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Publication Number
US-12295621-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-13
Expiration Date
Abstract
A pedicle screw includes a tulip head, a rod seat, a screw shank, and a retainer collar. The tulip head has an upper opening disposed in a top end of the tulip head and a lower opening disposed in a bottom end of the tulip head opposite the upper opening. The upper and lower openings form a single cavity extending through the tulip head from a top end to the bottom end. The rod seat is disposed within the cavity of the tulip head. Retention ledges of the rod seat engage opposing arms of the tulip head. The screw shank has a thread disposed along a length of the screw shank and a connector positioned at an upper end. The retainer collar has a pass through aperture, an expansion slit, and is disposed about the connector of the screw shank. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a bottom-loaded pedicle screw system in which a tulip head has an upper opening and a lower opening disposed opposite one another to form a single cavity extending through the tulip head. The cavity includes an interior wall, internal threads disposed adjacent the upper opening, and a stop disposed between the lower opening and the upper opening. A pair of opposing arms define a U-shaped channel transverse to the cavity, providing a structural guide for a rod seat within the tulip head.
A rod seat is disposed within the cavity and includes a rod mating face, a shank mating face opposite the rod mating face, and a hole disposed through the rod mating face and shank mating face. The rod seat further includes a pair of retention ledges that are engageable with the stop to prevent the rod seat from moving into the upper opening, and engageable with the pair of opposing arms to prevent rotation of the rod seat relative to the tulip head.
The pedicle screw includes a screw shank having a thread along a length of the screw shank and a connector positioned at an upper end of the screw shank. A retainer collar is disposed about the connector and includes a pass-through aperture and a collar expansion split within the collar body. The connector is described as a spherical connector, with locking and retention groove arrangements involving a locking ring, a locking ring groove, a retention groove, and a retention groove inlet to axially and angularly lock the retainer collar, screw shank, and rod seat.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claim set includes two independent claims, each centered on a pedicle screw with a bottom-loaded tulip head cavity, a rod seat retained against upward movement and rotation, and a retainer collar with a split and pass-through aperture for securing an upper connector. Across the two independent claims, the main inventive features are the tulip head through-cavity geometry, the rod seat stop and anti-rotation retention ledges, and the retainer collar locking/retention structure around the screw shank connector.
Bottom-loaded tulip head with through cavity, internal threads, stop, and opposing U-shaped channel arms
A pedicle screw with a tulip head having an upper opening disposed in a top end, a lower opening disposed in a bottom end opposite the upper opening, and a pair of opposing arms, wherein the upper and lower openings form a single cavity extending through the tulip head from the top end to the bottom end; the pair of opposing arms define a U-shaped channel transverse to the cavity; and the cavity has an interior wall, internal threads disposed within the interior wall adjacent to the upper opening, and a stop disposed between the lower opening and the upper opening.
Rod seat retained against upward movement and rotation by retention ledges engaging stop and opposing arms
A rod seat disposed within the cavity, the rod seat having a rod mating face, a shank mating face opposite the rod mating face, a hole disposed through the rod mating face and shank mating face, and a pair of retention ledges, wherein the pair of retention ledges are engageable with the stop of the cavity to prevent the rod seat from moving into the upper opening, and wherein the pair of retention ledges are engageable with the pair of opposing arms to prevent rotation of the rod seat relative to the tulip head.
Screw shank with threaded length and upper connector retained by a retainer collar with pass-through aperture and expansion split
A screw shank having a thread disposed along a length of the screw shank and a connector positioned at an upper end of the screw shank; and a retainer collar having a collar body, a pass through aperture disposed through the collar body, and a collar expansion split disposed within the collar body, wherein the retainer collar is disposed about the connector of the screw shank.
Rod seat rotation prevention only via retention ledges engaging opposing arms (without stop recitation in independent claim 10)
A rod seat disposed within the cavity, the rod seat having a rod mating face, a shank mating face opposite the rod mating face, a hole disposed through the rod mating face and shank mating face, and a pair of retention ledges engageable with the pair of opposing arms to prevent rotation of the rod seat relative to the tulip head.
Across the independent claims, claim coverage is directed to a pedicle screw in which the tulip head defines a through cavity formed by an upper and lower opening, with internal threads adjacent the upper opening and a U-shaped channel defined by opposing arms. A rod seat is disposed within the cavity and is constrained by retention ledges to prevent unwanted rod-seat movement and/or prevent rod-seat rotation relative to the tulip head. The screw shank includes a threaded length and an upper connector retained by a retainer collar having a pass-through aperture and a collar expansion split.
Stated Advantages
Provides a lower-profile tulip head through bottom-loading configuration.
Enables use of a consistent tulip head with multiple shank thread diameters and pitches.
Documented Applications
Bottom-loading assembly of a pedicle screw with a tulip head having upper and lower openings for receiving a screw shank and retaining a connector and rod seat in a spinal rod system.
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