Spinal fixation devices and methods of use

A method for fusion of a spinal segment comprising a superior vertebral bone, an immediately adjacent inferior vertebral bone and an intervening intervertebral disc space of a subject, said method comprising:

• identifying said spinal segment on an imaging modality;
• advancing a first implant into said intervertebral disc using a first corridor within said subject that extends from a first lateral skin incision, through a psoas muscle and onto a lateral side surface of said intervertebral disc space;
• positioning said first implant within said intervertebral disc space through said first corridor;
• advancing a second implant through a second corridor and onto a lateral aspect of an interspinous space, said interspinous space being positioned between a spinous process of said superior vertebral bone and a spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone, said second implant comprising:
• an elongated body configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal segment to a distal segment;
• a first bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and movably coupled to said distal segment of said elongated body;
• and
• a second bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and coupled to said proximal segment of said elongated body;
• positioning said elongated body of said second implant at least partially within said interspinous space, said first bone abutment member being positioned on a side of said interspinous space contralateral to said first lateral skin incision, and said second bone abutment member being positioned on a side of said interspinous space ipsilateral to said first lateral skin incision;
• actuating a locking mechanism of said second orthopedic implant, said act of actuating advancing said first and said second bone abutment members towards one another;
• and
• immobilizing said spinous process of said superior vertebral boner relative to said spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone.

A method for stabilizing a spinal segment comprising a superior vertebral bone, an immediately adjacent inferior vertebral bone and an intervening intervertebral disc space, said method comprising:

• identifying said spinal segment using an imaging modality;
• creating a first corridor configured to extend through a psoas muscle and onto a lateral side surface of said intervertebral disc space;
• advancing a first implant at least partially into said intervertebral disc space using said first corridor;
• advancing a second implant through a second corridor configured to extend onto a lateral aspect of an interspinous space positioned between a spinous process of said superior vertebral bone and a spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone, said second corridor being ipsilateral to said first corridor, and said second implant comprising:
• an elongated body configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal segment to a distal segment;
• a first bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and movably coupled to said distal segment of said elongated body;
• and
• a second bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and coupled to said proximal segment of said elongated body;
• advancing said second implant at least partially into said interspinous space, said first and said second bone abutment members of said second implant being positioned on opposing sides of at least one of said spinous process of said superior vertebral bone and/or said spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone;
• performing a first actuation of a locking mechanism of said second implant, said first actuation thereof causing rotation of said longitudinal axis of said first bone abutment member to a greater angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said elongated body;
• performing a second actuation of said locking mechanism of said second implant, said second actuation thereof causing translation of said bone abutment members toward one another without further rotation of said first bone abutment member relative to said elongated body;
• and
• immobilizing said spinous process of said superior vertebral boner relative to said spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone.

A method for bony fusion of a first vertebral bone, an immediately adjacent second vertebral bone, and an intervening intervertebral disc space, said method comprising:

• identifying said first and second vertebral bones on an imaging modality;
• placing a skin incision posterior to a posterior aspect of a pedicle of an inferior one of said first and second vertebral bones;
• developing a first corridor to an ipsilateral facet joint from said incision, said facet joint comprising an articulation between said first and second vertebral bones;
• removing at least a portion of said facet joint;
• advancing at least a segment of a first implant into said intervertebral disc space through a trans-foraminal corridor;
• developing a second corridor to said lateral aspect of an inter-spinous space, said inter-spinous space being positioned between a spinous process of said first vertebral bone and a spinous process of said second vertebral bone;
• positioning a second implant within said interspinous space, said second implant comprising:
• an elongated body configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal segment to a distal segment;
• a first bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and movably coupled to said distal segment of said elongated body;
• and
• a second bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and coupled to said proximal segment of said elongated body;
• positioning said elongated body of said second implant at least partially within said interspinous space, said first bone abutment member being positioned on a side of said interspinous space contralateral to said skin incision, and said second bone abutment member being positioned on a side of said interspinous space ipsilateral to said skin incision;
• actuating a locking mechanism of said second orthopedic implant to advance said first and said second bone abutment members towards one another;
• and
• immobilizing said spinous process of said first vertebral bone relative to said spinous process of said second vertebral bone.

A method for anterior and posterior decompression of a target spinal canal segment that is positioned between a superior vertebral bone and an inferior vertebral bone, said method comprising:

• identifying said target segment;
• placing a first implant within a disc space that is positioned between said superior vertebral bone and said inferior vertebral using a first corridor configured to extend from a posterior skin incision and through at least a portion of a facet joint that forms an articulation between said superior and inferior vertebral bones;
• advancing a second implant into an interspinous space between a spinous process of each of said superior and inferior vertebral bones, said second implant comprising:
• an elongated body configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal segment to a distal segment;
• a first bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and movably coupled to said distal segment of said elongated body;
• and
• a second bone abutment member configured to extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal to a distal end and coupled to said proximal segment of said elongated body;
• positioning said first and second bone abutment members of said second implant on opposing sides of at least one of said spinous processes of said superior and inferior vertebral bones;
• performing a first actuation of a locking mechanism of said second implant, said first actuation thereof causing rotation of said longitudinal axis of said first bone abutment member to a greater angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said elongated body;
• performing a subsequent actuation of said locking mechanism of said second implant, said subsequent actuation thereof causing translation of said bone abutment members toward one another without further rotation of said first bone abutment member relative to said elongated body;
• and
• immobilizing said spinous process of said superior vertebral boner relative to said spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone.