Surgical connectors and instrumentation

Abstract

A medical device includes a spinal rod receiving channel disposed within the medical device and a rod retaining set screw, wherein the spinal rod receiving channel includes an upper arc having a first end and second end, a first middle arc connected to the first end of the upper arc, a second middle arc connected to the second end of the upper arc and disposed opposite the first middle arc, connecting slants connected to first and second middle arcs, and a lower arc connected to the connecting slants, and the rod retaining set screw configured to secure a spinal rod disposed in the spinal rod receiving channel into the medical device.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cross connector comprising:
 a first linkage comprises a first cross connector hook, a first screw receiving port disposed adjacent the first cross connector hook and a bi-axial cross connector extension rod extending from the first cross connector hook, wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod is a round shaft extending from the first screw receiving port of the first linkage;   a second linkage comprises a second cross connector hook, a second screw receiving port disposed adjacent the second cross connector hook and a bi-axial cross connector extension plank extending from the second cross connector hook, the bi-axial cross connector extension plank including a linkage retaining orifice, wherein the linkage retaining orifice is disposed proximal to an end of the bi-axial cross connector extension plank distal to the second screw receiving port of the second linkage;   a first retaining screw constructed to engage the first screw receiving port;   a second retaining screw constructed to engage the second screw receiving port;   a pivot post, the pivot post comprising a bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel, a threaded post, and a linkage retaining shoulder, wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel is configured to allow the bi-axial cross connector extension rod to pass through unimpeded; and   a midline nut constructed to engage the threaded post;   wherein:
 the first and second cross connector rod hooks each comprise at least a first circular bore, a second circular bore, and a connecting slant which in combination form a hook with an open portion; 
 the first circular bore forms a portion of a middle arc of each of the first and second cross connector rod hooks; 
 the second circular bore forms a lower arc of each of the first and second cross connector rod hooks; 
 the portion of the middle arc and the lower arc are connected by the connecting slant; 
 the first rod retaining screw and first screw receiving port are constructed to secure a spinal rod disposed in the first cross connector rod hook; 
 the second rod retaining screw and second screw receiving port are constructed to secure a spinal rod disposed in the second cross connector rod hook; 
 the bi-axial cross connector extension rod is disposed in the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel, the linkage retaining orifice is disposed over the threaded post, and the midline nut is disposed on the threaded post; 
 the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel comprises a first surface and a second surface; 
 the first surface is disposed proximal to the threaded post and is an arc with a diameter of approximately 0.6 to approximately 1.4 mm larger than the diameter of the bi-axial cross connector extension rod; and 
 the second surface is disposed distal to the threaded post and is an arc with a diameter of approximately 0.03 to approximately 0.3 mm larger than the diameter of the bi-axial cross connector extension rod. 
   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod comprises a flared portion with a diameter larger than the diameter of the second surface of the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel disposed at the end of the bi-axial cross connector extension rod distal from the first cross connector hook. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the open portion of the first cross connector hook and the open portion of the second cross connector hook are oriented in opposite directions. 
     
     
         4 . The cross connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second linkages rotate relative to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The cross connector of  claim 4 , wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod rotates within the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel about a first axis and relative to the pivot post. 
     
     
         6 . The cross connector of  claim 5 , wherein the first linkage and the second linkage angulate about a second axis. 
     
     
         7 . The cross connector of  claim 6 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         8 . The cross connector of  claim 7 , wherein the second axis is coaxial with the pivot post. 
     
     
         9 . The cross connector of  claim 8 , wherein the first linkage and the second linkage angulate to affix to respective first and second spinal rods skewed in the coronal plane. 
     
     
         10 . The cross connector of  claim 9 , wherein the first cross connector hook of the first linkage is adjustable along the first axis relative to the pivot post. 
     
     
         11 . The cross connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first linkage extends along a first axis and the second linkage extends along the first axis. 
     
     
         12 . The cross connector of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second linkages rotate about the first axis. 
     
     
         13 . The cross connector of  claim 12 , wherein the first and second linkages rotate and affix to respective first and second spinal rods that are askew from each other in the sagittal plane. 
     
     
         14 . The cross connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second cross connector hooks are each constructed to received and secure either a 4.75 mm diameter spinal rod or a 5.5 mm diameter spinal rod. 
     
     
         15 . A cross connector comprising:
 a first linkage comprises a first cross connector rod hook, a first screw receiving port disposed adjacent the first cross connector rod hook and a bi-axial cross connector extension rod extending from the first cross connector rod hook, wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod is a round shaft extending from the first screw receiving port of the first linkage and having a bi-axial cross connector extension rod limiter disposed on an end thereof;   a second linkage comprises a second cross connector rod hook, a second screw receiving port disposed adjacent the second cross connector rod hook and a bi-axial cross connector extension plank extending from the second cross connector rod hook, the bi-axial cross connector extension plank including a linkage retaining orifice, wherein the linkage retaining orifice is disposed proximal to an end of the bi-axial cross connector extension plank distal to the second screw receiving port of the second linkage;   a first retaining screw constructed to engage the first screw receiving port;   a second retaining screw constructed to engage the second screw receiving port;   a pivot post, the pivot post comprising a bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel, a post, and a linkage retaining shoulder, wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel is configured to allow the bi-axial cross connector extension rod to pass through unimpeded; and   a midline nut constructed to engage the post;   wherein:
 the first retaining screw and first screw receiving port are constructed to secure a spinal rod disposed in the first cross connector rod hook is constructed to receive a first spinal rod; 
 the second retaining screw and second screw receiving port are constructed to secure a spinal rod disposed inthe second cross connector rod hook is constructed to receive a a second spinal rod; 
 the bi-axial cross connector extension rod is disposed in the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel, the linkage retaining orifice is disposed over the post, and the midline nut is disposed on the post; 
 the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel comprises a first surface and a second surface; 
 the first surface is disposed proximal to the post and is an arc with a diameter of approximately 0.6 to approximately 1.4 mm larger than the diameter of the bi-axial cross connector extension rod;and 
 the second surface is disposed distal to the post and is an arc with a diameter of approximately 0.03 to approximately 0.3 mm larger than the diameter of the bi-axial cross connector extension rod; 
 the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel is configured to allow the bi-axial cross connector extension rod to pass through unimpeded when the bi-axial cross connector extension rod is in contact with the first surface; and 
 the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel is configured to prohibit the bi-axial cross connector extension rod from passing through when the bi-axial cross connector extension rod is in contact with the second surface. 
   
     
     
         16 . The cross connector of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second linkages rotate relative to each other. 
     
     
         17 . The cross connector of  claim 16 , wherein the bi-axial cross connector extension rod rotates within the bi-axial cross connector extension rod channel about a first axis and relative to the pivot post. 
     
     
         18 . The cross connector of  claim 17 , wherein the first linkage and the second linkage angulate about a second axis. 
     
     
         19 . The cross connector of  claim 18 , wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis. 
     
     
         20 . The cross connector of  claim 19 , wherein the second axis is coaxial with the pivot post. 
     
     
         21 . The cross connector of claim  15   17 , wherein the first cross connector rod hook of the first linkage is adjustable along the first axis relative to the pivot post.