1. A method for treating spinal column shape deformation comprising:
fixing a first fixation screw assembly to a first vertebra of a patient’s spinal column, the first fixation screw assembly having a fixation screw, a rod receiving channel with separable channel arm extensions, the channel being movable relative to the fixation screw through a range of angles, the first fixation screw assembly having a locking device for separately locking the channel against movement relative to the fixation screw and the rod against movement in the channel,
orienting the channel of the first fixation screw assembly to a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the fixation screw and laterally relative to the spinal column,
positioning a rod between the arm extensions of the first fixation screw assembly,
adjusting the channel and thereby the rod relative to the fixation screw to reduce the angle of orientation of the channel with respect to the axis of the fixation screw,
adjusting the locking device to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw,
adjusting the rod relative to the channel, and
adjusting the locking device to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the arm extensions from the arms of the channel.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the channel of the first fixation screw assembly comprises a pair of approximately parallel spaced-apart arms and a base extending between the arms, an arm extension provided on each of the channel arms and configured to be readily detachable from the arm.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the locking device comprises a first locking member and a second locking member,
wherein adjusting the locking device to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw comprises rotating the first locking member relative to the arms and causing the first locking member to act against the fixation screw directly or indirectly,
adjusting the locking device to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel comprises rotating the second locking member relative to the first locking member and causing the second locking member to act against the rod directly or indirectly.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first locking member is a screw having an external thread for engaging a thread on internal faces of the arms, the first locking member having a threaded bore, and wherein the second locking member is a screw having an external thread for engaging the threaded bore of the first locking member
6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the rod relative to the channel comprises rotating the rod about its axis relative to the channel.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the rod between the arm extensions includes sliding the rod in the coronal plane.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the arm extensions is connected to a channel arm of the fixation screw assembly at a line of weakness which promotes separation of the arm extension from its arm.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein a ratio of a length of an arm extension measured from the line of weakness to a length of the channel arm measured from a base of the channel to the line of weakness is not more than about 1.0.
10. A method for treating spinal column shape deformation comprising:
fixing a first fixation screw assembly to a first vertebra of a patient’s spinal column and a second fixation screw assembly to a second vertebra of the patient’s spinal column, the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixation screw assembly each having a fixation screw, a rod receiving channel defined by two spaced apart channel arms, and a separable channel arm extension provided on each of the arms, the channel being movable relative to the fixation screw through a range of angles, the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixation screw assembly each having a locking device for separately locking the channel against movement relative to the fixation screw and the rod against movement in the channel,
orienting the channel of the first fixation screw assembly to a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the fixation screw and laterally relative to the spinal column,
orienting the channel of the second fixation screw assembly to a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the fixation screw and laterally relative to the spinal column,
positioning a rod between the arms or the arm extensions of the first fixation screw assembly and between the arms or the arm extensions of the second fixation screw assembly,
adjusting the channel of the first fixation screw assembly and the channel of the second fixation screw assembly, and thereby the rod relative to the fixation screw of the first and second fixation screw assembly, to reduce the angle of orientation of the channel with respect to the axis of the fixation screw,
adjusting the locking device of the first fixation screw assembly to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw,
adjusting the locking device of the second fixation screw assembly to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw,
adjusting the rod relative to the channels of the first and second fixation screw assembly,
adjusting the locking device of the first fixation screw assembly to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel, and
adjusting the locking device of the second fixation screw assembly to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising separating the arm extensions from the arms of the channel of first fixation screw assembly and separating the arm extensions from the arms of the channel of second fixation screw assembly.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the channels of the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixations screw assembly each comprise a pair of approximately parallel spaced-apart arms and a base extending between the arms, an arm extension provided on each of the channel arms and configured to be readily detachable from the arm.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the locking device of the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixations screw assembly each comprises a first locking member and a second locking member,
wherein adjusting the locking device to lock the channel of the first fixation screw assembly relative to the fixation screw comprises rotating the first locking member relative to the arms and causing the first locking member to act against the fixation screw directly or indirectly,
adjusting the locking device to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel of the first fixation screw assembly comprises rotating the second locking member relative to the first locking member and causing the second locking member to act against the rod directly or indirectly.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first locking member of the locking devices of the first and second fixation screw assemblies is a screw having an external thread for engaging a thread on internal faces of the arms, the first locking member having a threaded bore, and wherein the second locking member of the locking devices of the first and second fixation screw assemblies is a screw having an external thread for engaging the threaded bore of the first locking member.
15. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting the rod relative to the channels of the first and second fixation screw assemblies comprises rotating the rod about its axis relative to the channels.
16. The method of claim 10, positioning a rod between the arms or the arm extensions of the first fixation screw assembly and between the arms or the arm extensions of the second fixation screw assembly includes sliding the rod in the coronal plane.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the arm extensions is connected to a channel arm of the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixation screw assembly at a line of weakness which promotes separation of the arm extension from its arm.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein a ratio of a length of an arm extension measured from the line of weakness to a length of the channel arm measured from a base of the channel to the line of weakness is not more than about 1.0.
19. A method for treating spinal column shape deformation comprising:
fixing a first fixation screw assembly to a first vertebra of a patient’s spinal column and a second fixation screw assembly to a second vertebra of the patient’s spinal column, the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixation screw assembly each having a fixation screw, a rod receiving channel defined by two spaced apart channel arms, and a separable channel arm extension provided on each of the arms, the channel being movable relative to the fixation screw through a range of angles, the first fixation screw assembly and the second fixation screw assembly each having a locking device including a first locking member for separately locking the channel against movement relative to the fixation screw and a second locking member for locking the rod against movement in the channel,
orienting the channel of the first fixation screw assembly to a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the fixation screw and laterally relative to the spinal column,
orienting the channel of the second fixation screw assembly to a non-zero angle relative to the axis of the fixation screw and laterally relative to the spinal column,
positioning a rod between the arms or the arm extensions of the first fixation screw assembly and between the arms or the arm extensions of the second fixation screw assembly,
adjusting the channel of the first fixation screw assembly and the channel of the second fixation screw assembly, and thereby the rod relative to the fixation screw of the first and second fixation screw assembly, to reduce the angle of orientation of the channel with respect to the axis of the fixation screw,
rotating the first locking member of the locking device of the first fixation screw assembly to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw,
rotating the first locking member of the locking device of the second fixation screw assembly to lock the channel relative to the fixation screw,
adjusting the rod relative to the channels of the first and second fixation screw assembly,
rotating the second locking member of the locking device of the first fixation screw assembly to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel, and
rotating the second locking member of the locking device of the second fixation screw assembly to lock the rod against movement relative to the channel.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first locking member of the locking devices of the first and second fixation screw assemblies is a screw having an external thread for engaging a thread on internal faces of the arms, the first locking member having a threaded bore, and wherein the second locking member of the locking devices of the first and second fixation screw assemblies is a screw having an external thread for engaging the threaded bore of the first locking member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. An article for use in an aquatic environment comprising a translucent polymer material that is configured to visually reproduce a form of aquarium life.
2. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material comprises a pliable polymer material.
3. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material is capable of substantially retaining its shape.
4. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a sea anemone.
5. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a sea plant.
6. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a sea weed.
7. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a coral.
8. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a scallop.
9. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a clam.
10. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a sea cucumber.
11. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to visually reproduce comprises a sea apple.
12. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to substantially resemble comprises a jellyfish.
13. The article of claim 1, wherein the form of aquarium life that the translucent polymer material is configured to substantially resemble comprises a nudibranch.
14. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material further comprises a color dye.
15. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material further comprises a fluorescent dye.
16. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material further comprises a glow-in-the-dark dye.
17. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material further comprises nibble inhibitors.
18. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material is formed at least in part of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, latex, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, memory gel, and Plastigoop.
19. The article of claim 1, wherein the translucent polymer material is formed at least in part of a material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic and elastomer.
20. A method for making an article for use in an aquatic environment, wherein the article is configured to visually reproduce a type of aquarium life, comprising:
melting a translucent polymer material;
closing a mold, wherein the mold has one or more recesses that are in the form of the type of aquarium life;
injecting the melted translucent polymer material into the mold;
cooling the mold to solidify the translucent polymer material;
opening the mold; and
removing the solidified translucent polymer material.
21. The method of claim 20, further comprising injecting a dye into the mold.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the dye is injected before the translucent polymer material is injected.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the dye is injected as the translucent polymer material is injected.
24. The method of claim 21, wherein the dye is injected after the translucent polymer material is injected.
25. The method of claim 21, wherein the dye comprises a color dye.
26. The method of claim 20, wherein the dye comprises a fluorescent dye.
27. The method of claim 20, wherein the type of aquarium life that the article is configured to visually reproduce is selected from the group consisting of a sea anemone, a sea plant, a sea weed, a coral, a scallop, a clam, a sea cucumber, a sea apple, a nudibranch, and a jellyfish.
28. A method for making an article for use in an aquatic environment, wherein the article is configured to visually reproduce a type of aquarium life, comprising:
closing a mold, wherein the mold has one or more recesses that are in the form of the type of aquarium life;
introducing a curable translucent polymer material into the mold;
heating the mold to solidify the curable translucent polymer material;
cooling the mold;
opening the mold; and
removing the solidified translucent polymer material.
29. The method of claim 28, further comprising introducing a dye into the mold.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the dye comprises a color dye.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the dye comprises a fluorescent dye.
32. The method of claim 29, wherein the dye comprises a glow-in-the-dark dye.
33. The method of claim 28, wherein the type of aquarium life that the article is configured to reproduce is selected from the group consisting of a sea anemone, a sea plant, a sea weed, a coral, a scallop, a clam, a sea cucumber, a sea apple, a nudibranch, and a jellyfish.
34. A method for making an article for use in an aquatic environment, wherein the article is configured to reproduce a type of aquarium life, comprising:
melting a translucent polymer material;
extruding the melted translucent polymer material through a heated die;
cooling the extruded translucent polymer material to solidify it;
whereby the article is formed from the extruded, solidified translucent polymer material.
35. A method for making an article for use in an aquatic environment, wherein the article is configured to reproduce a type of aquarium life, comprising:
melting a translucent polymer material;
closing a mold, wherein the mold has one or more recesses that are in the form of the type of aquarium life;
introducing the melted translucent polymer material into the mold;
injecting air into the mold to cause the translucent polymer material to coat one or more walls of the mold;
cooling the mold to solidify the translucent polymer material;
opening the mold; and
removing the solidified translucent polymer material.
36. The method of claim 35, further comprising filling the solidified translucent polymer material with a gelatinous material.
37. An article for use in an aquatic environment comprising a means for visually reproducing a form of aquarium life, wherein the means confers a translucent property to the article.
38. An article for use in an aquatic environment comprising a means for reproducing a form of aquarium life, wherein the means confers a pliable property to the article.
39. The article of claim 37, wherein the form of aquarium life is selected from the group consisting of a sea anemone, a sea plant, a sea weed, a coral, a scallop, a clam, a sea cucumber, a sea apple, a nudibranch, and a jellyfish.
40. The article of claim 37, wherein the means for reproducing a form of aquarium life is formed at least in part of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, latex, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, memory gel, and Plastigoop.