Spinal fixation and guidance system and method
AssigneePrism Surgical Designs Pty Ltd.
InventorMatthew Scott-Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal fixation and guidance system comprising: a spinal cage configured to be received between adjacent first and second vertebrae; and an alignment assembly comprising: a guidance element for guiding one or more fasteners for fastening said spinal cage relative to said adjacent vertebrae; or fastening said spinal plate to adjacent vertebrae and a mating element comprising engagement portions for mating with said guidance elements relative to the spinal cage.
Claims20
A spinal fixation and guidance system comprising:
- a spinal cage configured to be received between adjacent first and second vertebrae;
- and
- an alignment assembly comprising:
- a mating element comprising a first engagement portion for engagement with the spinal cage and a second engagement portion for engagement with a guiding assembly, the mating element being adapted to be releasably connected to the spinal cage;
- wherein the guidance assembly further comprises:
- a guidance element comprising guiding portions for guiding one or more fasteners for fastening said spinal cage relative to said adjacent vertebrae
A spinal fixation and guidance system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the guidance element is configured to move along a length of the mating element.
A spinal fixation and guidance system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the guiding assembly further comprises:
- an in-use upper body and in-use lower body whereby:
- the in-use upper body comprises a drive-engagement portion for receiving a drive unit for driving said guide element along a length of the mating element;
- and
- the in-use lower body comprises an implant engagement portion for engaging the spinal cage or spinal plate during use.
A spinal fixation and guidance system in accordance with any one of the preceding wherein the mating element comprises a releasable connector for releasably connecting the mating element to the spinal cage.
A spinal fixation and guidance system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the mating element comprises an elongate body extending between two ends wherein the engagement portions are positioned along an outer wall of the elongate body for engaging said guide element during use.
A spinal fixation and guidance system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims wherein the positioning arrangement further comprises a holding and positioning portion for preventing relative movement between the mating element and the guide element.
A spinal fixation and guidance system wherein the mating element comprises a first engagement portion for engagement with the guidance element and a second threaded portion for engagement with a receiving portion of the spinal cage.
A spinal fixation and guidance system in accordance with any one of the preceding claims further comprising a securing arrangement for releasably securing said mating element to the spinal cage.
A mating apparatus for mating a guidance assembly relative to a spinal cage received between adjacent first and second vertebrae, the mating apparatus comprising:
- engagement portions for mating with said guidance assembly to position the guidance assembly to guide one or more fasteners for fastening said spinal cage relative to said adjacent vertebrae
- wherein in a first operable configuration the engagement portion of the mating element engages the guidance assembly of a first type and in a second operable configuration the mating element engages the guidance assembly of a second type.
A method for spinal fixation, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning a spinal cage in between adjacent first and second vertebrae;
- releasably connecting a mating element to said spinal cage;
- engaging a guidance element relative to the mating element and moving the guidance element along a length of the mating element to position said guidance element in a fastening position whereby in the fastening position one or more guidance apertures in the guidance element are substantially in alignment with respective one or more fastener receiving apertures provided in the in-use side walls of the spinal cage;
- fastening said spinal cage relative to the first and second vertebrae by guiding said fasteners through one or more guiding apertures and fastener receiving apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.