Apparatus and methods for spinal implant
OwnerBrian J. Bergeron, Charles R. Forton +1inventors
InventorsBrian J. Bergeron, Charles R. Forton, Abhijeet B. Joshi
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Abstract
A fixation or implant system (10) is provided for supporting a spinal column (12) and includes a pair of dynamic spinal rods (14, 16) that are fixed on laterally opposite sides of the spine (12). The rods (14,16) are configured to allow an initial range of spinal motion and to resist spinal motion beyond the initial range.
Claims28
A dynamic spinal rod for use in an implant system that supports a spine, the spinal rod comprising:
- an elongate body to extend along the length of the spine in use, the elongate body having a pair of anchor portions joined by an intermediate portion defining a longitudinal axis;
- and
- the intermediate portion configured to provide a first bending stiffness that allows an initial range of spinal bending and a second bending stiffness that restricts spinal bending beyond the initial range.
A dynamic spinal rod for use in an implant system that supports a spine, the spinal rod comprising:
- an elongate body to extend along the length of the spine in use, the elongate body having a pair of anchor portions joined by an intermediate portion defining a longitudinal axis;
- and
- the intermediate portion configured to have a lower bending moment of inertia through a predetermined initial range of spinal bending and a higher bending moment of inertia beyond the initial range of spinal bending.
A system for supporting a spine, the system comprising first and second dynamic spinal rods to be fixed on laterally opposite sides of a spine, each of the rods comprising:
- an elongate body to extend along the length of the spine in use, the elongate body having a pair of anchor portions joined by an intermediate portion defining a longitudinal axis;
- and
- the intermediate portion configured to provide a first bending stiffness that allows an initial range of spinal flexion/extension and a second bending stiffness that restricts spinal flexion/extension beyond the initial range.
A system for supporting a spine, the system comprising first and second dynamic spinal rods to be fixed on laterally opposite sides of a spine, each of the rods comprising:
- an elongate body to extend along the length of the spine in use, the elongate body having a pair of anchor portions joined by an intermediate portion defining a longitudinal axis;
- and
- the intermediate portion configured to have a lower bending moment of inertia through a predetermined initial range of spinal bending and a higher bending moment of inertia beyond the initial range of spinal bending.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.