as well as at least one intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″;  22 ′″;  72 ;  172 ,  172 ′) allowing the articulation of the mobile element or each mobile element with respect to the stationary element or each stationary element,   in that the intermediate element or each intermediate element is received in interior volume ( 16 ;  16 ′;  116 ;  167 ,  169 ;  217 ,  227 ;  327 ) of said mobile element ( 10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″,  10 ′″;  110 ;  165 ;  215 ;  265 ;  315 ) or of said stationary element ( 52 ,  53 ),   in that stationary element ( 2 ;  2 ′;  2 ″;  2 ′″;  152 ,  153 ) or mobile element ( 60 ) is received at least partially in interior volume ( 26 ;  26 ′) of the intermediate element,   and in that it is provided with some means allowing the connection, at least in translation, of said element ( 2 ;  2 ′,  2 ″;  2 ′″;  152 ,  153 ) or of said mobile element ( 60 ) with respect to said intermediate element, these means of connection in translation including the periphery of outlet ( 27 ), which is essentially rigid, of interior volume ( 26 ) of intermediate element ( 22 ).   
   
   
       2 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that intermediate element or each intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″;  172 ,  172 ′) is received in an interior volume of mobile element ( 10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″;  10 ′″,  110 ;  165 ;  215 ;  265 ;  315 ), in that stationary element ( 2 ;  2 ′,  2 ″;  2 ′″;  152 ,  153 ) is received at least partially in an interior volume of the intermediate element, and in that [text missing in source document] are provided [text missing] of the stationary element with respect to the intermediate element. 
   
   
       3 . A device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that said intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″;  22 ′″;  172 ) is connected in translation with respect to said mobile element ( 10 ;  10 ′,  10 ″;  10 ′″;  110 ;  165 ;  215 ). 
   
   
       4 . A device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that outlet ( 16 ′) of interior volume ( 16 ) of mobile element ( 10 ) has an essentially rigid periphery, capable of connecting in translation the intermediate element with respect to the mobile element. 
   
   
       5 . A device according to  claim 3  or  4 , characterized in that said intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″;  22 ″) has truncated spherical exterior surface ( 24 ) and cooperates with corresponding spherical interior surface ( 18 ) with which said mobile element ( 10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″;  10 ″) is provided. 
   
   
       6 . A device according to  claim 5 , characterized in that stationary element ( 2 ′) has head ( 4 ′) which is received in the interior volume of intermediate element ( 22 ′), and in that said head, the intermediate element and the interior volume of said mobile element ( 10 ′) are concentric. 
   
   
       7 . A device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said intermediate element ( 172 ′) is also connected in rotation with respect to mobile element ( 165 ;  215 ;  265 ;  315 ). 
   
   
       8 . A device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that intermediate element ( 22 ) has at least one degree of freedom, at least in translation, with respect to said first mobile element ( 110 ). 
   
   
       9 . A device according to  claim 8 , characterized in that said mobile element ( 110 ) has tubular portion ( 112 ), along which said intermediate element ( 22 ) is capable of sliding. 
   
   
       10 . A device according to one  claims 2  to  9 , characterized in that said mobile element ( 10 ;  10 ′;  10 ″;  10 ′″;  110 ) has notch ( 20 ;  120 ) for introduction of intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″;  22 ′″) in interior volume ( 16 ;  116 ) of this mobile element. 
   
   
       11 . A device according to one of  claims 2  to  10 , characterized in that said stationary element ( 2 ;  2 ′;  2 ″) has at least one degree of freedom in rotation with respect to intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″). 
   
   
       12 . A device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that said stationary element ( 2 ;  2 ′;  2 ″) has a spherical exterior surface which is capable of cooperating with corresponding spherical interior surface ( 28 ) of intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″). 
   
   
       13 . A device according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the spherical exterior surface of said stationary element is provided with equatorial flat part ( 6 ;  6 ′) for introduction of said stationary element ( 2 ;  2 ′;  2 ″) into the interior volume of intermediate element ( 22 ;  22 ′;  22 ″). 
   
   
       14 . A device according to  claim 13 , characterized in that said stationary element ( 2 ) is provided with stop component ( 32 ), which is removable in particular, making it possible to limit the pivoting of intermediate element ( 22 ) with respect to stationary element ( 2 ). 
   
   
       15 . A device according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that in operation, stationary element ( 2 ′″) is connected with intermediate element ( 22 ′″) both in translation and in rotation. 
   
   
       16 . A device according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the stationary element has threaded end ( 3 ′″) capable of cooperating with threaded opening ( 23 ′″) of intermediate element ( 22 ′″). 
   
   
       17 . A device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that intermediate element or each intermediate element ( 72 ) is received in an interior volume of stationary element ( 52 ,  53 ), in that mobile element ( 60 ) is received at least partially in an interior volume of the intermediate element, and in that some means are provided allowing the connection, at least in translation, of the mobile element with respect to the intermediate element. 
   
   
       18 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stationary element is pedicle screw ( 2 ;  2 ′;  2 ″;  2 ′″;  52 ,  152 ). 
   
   
       19 . A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stationary element is plate ( 53 ,  153 ) which can be attached on the sacrum.