Cervical link system

Abstract

An adjustable cervical link system that includes a plurality of cervical links for adjustable fixation to articles of a patient's cervical spine, and a connecting assembly having a generally rectangular loop shape defining a substantially open interior therebetween. Each cervical link has a plurality of circular holes each arranged to receive a screw thereby securing the cervical link to the respective article of a patient's cervical spine at a bottom portion of the cervical link. Each cervical link has a plurality of recessed portion along a top portion of the cervical link. Each recessed portion has a generally U-shaped cross-section formed by a bottom portion and a pair of spaced apart side walls. The connecting assembly is arranged to be placed in and frictionally engage the U-shaped cross-section of the recessed portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable cervical link system comprising:
 a first cervical link comprising:
 a first securing member; 
 a first recessed portion formed across the first cervical link; 
   a second cervical link comprising:
 a second securing member; 
 a second recessed portion formed across the second cervical link; and 
   a connecting assembly configured to be held in the first recessed portion of the first cervical link and the second recessed portion of the second cervical link, wherein the connecting assembly is configured to be coupled to the first cervical link via the first securing member and to be coupled to the second cervical link via the second securing member, wherein the first and second securing members are configured to apply a compressive force to at least a portion of the connecting assembly when the connecting assembly is positioned at least partially in at least one of the first recessed portion of the first cervical link and the second recessed portion of the second cervical link.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second securing members are configured to directly apply the compressive force to the at least a portion of the connecting assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 2 , wherein the connecting assembly includes two or more sides, and wherein the first and second securing members are configured to directly apply the compressive force to the at least a portion of the connecting assembly along a same side of the two or more sides of the connecting assembly 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second securing members are configured to apply the compressive force to the at least a portion of the connecting assembly indirectly via the first and second recessed portions, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein the first securing member is a screw that indirectly provides the compressive force to the at least a portion of the connecting assembly through a portion of the first cervical link adjacent the first recessed portion. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 5 , wherein the screw includes a screw head configured to overlap with the first recessed portion. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein the first securing member includes at least one cavity for receiving a tool that transmits a torque to rotate the first securing member to secure the connecting assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein the first securing member is fastened onto the first cervical link at a center of the first securing member and a center of the first cervical link, and wherein the first securing member is rotatable around a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 8 , wherein the rotation of the first securing member minimizes a gap between the first securing member and the at least a portion of the connecting assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 9 , wherein the first securing member at least partially deforms the connecting assembly to result in a friction fit between the connecting assembly and the first cervical link. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 4 , wherein the first securing member at least partially elastically deforms the portion of the first cervical link adjacent the first recessed portion to result in a friction between the connecting assembly and the first cervical link. 
     
     
         12 . A cervical link comprising:
 a body having a thickness and a width, the body including at least one hole to receive a fastener;   a recessed portion forming at least one curved side wall having a height less than the thickness of the body, the at least one curved side wall being curved in one or more planes; and   a securing member configured to couple to the body and at least partially rotatable to minimize a gap toward the at least one curved side wall of the recessed portion of the cervical link to secure a connecting assembly inside the recessed portion, the securing member configured to position a portion of the connecting assembly between at least a portion of the at least one curved side wall via a friction fit.   
     
     
         13 . The cervical link of  claim 12 , wherein the securing member is rotatably fastened to the body. 
     
     
         14 . The cervical link of  claim 12 , wherein the connecting assembly holds two or more of the cervical links to secure a spine of a patient. 
     
     
         15 . The cervical link of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one curved side wall is curved in two or more planes. 
     
     
         16 . The cervical link of  claim 12 , wherein the securing member at least partially deforms at least a portion of the connecting assembly to result in the friction fit between the connecting assembly and the at least one curved side wall. 
     
     
         17 . An adjustable cervical link system comprising:
 a plurality of cervical links for adjustable fixation to articles of a patient's cervical spine, the plurality of cervical links include a first cervical link and a second cervical link,   wherein the first cervical link has a plurality of holes each arranged to receive a screw thereby securing the first cervical link to the respective article of a patient's cervical spine at a bottom portion of the first cervical link, and wherein the first cervical link has a recessed portion formed within a top portion of the first cervical link, the recessed portion forming at least one curved side wall having a height less than a thickness of the first cervical link,   wherein the second cervical link has a plurality of holes each arranged to receive a screw thereby securing the second cervical link to the respective article of a patient's cervical spine at a bottom portion of the second cervical link, and wherein the second cervical link has a recessed portion formed within a top portion of the second cervical link, the recessed portion forming at least one curved side wall having a height less than a thickness of the second cervical link, the at least one curved side wall being curved in one or more planes, the second cervical link comprising a center member rotatable between a locked and an unlocked position; and   a connecting assembly having a substantially open portion defined by one or more interior surfaces of the connecting assembly,   wherein at least a portion of the connecting assembly is retained within at least a portion of the recessed portion of the first cervical link via a friction fit provided by an opening of the recessed portion formed within the top portion of the first cervical link, the opening having a width less than a width of the retained portion of the connecting assembly,   wherein at least a portion of the connecting assembly is retained within at least a portion of the recessed portion of the second cervical link via a friction fit, wherein the center member of second cervical link is operable to occupy at least a portion of the open portion of the connecting assembly, wherein when in the locked position the center member engages at least one of the interior surfaces of the connecting assembly, and wherein when in the unlocked position the center member is spaced apart from the connecting assembly, and   wherein a position of connecting assembly retained within the at least a portion of the recessed portion of the first cervical link and within the at least a portion of the recessed portion of the second cervical link is adjustable along a length of the open portion of the connecting assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the position of the connecting portion within the at least a portion of the recessed portion of the first cervical link and within the at least a portion of the recessed portion of the second cervical link along the length of the open portion of the connecting assembly includes adjusting a distance between the first cervical link and the second cervical link. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connecting assembly and the plurality of cervical links are substantially plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable cervical link system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connecting assembly and the plurality of cervical links are one of substantially metal or a composite material.