Expandable spinal rods and methods of use
AssigneeWarsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
InventorsAurelien Bruneau, Eric Lange, Randall Allard, Kent Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal rod having first and second end members. The end members may be flexible or rigid. An expandable intermediate section is positioned between the first and second end members. The intermediate section may be axially expandable upon the introduction of a substance into a port that may be located in either of the first and second end members or the intermediate section. The intermediate section may be expandable between a first size, where the first and second end members are spaced a first distance apart, and a second enlarged size, where the first and second end members are spaced a second greater distance apart.
Claims49
A spinal rod comprising:
- a first end member;
- a second end member;
- and
- an intermediate section connected to the first and second end members;
- and
- a port operatively connected to the intermediate section;
- the intermediate section being axially expandable upon the introduction of a substance into the port, the intermediate section being expandable between a first size to space the first and second end members a first distance apart and a second enlarged size to space the first and second end members a second greater distance apart.
A spinal rod comprising:
- a first coupling member having a first surface;
- a second coupling member having a second surface;
- an axial member operatively connected to and extending between the first and second coupling members;
- and
- an interior section formed by the first and second surfaces and the axial member, the interior section being constructed to contain a substance introduced into the interior section, the axial member constructed to become elongated upon introduction of the substance into the interior section.
A method of supporting vertebral members, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a rod in proximity to the vertebral members while the rod is in a first orientation having a first length;
- introducing a substance into an interior of the rod;
- increasing a length of the rod and separating first and second coupling members;
- securing the first and second coupling members to anchors mounted to the vertebral members.
A method of supporting vertebral members, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting an amount of a substance into an interior region of a spinal rod to contact faces of a first and second member;
- filling the interior region with the substance and exerting an expansion force to separate the first and second members to a spaced apart configuration;
- and
- securing the first and second members to anchors mounted to the vertebral members while the first and second members are in the spaced apart configuration.
A method of supporting vertebral members, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a substance into a rod;
- increasing a length of the rod;
- securing the rod to anchors mounted to the vertebral members after increasing the length;
- and
- curing the substance after the rod is secured to the anchors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.