Flexible spinal stabilization system and method
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsTroy D. Drewry, Fred J. Molz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices, methods and systems for stabilizing at least a portion of the spinal column are provided. Devices include anchors and coupling members for engaging an elongate member. Systems include an elongate member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies and being at least partially formed of a flexible material. A number of anchors and coupling members are used to secure the elongate member to each of the vertebral bodies. The anchors can be compressed towards one another and the elongate member secured thereto and/or the elongate member can be tensioned to provide corrective forces to the spine.
Claims18
A method for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising:
- providing an elongate member having a length extending between at least two vertebrae and being at least partially formed of a flexible material;
- engaging a first anchor and a second anchor to respective ones of a first vertebra and a second vertebra;
- compressing the first and second anchors toward one another;
- attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors so that the elongate member is crimped at least at first and second locations with respect to each of said first and second anchors;
- and
- completely penetrating the elongate member to attach it to the first and second anchors,
- wherein attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors comprises positioning the elongate member in a U-shaped passage of each of the compressed first and second anchors.
A method for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising:
- providing an elongate member having a length extending between at least two vertebrae and being at least partially formed of a flexible material;
- engaging a first anchor and a second anchor to respective ones of a first vertebra and a second vertebra;
- compressing the first and second anchors toward one another;
- and
- attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors so that the elongate member is crimped at least at first and second locations with respect to each of said first and second anchors,
- wherein attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors comprises positioning the elongate member in a U-shaped passage of each of the compressed first and second anchors, and
- wherein attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors comprises engaging a coupling member with each of the compressed first and second anchors and threadingly advancing the coupling members until a penetrating element of each of the coupling members extends completely through the elongate member.
A method for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising:
- providing an elongate member having a length extending between at least two vertebrae and being at least partially formed of a flexible material;
- engaging a first anchor and a second anchor to respective ones of a first vertebra and a second vertebra;
- compressing the first and second anchors toward one another;
- and
- attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors so that the elongate member is crimped at least at first and second locations with respect to each of said first and second anchors,
- wherein attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors comprises positioning the elongate member in a U-shaped passage of each of the compressed first and second anchors,
- wherein each of the compressed first and second anchors includes a cannulation, and
- wherein attaching the elongate member to each of the compressed first and second anchors comprises positioning coupling members in the cannulations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.