1. A polyaxial fixation device, comprising:
a fastener having a shank and a head formed on a proximal end of the shank, the head including a spherical surface with a radially extending shoulder extending around a periphery of the head spaced from a proximal end of the head, wherein the shoulder is disposed proximal of a midpoint of the head;
a receiver member having an axial passage formed therein and adapted to polyaxially seat the spherical surface of the head of the fastener;
a spacer received in said axial passage of said receiver member and engageable with said head, the spacer having a U-shaped channel adapted to receive a spinal fixation element; and
a ring member disposed within the receiver member, the ring member positioned below a bottom of the U-shaped channel and above the midpoint of the head, the ring member providing a translating force against an inner wall of the receiver member generating a frictional force exerted on the head to enable the shank to be maintained in a desired angular orientation relative to the receiver member in the absence of the spinal fixation element and before locking the head within the receiver member.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring member is adapted to expand or contract.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ring member includes an opening formed in a wall thereof to allow the ring member to expand and contract.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring member is substantially C-shaped.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the spacer has at least two axially aligned slots extending distally from a proximal edge of the spacer.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the ring member exerts the frictional force on the head through the spacer.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the receiver member has a channel in the inner wall thereof configured to receive at least a portion of the ring member.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the spacer has a channel on an outer wall thereof configured to receive at least a portion of the ring member.
9. A polyaxial fixation assembly, comprising:
a shank having a head formed on a proximal end thereof, the head having a spherical surface with a radially extending shoulder extending around a periphery of the head spaced from a proximal end of the head, wherein the shoulder is disposed proximal of a midpoint of the head;
a receiver member having a first, proximal opening adapted to receive a spinal fixation rod and a second, distal opening having a diameter sized to permit passage of the shank therethrough while maintaining the head therein, the receiver member further including a spherical seat adjacent the second, distal opening to polyaxially seat the spherical surface of the head;
a spacer having a U-shaped channel configured for receiving the spinal fixation rod, the spacer disposed within said receiver member and engageable with said head and said receiver member; and
a ring member disposed within the receiver member, the ring member positioned below a bottom of the U-shaped channel and above the midpoint of the head, the ring member adapted to exert a force on an inner wall of the receiver member that generates a frictional force exerted on the head, thereby enabling the shank to be maintained in a desired angular orientation with respect to the receiver member in the absence of the spinal fixation rod, wherein the angular orientation of the shank with respect to the receiver member may be changed by manually moving the receiver member relative to the shank, wherein the ring member exerts the force on the inner wall of the receiver member at a location below the bottom of the U-shaped channel and above the midpoint of the head.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the spacer has at least two axially aligned slots extending distally from a proximal edge of the spacer.
11. The device of claim 9, wherein the ring member exerts the frictional force on the head through the spacer.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein the receiver member has a channel on an inner surface thereof configured to receive at least a portion of the ring member.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the spacer has a channel on an outer surface thereof configured to receive at least a portion of the ring member.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein the ring member is adapted to expand or contract.
15. The device of claim 9, wherein the ring member is substantially C-shaped.
16. A method of producing an apparatus for retaining bone portions in a desired spatial relationship, comprising:
inserting a fastener, a ring member, and a spacer through an opening in a housing, the fastener having a shank engageable with a bone portion and a head formed on a proximal end of the shank, the head including a spherical surface with a radially extending shoulder extending around a periphery of the head spaced from a proximal end of the head, wherein the shoulder is disposed proximal of a midpoint of the head, the housing having an axial passage and a seat adapted to polyaxially seat the head of the fastener, the spacer having a U-shaped channel adapted to receive a spinal fixation rod, the ring member adapted to provide a translating force against an inner surface of the housing to enable the shank to be maintained in a desired angular orientation relative to the housing in the absence of the spinal fixation rod and before locking the head within the housing;
positioning the spacer and the ring member in the axial passage of the housing such that the spacer contacts the head and the ring member is positioned below a bottom of the U-shaped channel in the spacer and above the midpoint of the head, the translating force generated by the ring member creating a frictional engagement between the housing and the head of the fastener that holds the position of the housing relative to the fastener when the spinal fixation rod is not secured in the housing.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the spacer has at least two axially aligned slots extending distally from a proximal edge of the spacer, wherein inserting the spacer through the opening in the housing includes engaging the slots with a tool and inserting the spacer into the housing with the tool.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the frictional engagement between the housing and the head of the fastener is translated through the spacer.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the housing has a channel on the inner surface thereof configured to receive at least a portion of the ring member.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the spacer has a channel on an outer surface thereof configured to receive at least a portion of the ring 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.
1. A power inverter, comprising:
a power module providing an inverter circuit for inverting DC current supplied from a DC power source to AC current;
a smoothing capacitor module for smoothing the DC current;
a DC bus bar for supplying the DC current to said power module;
an AC bus bar for supplying the AC current to a motor;
a housing for installing said power module and said smoothing capacitor module; and
a terminal box which is located facing a first side wall formed at said housing;
wherein said first side wall provides a first hole in which said DC bus bar penetrates, and a second hole in which said AC bus bar penetrates;
wherein a first wall of said terminal box facing the first side wall provides a third hole which faces the first hole and in which said DC bus bar penetrates, and a fourth hole which faces the second hole and in which said AC bus bar penetrates; and
wherein a second wall of said terminal box which is different from the first wall of the terminal box provides a DC power terminal portion for connecting with a DC side cable which connects to the DC power source, and an AC power output portion for connecting with a motor side cable which connects to the motor.
2. The power inverter according to claim 1,
wherein said terminal box provides a partition which separates a space in the terminal box;
wherein said third hole and said DC power terminal portion are formed at a side wall of said terminal box which forms a first space separated by said partition; and
wherein said fourth hole and said AC power output portion are formed at a side wall of said terminal box which forms a second space separated by said partition.
3. The power inverter according to claim 1,
wherein said terminal box provides a noise filter which connects to said DC bus bar in said space in said terminal box.
4. The power inverter according to claim 1,
wherein said terminal box provides a current sensor which proved a hole through which said AC bus bar penetrates in said space in said terminal box.
5. A power inverter, comprising:
a power module providing an inverter circuit for inverting DC current supplied from a DC power source to AC current;
a smoothing capacitor module for smoothing the DC current;
a DC bus bar for supplying the DC current to said power module;
an AC bus bar for supplying the AC current to a motor;
a housing for installing said power module and said smoothing capacitor module; and
a terminal box which is located facing a first side wall formed at said housing;
wherein said first side wall provides a first hole in which said DC bus bar penetrates;
wherein a first wall of said terminal box facing the first side wall provides a second hole which faces the first hole; and
wherein a second wall of said terminal box which is different from the first wall of the terminal box provides a DC power terminal portion for connecting with a DC side cable which connects to the DC power source.
6. A power inverter, comprising:
a power module providing an inverter circuit for inverting DC current supplied from a DC power source to AC current;
a smoothing capacitor module for smoothing the DC current;
a DC bus bar for supplying the DC current to said power module;
an AC bus bar for supplying the AC current to a motor;
a housing for installing said power module and said smoothing capacitor module; and
a terminal box which is located facing a first side wall formed at said housing;
wherein said first side wall provides a first hole in which said AC bus bar penetrates;
wherein a first wall of said terminal box facing the first side wall provides a second hole which faces the second hole and in which said AC bus bar penetrates; and
wherein a second wall of said terminal box which is different from the first wall of the terminal box provides an AC power output portion for connecting with a motor side cable which connects to the motor.