WO2009001978A1

WO2009001978A1 - A rod clamp

Info

Publication number: WO2009001978A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003487
Authority: WO
Inventors: Choon Sung Lee; Min Sik Shin; Jin Soon Kim
Original assignee: Gs Medical Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-06-22
Filing date: 2007-07-19
Publication date: 2008-12-31
Also published as: KR100896043B1; KR20080112851A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rod clamp, and more particularly, to a rod clamp provided with a rod holder having an open side for enabling a rod for linking spinal screws, which has been previously mounted, to be easily inserted into the rod holder when the rod is required to be extended. According to a rod clamp of the present invention, a rod-insertion hole has an open side. Therefore, there is an advantage in that a rod mounted in advance can be easily inserted into the rod-insertion hole without changing a structure of the rod to alleviate patient's suffering. In addition, the rod clamp can be semi-permanently used without loosening the coupling between the rod and the fixing bolt and separating the fixing bolt from the rod due to physical activities.

Description

Description A ROD CLAMP

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a rod clamp, and more particularly, to a rod clamp provided with a rod holder having an open side for enabling a rod for linking spinal screws, which has been previously mounted, to be easily inserted into the rod holder when the rod is required to be extended.

[2]

Background Art

[3] In general, herniation of intervertebral disk (spondylodiscitis), scoliosis and the like have been known as spinal diseases, the patient having the spine partially damaged could not perform activities required for daily life. Although a damaging degree of the spine is not severed, a damaged portion of the spine is pressed by or comes into contact with an adjacent portion, which causes a pain.

[4] Accordingly, for the patient having the spine which is partially damaged or injured, a surgical operation should be performed for supporting and correcting the damaged spine by using an artificial aid to a damaged portion of the spine, so that the patient can live comfortably his/her own life.

[5] In the spinal problems, scoliosis is a disease causing vertebrae to be twisted and bent. If scoliosis is left as it is, a deformation of the vertebrae is advanced continuously, and severe deformity is ultimately caused by scoliosis. Due to the deformity, a complication such as a deformation of viscera and the like are caused, which makes it difficult to live daily life conveniently. This scoliosis can be completely recovered by mounting an assist device or performing a surgical operation according to a bent angle of the vertebrae.

[6] In surgical operations for scoliosis, there is a spinal screw insertion manner in which screws are fixedly inserted into the bent vertebrae to correct them. In such surgical operation, the spinal screws are inserted into the bent vertebrae and linked to each other using a rod, thereby assisting the spine to be recovered to a normal status.

[7] The patient will live semi-permanently in a state where the spinal screws and the rod are implanted into the vertebrae. It is a good thing for the spine to be perfectly corrected by surgical operation. However, the vertebrae can be twisted at other regions at which the spinal screws and the rod are not implanted.

[8] Fig. 1 is a view showing that a conventional rod clamp is used.

[9] Referring to Fig. 1, it is shown that in a state where spinal screws 110 and 111 are already inserted into vertebrae 100 by surgical operation and the inserted spinal screws 110 and 111 are linked to each other through a first rod 120, if there is need to correct the vertebrae 100 on another region, a rod clamp 140 is coupled to an end of the first rod 120 to link another second rod 130 to the first rod. The rod clamp 140 is classified into an axial type rod clamp and a parallel type rod clamp. The parallel type rod clamp 140 is used herein.

[10] As described above, the rod clamp 140 according to the prior art is formed with a through hole, into which the first rod 120 previously fixed to a holder and the second rod 130 for linking the second rod to the first rod 120 are inserted. An end of the first rod 120 is inserted into the through hole of the rod clamp 140 after the second rod 130 is fixed to the rod holder, whereby the rod can be extended. However, in a case where the end of the first rod 120 previously fixed to the vertebrae 100 is short and thus the first rod is not sustained adequately when being inserted into the rod clamp 140, the spinal screw 111 positioned at the linking portion of the rod clamp 140 should be removed and the first rod 120 should be then linked to the rod clamp. In this case, there is a difficulty in that instead of the removed spinal screw 111, another spinal screw should be inserted at another location. In addition, due to the above difficulty, there are problems in that a time for the surgical operation is increased and the patient feels a more intense pain.

[H]

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[12] The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide a rod clamp in which a side portion of the rod- insertion hole is opened so as to allow a rod to be inserted into the rod-insertion hole through the open side, whereby the rod can be extended without removing a spinal screw provided at one end of the rod.

[13]

Technical Solution

[14] According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a rod clamp for use in extending a rod for linking spinal screws inserted into a spinal pedicle. The rod clamp comprises a rod holder having a pair of rod- insertion holes formed in a body of the rod holder to penetrate therethrough, and two pair of fixing bolt- insertion holes formed in a front surface of the body, at least one of the rod- insertion holes being formed to be open at one side, the rod-insertion holes being exposed through the fixing bolt-insertion holes; and two pair of fixing bolts to be inserted into the fixing bolt-insertion holes so as to secure the rod to the rod holder.

[15] According to another aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a rod clamp for use in extending a rod for linking spinal screws inserted into a spinal pedicle. The rod clamp comprises a rod holder having a pair of rod- insertion holes formed in a body of the rod holder to penetrate therethrough, and a pair of fixing bolt- insertion holes formed between the pair of rod-insertion holes to penetrate through the body, the pair of rod-insertion holes being communicated with each other through a slit at a central portion of the body, one of the pair of rod- insertion holes being formed to have an open side; and a pair of fixing bolts to be inserted into the fixing bolt-insertion holes so as to secure the rod to the rod holder. [16]

Advantageous Effects

[17] According to a rod clamp of the present invention, a rod- insertion hole has an open side. Therefore, there is an advantage in that a rod mounted in advance can be easily inserted into the rod- insertion hole without changing a structure of the rod to alleviate patient's suffering.

[18] In addition, according to the rod clamp of the present invention, a portion spaced apart by a certain distance from a central axis of the rod is fixed by means of a he fixing bolt having an end with a gentle curved shape, thereby increasing a contact area between the rod and the fixing bolt. Thus, the rod clamp can be semi-permanently used without loosening the coupling between the rod and the fixing bolt and separating the fixing bolt from the rod due to physical activities.

[19]

Brief Description of the Drawings

[20] Fig. 1 is a view showing that a conventional rod clamp is used;

[21] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rod clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[22] Fig. 3 is a view showing a state where a rod is coupled to the rod clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[23] Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the rod clamp shown in Fig. 2;

[24] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a rod clamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[25] Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a rod clamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[26] Fig. 7 is a view showing a state where a rod is coupled to the rod clamp according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

[27] Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the rod clamp shown in Fig. 7; and

[28] Fig. 9 is a view showing a use state of the rod clamp according to the present invention. [29]

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[30] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[31] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a rod clamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a view showing a state where a rod is coupled to the rod clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the rod clamp shown in Fig. 2.

[32] Referring to Fig. 2, a rod clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a rod holder 200 having a first rod- insertion hole 206 formed in a body thereof to receive a first rod linking spinal screws inserted in a spinal pedicle to each other, a second rod insertion hole 208 formed in the body to receive a second rod to extend one end of the first rod, wherein one side of the first rod-insertion hole 206 is opened in order for the first rod to be inserted thereinto, and a pair of fixing bolt- insertion holes 204 formed on a front surface of the body to expose each of the first rod- insertion hole 206 and the second rod-insertion hole 208; and two pairs of fixing bolts 210 inserted into the fixing bolt- insertion holes 204 to fix the rod to the rod holder 200. Here, the first rod- insertion hole 206 and the second rod insertion hole 208 are formed to be separated from each other.

[33] Referring to Fig. 3, the first rod 230 and the second rod 220 are inserted into the first rod-insertion hole 206 and the second rod insertion hole 208, respectively. The second rod 220, which is to extend the one end of the first rod 230, passes through and is inserted into the second rod- insertion hole 208, and the first rod 230 is inserted into the rod-insertion hole 206 in a lateral direction.

[34] The fixing bolt 210 comprises a head having a tool-receiving recess so that the fixing bolt can be rotated by a tool, and a threaded portion inserted into the fixing bolt- insertion hole 204 to fix the rod, wherein an end of the threaded portion has a curved surface.

[35] Referring to Fig. 4, it can be seen that the fixing bolt-insertion holes 204 are formed to be offset outwardly by a certain distance from the central axes of the rods 220 and 230, respectively, and a V-shaped tapered surface is formed on an end of the fixing bolt 210 which comes into contact with the rod 220 or 230. This increases a contact area between the fixing bolt 210 and the rod 220 or 230, and particularly, the first rod 230 is brought into contact with the tapered surface and thus is prevented from being separated from the first rod-insertion hole 206. Further, a stepped portion may be formed on the open portion of the first rod-insertion hole 206 to prevent separation of the first rod 230. [36] In the meantime, Fig. 4 shows that the respective fixing bolt-insertion holes 204 are formed perpendicular to the rods 220 and 230. However, the respective fixing bolt- insertion holes may be formed in an inclined direction toward the rods 220 and 230 to prevent separation of the rods 220 and 230 more effectively.

[37] The first rod-insertion hole 206 and the second rod insertion hole 208 are separated from each other in the rod holder 200. The rods 220 and 230 can be fixed in the corresponding rod-insertion holes 206 and 208 by means of the fixing bolts 210.

[38] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a rod clamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention and shows that each of the first rod-insertion hole 206 and the second rod insertion hole 208 has an open side. This provides an effect that the first rod can be easily inserted regardless of a location of the first rod previously inserted in a spinal pedicle. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the fixing bolt-insertion hole 204 is formed to be offset outwardly by a certain distance from the central axis of the rod, and the fixing bolt-insertion hole can be formed perpendicular to the rod or in an inclined direction with respect to the rod.

[39] Hereinafter, a rod clamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[40] Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the rod clamp according to the third embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 7 is a view showing a state where a rod is coupled to the rod clamp according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the rod clamp shown in Fig. 7.

[41] Referring to Fig. 6, a rod clamp according to the third embodiment of the present invention comprises a rod holder 300 having a first rod- insertion hole 304 formed in a body thereof to receive a first rod linking spinal screws inserted in a spinal pedicle to each other, a second rod-insertion hole 306 formed in the body to receive a second rod to extend one end of the first rod, wherein one side of the first rod-insertion hole 206 is opened in order for the first rod to be inserted thereinto, and a pair of fixing bolt- insertion holes 302 formed on a central portion of a front surface of the body; and a pair of fixing bolts 310 inserted into the fixing bolt- insertion holes 302 to fix the rod to the rod holder 300. Here, the first rod- insertion hole 304 and the second rod-insertion hole 306 communicate with each other through a slit formed in a central portion of the body of the rod holder 300, and the fixing bolts 310 are rotated and inserted in the fixing bolt- insertion holes 32 to reduce a gap of the slit, whereby the rod- insertion holes 304 and 306 can tighten the rods to thereby fix them.

[42] Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the first rod 330 and the second rod 320 are inserted into the first rod-insertion hole 307 and the second rod insertion hole 306, respectively. The second rod 320, which is extend one end of the first rod 330, passes through and is inserted into the second rod-insertion rod 306, and the first rod 330 is inserted into the rod-insertion hole 304 in a lateral direction.

[43] The fixing bolt 310 comprises a head having a tool-receiving recess so that the fixing bolt can be rotated by a tool, and a threaded portion inserted into the fixing bolt- insertion hole 302 to fix the rod.

[44] Since the first rod- insertion hole 304 and the second rod- insertion hole 306 communicate with each other through the slit, the gap of the slit can be reduced by rotating the fixing bolts 310, so that the rod- insertion holes 304 and 306 can tighten the rods 320 and 330 to thereby fix them simultaneously. In addition, a stepped portion may be formed on the open portion of the first rod-insertion hole 304 to prevent separation of the first rod 330.

[45] Fig. 9 is a view showing a use state of the rod clamp according to the present invention, and shows that the rod clamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention is used.

[46] Referring to Fig. 9, the spinal screws are fixedly inserted into the vertebrae, and the firs rod 230 is linked to the spinal screws. In order to extend an end of the rod 230, additional spinal screws are fixedly inserted into the vertebrae, and the additionally inserted spinal screws are then linked to each other through the second rod 220. At this time, the rod clamp is fixed to one end of the second rod 220. The first rod 230 is inserted into the rod-insertion hole having the open side, and the first rod 230 is then fixed to the rod clamp by the fixing bolts, so that the first rod 230 and the second rod 220 can be linked to each other. Since the first rod 230 installed in advance can be inserted into the rod-insertion hole through the open side thereof, it is possible to extend the first rod 230 without removing the spinal screws installed to the extending portion although an extending portion of the first rod 230 is short. Thus, a time for surgical operation can be reduced and patient's suffering can be alleviated.

[47] Although the specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, it will be readily understood that various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but is defined by the appended claims and the equivalents thereto.

[48]

Industrial Applicability

[49] A rod clamp according to the present invention has a rod- insertion hole with an open side, so that the rod mounted in advance can be easily inserted into the rod- insertion hole without changing a structure of the rod. Accordingly, the rod clamp according to the present invention can be valuably used in the surgical operation for the spine.

Claims

[1] A rod clamp for use in extending a rod for linking spinal screws inserted into a spinal pedicle, comprising: a rod holder having a pair of rod- insertion holes formed in a body of the rod holder to penetrate therethrough, and two pair of fixing bolt- insertion holes formed in a front surface of the body, at least one of the rod- insertion holes being formed to be open at one side, the rod-insertion holes being exposed through the fixing bolt- insertion holes; and two pair of fixing bolts to be inserted into the fixing bolt- insertion holes so as to secure the rod to the rod holder.

[2] The rod clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing bolt-insertion holes are formed to be offset outwardly by a certain distance from central axes of the rods.

[3] The rod clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing bolt-insertion holes are formed to be perpendicular to or inclined with respect to the rods.

[4] The rod clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the fixing bolts comprises a head having a tool-receiving recess so that the fixing bolt can be rotated by a tool, and a threaded portion inserted into the fixing bolt-insertion hole so as to secure the rod, and the threaded portion has a tapered surface formed at an end thereof that comes into contact with the rod.

[5] The rod clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of rod- insertion holes comprises a first rod- insertion hole for receiving a first rod previously mounted to the spinal pedicle, and a second rod- insertion hole for receiving a second rod for use in extending the first rod, and a side of the first rod- insertion hole is open to allow the first rod to be inserted into the first rod-insertion hole.

[6] A rod clamp for use in extending a rod for linking spinal screws inserted into a spinal pedicle, comprising: a rod holder having a pair of rod- insertion holes formed in a body of the rod holder to penetrate therethrough, and a pair of fixing bolt-insertion holes formed between the pair of rod-insertion holes to penetrate through the body, the pair of rod-insertion holes being communicated with each other through a slit at a central portion of the body, one of the pair of rod- insertion holes being formed to have an open side; and a pair of fixing bolts to be inserted into the fixing bolt- insertion holes so as to secure the rod to the rod holder.

[7] The rod clamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pair of rod- insertion holes comprises a first rod- insertion hole for receiving a first rod previously mounted to the spinal pedicle, and a second rod- insertion hole for receiving a second rod for use in extending the first rod, and a side of the first rod- insertion hole is open to allow the first rod to be inserted into the first rod-insertion hole.