Instruments and methods for stabilization of bony structures
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsKevin T. Foley, Michael C. Sherman, Jeff R. Justis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to methods and instruments for placing a brace or connecting element into an animal subject for engagement with anchors secured in the animal subject. The installation instrument includes anchor extensions coupled to the anchors. The instrument is movable with respect to the anchors to position the conencting element in a position more proximate the anchors.
Claims49
A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
- making an incision in a patient;
- placing a first anchor through the incision;
- engaging the first anchor to a first bony element;
- placing a second anchor through the incision;
- engaging the second anchor to a second bony element;
- and
- positioning a connecting element in the patient to a desired position relative to the first anchor and the second anchor through an entry location in the patient remote from the incision.
A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
- accessing at least one of a disc space and an intertransverse space between adjacent vertebrae from a first location on a patient;
- inserting from the first location at least one device into the at least one disc space and intertransverse space;
- engaging from the first location first and second anchors to corresponding ones of the adjacent vertebrae;
- and
- positioning a connecting element proximate the first and second anchors from a second location on a patient remote from the first location.
A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
- making an incision in a patient for accessing first and second bony elements;
- placing through the incision first and second anchors coupled to first and second anchor extensions, respectively;
- engaging the first and second anchors to the first and second bony elements, respectively;
- mounting an inserter instrument on the first and second anchor extensions, the inserter instrument having a pivot axis relative to the anchors and further including a connecting element mounted thereon;
- swinging the inserter instrument relative to the anchors about the pivot axis and thereby moving the connecting element through an arc centered on the pivot axis of the inserter instrument;
- introducing an end of the connecting element into the patient from a location remote from the incision;
- and
- positioning the connecting element proximate to the first and second anchors.
A method of placing a connecting element in a patient, comprising:
- placing first and second anchors in first and second bony elements of the body through an incision in the patient;
- mounting an installation instrument on the first and second anchors, the installation instrument having the connecting element secured thereto;
- and
- moving the installation instrument to position the connecting element into the patient at a location remote from the incision.
A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
- positioning through a single incision at least a pair of anchors within a body of a patient;
- providing a connecting element;
- referencing a position of the connecting element relative to a position of the pair of anchors;
- and
- percutaneously inserting the connecting element into a desired subcutaneous position relative to the pair of anchors from a location remote from the incision.
A minimally invasive surgical method, comprising:
- making an incision in a patient;
- placing an anchor through the incision;
- engaging the first anchor to a bony element;
- and
- positioning a connecting element in the patient to a desired position relative to the anchor through an entry location in the patient remote from the incision.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.