Temporarily flexible implantable rod placement and fabrication

A method, comprising:

• providing a pedicle screw, wherein the pedicle screw comprises:
• a pedicle screw head;
• a pedicle screw shaft for implanting the pedicle screw in vertebra of a mammalian body;
• a pedicle screw aperture;
• and
• a coupling element attachable to the pedicle screw head;
• providing a spinal rod member that is retained in the pedicle screw aperture and secured by the coupling element, wherein the spinal rod member comprises:
• an elongated tubular membrane having a flexible body and a hollow interior;
• and
• a spinal rod body detachable from the elongated tubular membrane and formed inside the flexible body within the hollow interior by an insertion of a compound into the flexible body that is converted into a solid body within the hollow interior through hardening of the compound, the elongated tubular membrane being formed of a material that provides structural resistance when the coupling element is attached to the pedicle screw head such that the spinal rod body is of a substantially uniform cross-section, and the elongated tubular membrane being removable from the spinal rod body after hardening of the compound.

A method, comprising:

• attaching a first pedicle screw to a first vertebrae of a spine;
• attaching a second pedicle screw to a second vertebrae of the spine, the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw each comprising a pedicle screw head, a coupling element attachable to the pedicle screw head, and a pedicle screw shaft, the coupling element being configured to secure the spinal rod member to the pedicle screw head;
• and
• forming a spinal rod member that is retained by the pedicle screw head by:
• positioning a flexible and elongated tubular membrane into the pedicle screw head of the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw and attaching the coupling element to the pedicle screw head, the flexible and elongated tubular membrane having a hollow interior;
• inserting a compound into the flexible and elongated tubular membrane within the hollow interior;
• and
• hardening the compound to form a hardened and rigid spinal rod member body, wherein the hardening of the compound is performed by applying at least one of:
• a change in temperature of the compound, an application of light to the compound, an application of electricity to the compound, and an application of a hardening agent to the compound, the elongated tubular membrane being formed of a material that provides structural resistance when the coupling element is attached to the pedicle screw head such that the spinal rod body is of a substantially uniform cross-section, and the elongated tubular membrane being removable from the spinal rod body after hardening of the compound.