US 12,245,794 B1
Spinal fixation system having a low profile lockable connector
John E. Hammill, Sr., Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US); and Greg Lentner, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Assigned to Complex Spinal, LLC, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Filed by Complex Spinal, LLC, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (US)
Filed on May 14, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/663,812.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7005 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7035 (2013.01); A61B 17/705 (2013.01); A61B 2017/564 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A low profile spinal fixation device for orthopedic rod implantation, comprising:
a bone screw having a first end and a second end, said first end constructed and arranged as a shank portion for penetrating securement to a bone, said second end constructed and arranged as a head portion;
an upper connector having an upper section defining a first U-shaped opening and a lower section including a pair of spaced apart slots, said upper connector having an outer surface groove formed perpendicular to said slots, an aperture positioned between the upper and lower sections forming an internal cavity with a securement pin aperture positioned in said upper section;
an upper collet member slidably insertable in said upper section of said upper connector formed from a substantially cylindrical side wall with a second U-shaped channel in axial alignment with a first U-shaped channel, and an elongated slot;
a securement pin positioned in said pin aperture and protruding into said elongated slot, said securement pin regulating movement of said upper collet;
a lower collet member slidably insertable into said lower section of said upper connector with a split extending on one side from a lower edge to an upper edge and a partial split extending on an opposite side extending adjacent to said lower edge to said upper edge forming a compression member, said lower edge forming an upper spherical seating surface for receipt of an upper portion of said bone screw spherical head portion, and a pair of tabs extending outward from the upper edge, said tabs slidably disposed within said spaced apart slots;
a connector base having a continuous side wall forming a lower spherical seating surface for receipt of a lower portion of said bone screw spherical head portion, said connector base secured to said lower section of said upper connector securing said bone screw therebetween;
wherein said lower collet member is movable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position for securing said upper connector in a fixed position relative to said bone screw whereby said upper collet is movable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position for securing a stabilizing rod member thereto.