Flexible spinal stabilization system and method
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, 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.
Claims89
A system for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising:
- an elongate member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies, said elongate member being made from a flexible material;
- a plurality of anchors for securing said elongate member to each of said at least two vertebral bodies, each of said anchors having an elongate member receiving portion;
- and
- a plurality of coupling elements each attachable to a corresponding one of said plurality of anchors, wherein each of said coupling elements includes a penetrating element extending at least partially into said elongate member when said elongate member is tensioned to engage said elongate member to said corresponding anchor when said coupling element is engaged to said anchor, whereby said elongate member stabilizes the spinal motion segment while allowing at least limited relative displacement between said at least two vertebral bodies.
12 The system of claim 1, wherein each of said anchors is cannulated and said penetrating element of each of said coupling members extends through said elongate member and into said cannulation of said corresponding anchor.
A system for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising:
- an elongate member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies, said elongate member being made from a flexible material;
- a plurality of anchors for securing said elongate member to each of said at least two vertebral bodies, each of said anchors having an elongate member receiving portion;
- and
- a plurality of coupling elements each attachable to a corresponding one of said plurality of anchors, wherein each of said coupling elements includes means for crimping said elongate member between said coupling element and said corresponding anchor on at least two locations along said elongate member, whereby said elongate member stabilizes the spinal motion segment while allowing at least limited relative displacement between said at least two vertebral bodies.
21 The system of claim 20, wherein said arm includes a rounded portion extending towards said elongated member, said rounded portion having a plurality of teeth formed thereon for engaging said elongate member.
A device attachable to a spinal column segment, comprising:
- a flexible elongate member;
- an anchor having a shaft engageable to a vertebra and a head extending from said shaft, said head defining a passage therethrough receiving said elongate member;
- and
- a coupling member threadingly engaged to said head and having a penetrating element extending therefrom which at least partially penetrates said elongate member as said coupling member is engaged to said head.
31 The device of claim 29, wherein coupling member includes a body and an end member rotatably coupled to said body, said end member contacting said elongate member when said coupling member is engaged to said head, said end member extending along said elongate member between a first end and an opposite second end, said first penetrating element extending distally from said first end and said second penetrating element extending distally from said second end.
A device attachable to a spinal column segment, comprising:
- a flexible elongate member;
- an anchor having a shaft engageable to a vertebra, a pair of arms extending from said shaft and a bearing surface extending between said pair of arms, said pair of arms defining a passage therebetween, said anchor further including a penetrating element between said pair of arms extending from said bearing surface into said passage;
- and
- a coupling member engageable to said pair of arms with said penetrating element extending at least partially through said elongate member.
A device for coupling an elongate member to a vertebra, comprising:
- an anchor having a shaft engageable to the vertebra and a head extending from said shaft, said head defining a passage for receiving the elongate member therein;
- and
- a coupling member having body and an end member rotatably coupled to said body, said body engageable to said head of said anchor with said end member having a distal end in contact with the elongate member.
45 The device of claim 44, wherein said arm includes a rounded portion extending towards said elongated member, said rounded portion having a plurality of teeth formed thereon for engaging said elongate member.
A device for coupling an elongate member to a vertebra, comprising:
- an anchor having a shaft engageable to the vertebra and a head extending from said shaft, said head defining a passage for receiving the elongate member therein, said anchor including a cannulation formed at least partially therein in communication with said passage;
- and
- a coupling member including a penetrating element extending therefrom, said coupling member engageable to said anchor with said penetrating element extending through said elongate member and received in said cannulation.
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.
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;
- tensioning the elongate member;
- and
- penetrating the tensioned elongate member to attach the tensioned elongate member to the 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;
- penetrating the elongate member to attach the elongate member to the first and second anchors.
A system for stabilizing a spinal motion segment, comprising:
- an elongate member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies, said elongate member being made from a flexible material;
- a plurality of anchors for securing said elongate member to each of said at least two vertebral bodies, each of said anchors having an elongate member receiving portion;
- and
- a plurality of coupling elements each attachable to a corresponding one of said plurality of anchors, wherein each of said coupling elements includes a penetrating element extending at least partially into said elongate member to engage said elongate member to said corresponding anchor when said coupling element is engaged to said anchor, whereby said elongate member stabilizes the spinal motion segment while allowing at least limited relative displacement between said at least two vertebral bodies.
The system of claim 73, wherein said flexible material is selected from the group comprising:
- polymers, superelastic metals, and resorbable synthetic materials.
77 The system of claim 67, wherein each of said anchors is cannulated and said penetrating element of each of said coupling members extends through said elongate member and into said cannulation of said corresponding anchor.
A device for coupling an elongate member to a vertebra, comprising:
- an anchor engageable to the vertebra, said anchor having a head defining a passage for receiving the elongate member therein;
- a coupling member engageable to said anchor;
- means for crimping the elongate member relative to the anchor;
- and
- means for at least partially penetrating the elongate member.
A device for coupling an elongate member to a vertebra, comprising:
- an anchor engageable to the vertebra, said anchor having a head defining a passage for receiving the elongate member therein;
- and
- a coupling member engageable to said anchor, wherein said coupling member and said anchor are configured to simultaneously crimp and penetrate the elongate member when said coupling member is engaged to said anchor.
A device attachable to a spinal column segment, comprising:
- a flexible elongate member having a thickness;
- an anchor engageable to a vertebra of the spinal column segment, said anchor having a head defining a passage for receiving a portion of said elongate member therein;
- and
- a coupling member engageable to said anchor, wherein one of said coupling member and said anchor include a penetrating element extending into said elongate member that penetrates at least 5 percent of said thickness of said elongate member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.