Method for vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening
AssigneeMi4Spine, LLC
InventorsMiquelangelo J. Perez-Cruet, John R. Pepper, John A. Miller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for providing vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening that restores the loss of disc height and provides disc regeneration. In one non-limiting embodiment, the method includes inserting pedicle screws into the vertebral bodies of adjacent vertebra and positioning a spring in compression between and in contact with the pedicle screws so that the spring bias forces the pedicle screws apart to provide a distractive force that increases the height of the disc space and promotes the disc regeneration.
Claims19
A method for providing vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening, said method comprising:
- providing a pair of screws within adjacent vertebra, said screws including screw heads, each screw head having a cup-shaped cavity and an open area where the open area of the screw heads face each other;
- positioning a spring along a first axis between the screws so that opposing ends of the spring are positioned within the cup-shaped cavity of the screw heads, wherein the spring applies a bias to the screws that causes a distractive force to the annular fibrosis of the vertebral disc;
- and
- providing a rigid posterior ring positioned around and outside of the screw heads along a second axis so that the posterior ring rigidly holds the screws and the spring causes the screws to pivot away from each other at the second axis.
A method for providing vertebral disc annular fibrosis lengthening for increasing the height of an intervertebral disc, said method comprising mounting a pair of support members to opposing vertebra, applying a separation force to the support members using a linearly expandable link member positioned between and in contact with the support members so as to provide a continuous distractive force to the disc, and providing a rigid force to the support members using a rigid member so that the separation force causes ends of the support members to pivot away from each other at the location where the rigid member is coupled to the support members.
A method for providing a continuous tension stress on an annulus fibrosis between two vertebra, said method comprising coupling a caudal vertebral body attachment member to one vertebra, coupling a cephelad vertebral body attachment member to another vertebra, coupling a non-rigid interconnection member to the caudal vertebral body attachment member and the cephelad vertebral body attachment member, and coupling a rigid interconnection member to the caudal vertebral body attachment member and the cephelad vertebral body attachment member so that the non-rigid interconnection member causes the cephelad and caudal vertebral body attachment members to pivot away from each other at a location where the rigid interconnection member is coupled to the cephelad and caudal vertebral body attachment members.
A method for regenerating a vertebral disc by hyperextension of an annulus fibrosis of the disc using screws coupled to separate vertebra and an expansive member coupled to the screws, providing an expansive force to the screws and providing a rigid force to the screws where the expansive force causes ends of the screws to pivot away from each other at a location where the rigid force holds the screws, said method creating a strain on the annular fibrosis to provide the disc regeneration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.