Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installation thereof

Abstract

Orthopedic fixation devices and methods of installing the same. The orthopedic fixation device may include a coupling element and a bone fastener, whereby the bone fastener can be loaded into the coupling element through the bottom of a bore in the coupling element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing an orthopedic fixation device comprising:
 providing the orthopedic fixation device, wherein the orthopedic fixation device includes:
 a coupling element having a bore extending therethrough, an interior surface disposed about the bore, and an annular channel formed in a distal portion of the interior surface; 
 a bone fastener, wherein the bone fastener comprises a head and an extension that extends from the head, wherein the head is configured for loading into the coupling element through the bottom of the bore; 
 a locking cap assembly, wherein the locking cap assembly includes:
 a body having a bore extending through the body and a pair of tabs extending from opposite sides of the body, wherein the bore includes a threaded portion, and wherein a radially outermost surface of each tab includes a flat portion; and 
 a set screw extending through the bore of the body and having threads corresponding to the threaded portion of the bore of the body; 
 
 a saddle having a bore extending through the saddle, wherein the saddle includes a lower portion sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the head of the bone fastener; and 
 a retaining clip disposed below the fastener in the annular channel of the coupling element, wherein an inner diameter of the retaining clip is less than a maximum diameter of the head of the bone fastener, 
   placing the bone fastener in a vertebral body; and   attaching the coupling element to the bone fastener in situ.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a lower portion of the saddle has an elliptical cross-section in the axial direction. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining clip is annular and includes an opening disposed through a thickness of the retaining clip. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein an inner surface of the retaining clip is angled. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle comprises engagement features disposed on opposite sides of an outer surface of the saddle and configured to engage inwardly protruding shoulders of the coupling element. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement features are protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle further comprises at least two elliptical axial cross-sectional portions configured to prevent the saddle from rotating relative to and within the coupling element. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the saddle further comprises a first elliptical cross-sectional portion and a second elliptical cross-sectional portion extending perpendicular to the first elliptical cross-sectional portion. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element is a tulip element having a plurality of arms configured to receive an elongate rod. 
     
     
         10 . A method of installing an orthopedic fixation device comprising:
 providing the orthopedic fixation device, wherein the orthopedic fixation device includes:
 a tulip element, wherein the tulip element comprises a bore extending therethrough, an interior surface disposed about the bore, an annular channel formed in a distal portion of the interior surface, and a plurality of arms configured to receive an elongate rod; 
 a bone fastener, wherein the bone fastener comprises a head and an extension that extends from the head, wherein the head is configured for loading into the tulip element through the bottom of the bore; 
 a locking cap assembly, wherein the locking cap assembly comprises:
 a body having a bore extending through the body and a pair of tabs extending from opposite sides of the body, wherein the bore includes a threaded portion, and wherein a radially outermost surface of each tab includes a flat portion; and 
 a set screw extending through the bore of the body and having threads corresponding to the threaded portion of the bore of the body; 
 
 a saddle including:
 a bore extending through the saddle; 
 a lower portion sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the head of the bone fastener; 
 engagement features disposed on opposite sides of an outer surface of the saddle and configured to engage inwardly protruding shoulders of the tulip element; and 
 at least two elliptical cross-sectional portions; and 
 
 a retaining clip disposed below the fastener in the annular channel of the tulip element, wherein an inner diameter of the retaining clip is less than a maximum diameter of the head of the bone fastener, 
   placing the bone fastener in a vertebral body; and   attaching the tulip element to the bone fastener in situ.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a lower portion of the saddle has an elliptical cross-section in the axial direction. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining clip is annular and includes an opening disposed through a thickness of the retaining clip. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein an inner surface of the retaining clip is angled. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing an orthopedic fixation device comprising:
 providing the orthopedic fixation device, wherein the orthopedic fixation device includes:
 a coupling element having a bore extending therethrough, an interior surface disposed about the bore, and an annular channel formed in a distal portion of the interior surface; 
 a bone fastener, wherein the bone fastener comprises a head and an extension that extends from the head, wherein the head is configured for loading into the coupling element through the bottom of the bore; 
 a threaded locking cap having threads that engage a corresponding threaded portion of the coupling element, wherein lower surfaces of the threads of the threaded locking cap and upper surfaces of threads of the threaded portion of the coupling element slope downward and outward; 
 a saddle having a bore extending through the saddle, wherein the saddle includes a lower portion sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the head of the bone fastener; and 
 a retaining clip disposed below the fastener in the annular channel of the coupling element, wherein an inner diameter of the retaining clip is less than a maximum diameter of the head of the bone fastener, 
   placing the bone fastener in a vertebral body; and   attaching the coupling element to the bone fastener in situ.