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US 6,783,527 B2Granted
Flexible spinal stabilization system and method
AssigneeSDGI Holdings, Inc.
InventorsTroy D. Drewry, Fred J. Molz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims78
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.
1 more element
A device cur 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.
A device for coupling an elongate member to a vertebra, comprising:
- an anchor having a shaft engageable to the vertebra and a bead 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 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.
1 more element
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, wherein said elongate member is a tether;
- 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.
1 more element
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 completely through 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.
1 more element
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, wherein each of said coupling members includes a threaded body and an end member rotatably coupled to a distal end thereof, said end member having a distal end in contact with 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.
1 more element
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, wherein said penetrating element extends from a distal end of said coupling member, said penetrating element being located in said passage when said coupling member is engaged to said head, and wherein said shaft of said anchor is at least partially cannulated and opens into said passage, said penetrating element being received in said cannulated portion when said coupling member is engaged to said head.
1 more element
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, wherein said penetrating element penetrates said elongate member outside said passage when said coupling member is engaged to said head.
1 more element
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, wherein at least two of said plurality of anchors are compressed towards one another before said elongate member is engaged, whereby said elongate member stabilizes the spinal motion segment while allowing at least limited relative displacement between said at least two vertebral bodies.
1 more element
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 completely through 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.
1 more element
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, wherein said elongate member is a tether;
- 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.
1 more element
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, wherein said anchor includes a penetrating element extending therefrom into said passage and said coupling member includes a distal end surface adjacent said anchor configured to crimp the elongate member relative to said anchor when said coupling member is engaged to said 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;
- 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, wherein said coupling member includes a penetrating element extending distally therefrom into said passage, said coupling member further including a distal end configured to crimp the elongate member relative to the anchor when said coupling member is engaged to said anchor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.