| US 7,615,068 B2 | ||
| Mounting mechanisms for pedicle screws and related assemblies | ||
| Jens Peter Timm, West Haven, Conn. (US); Bryan Hildebrand, Orange, Conn. (US); Ronald Callahan, Naugatuck, Conn. (US); Ernest Corrao, Bethel, Conn. (US); Stephen Maguire, Shelton, Conn. (US); and Carmen Walters, Hamden, Conn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Applied Spine Technologies, Inc., Rocky Hill, Conn. (US) | ||
| Filed on Dec. 31, 2004, as Appl. No. 11/27,245. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/581716, filed on Jun. 23, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0177166 A1, Aug. 11, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/58 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 606—266 [606/305] | 17 Claims |
| 1. A pedicle screw subassembly comprising:
(a) a threaded screw shaft;
(b) an upwardly extending collet that includes a plurality of downwardly extending slots, said slots defining a plurality
of deflectable upstanding segments therebetween, wherein said upwardly extending collet defines a circumferential ring groove;
(c) a spherical element defining a substantially spherical outer surface and defining a cylindrical central passage that is
configured and dimensioned such that said upwardly extending collet passes through said cylindrical central passage, said
spherical element also defining an inner groove formed in said cylindrical central passage of said spherical element; wherein
said substantially spherical outer surface is adapted to interact with an attachment member of a spine stabilizing system
for dynamic motion therebetween; and
(d) a snap ring that defines a partial circle having a diameter and that includes an opening for facilitating expansion of
the diameter of the partial circle, the snap ring being seated at least in part within both said inner groove of said spherical
element and said circumferential ring groove of said upwardly extending collet,
wherein said collet defines an internally threaded region that is adapted to receive a set screw.
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