Methods and apparatus for coupling a prosthesis to a spinal segment
AssigneeEmpirical Spine, Inc.
InventorsTodd Alamin, Manish Kothari, Hugues Malandain, Colin Cahill, Louis Fielding
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Abstract
A method for coupling a prosthesis to a spinal segment in a patient includes the steps of selecting first and second reference points disposed along the spinal segment and pre-operatively measuring a target distance. The target distance extends between the first and second reference points while the patient is in a preferred posture such as the standing position. A prosthesis is coupled to the spinal segment and the prosthesis is then intra-operatively adjusted in order to set the distance between the first and second reference points based on the target distance.
Claims15
A system for restricting flexion of a spinal segment in a patient, said system comprising:
- a tether structure comprising one or more straps adapted to be coupled with a superior spinous process and an inferior spinous process or sacrum;
- a first compliance element coupled with the tether structure and configured to elastically elongate as tension is applied through the tether structure;
- and
- a first constraining tool releasably coupled with the compliance element so as to hold the compliance element in a first desired position and allow a first predetermined amount of elastic elongation of the first compliance element as tension is applied to the first compliance element through the tether structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.