Skeletal bone fixation mechanism

Abstract

A skeletal fixation apparatus may include two or more bodies that are attached to two or more screws that have been inserted into vertebral bodies associated with a patient. The apparatus may also include two or more cylindrical members that are attached to the bodies to control the movement or alignment of the bodies when the skeletal fixation apparatus is being installed in the patient. The apparatus may further include a rod that includes a first curvature and a second curvature. The first curvature may be different than the second curvature and may be based on a medical diagnosis associated with stabilizing the vertebral bodies. The second curvature may enable the bodies to be immovably fastened to the rod in a manner that precludes the cylindrical members from contacting each other or causing a false torque condition to exist when the skeletal fixation apparatus is installed in the patient.

1 .- 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 obtaining parameters associated with a medical diagnosis in connection vertebral bodies of a patient that are to be stabilized by installing a skeletal fixation assembly, the parameters identifying a first curvature of a fixation rod, associated with the skeletal fixation assembly, to be used to stabilize the vertebral bodies;   identifying, based on obtaining the parameters, a second curvature is to be included in a segment of the fixation rod, the second curvature being different than the first curvature and enabling a first body, associated with skeletal fixation assembly, to be immovably attached to the segment in a manner that precludes a first cylindrical member, removably attached to the first body, from making contact with a second cylindrical member, associated with the fixation assembly;   modifying the segment of the fixation rod in a manner that includes the second curvature, based on the identification of the second curvature; and   installing, in the patient, the skeletal fixation assembly in a manner that includes the modified segment of the fixation rod.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , where the first body is pivotably attached to a screw that is inserted into one of the vertebral bodies. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , were identifying the second curvature further includes:
 identifying, based on the parameters, a first location, associated with one of the vertebral bodies, at which a screw is to be inserted into the one of the vertebral bodies;   identifying an axis, associated with the first location, that intersects the fixation rod when the skeletal fixation assembly is installed in the patient;   determining, based on identifying the axis, a second location, associated with the fixation rod, at which the axis intersects the fixation rod; and   identifying the segment based on the determination of the second segment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , where modifying the segment further includes:
 identifying a particular axis that is approximately perpendicular to the axis; and   creating the second curvature, associated with the segment, in a manner that causes a longitudinal axis, associated with the segment to be approximately parallel with the particular axis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 identifying, based on the parameters, a second location, associated with a different one of the vertebral bodies, at which a particular screw is to be inserted into the different one of the vertebral bodies;   identifying a particular axis, associated with the second location, that intersects the fixation rod when the skeletal fixation assembly is installed in the patient;   determining, based on identifying the particular axis, a third location, associated with the fixation rod, at which the particular axis intersects the fixation rod, when the skeletal fixation assembly is installed in the patient;   identifying a particular segment of the fixation rod to which a second body is to be attached, the second cylindrical body being removably attached to the second body;   identifying a different axis that is approximately perpendicular to the particular axis;   creating a different second curvature, associated with the particular segment, in a manner that causes a particular longitudinal axis, associated with the particular segment, to approximately align with the different axis; and   the second curvature precluding the second cylindrical member from making contact with the first cylindrical member or a third cylindrical member associated with the skeletal fixation assembly when the skeletal fixation assembly is installed in the patient.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , where the second curvature is in the same plane as the first curvature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , where the second curvature is in a different plane as the first curvature. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 modifying a cross section of the segment in a manner that corresponds to a cross section used by the first body to attach to the segment, the modified cross section precluding the fixation rod from rotating relative to the first body when the first body is immovably attached to the segment.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , where a length, associated with the segment, is greater than a width associated with the first body. 
     
     
         22 .- 26 . (canceled)