US 7,758,584 B2 · Minimally invasive fixation system

Abstract

A minimally invasive fixation system and method for providing access to a surgical site. The fixation system may include a holding assembly, the holding assembling preferably including a lateral implant holder which may be attached to a pedicle screw and a sleeve positioned in connection with the lateral implant holder to prevent the lateral implant holder from separating from the pedicle screw. The sleeve may further include a tissue protection portion to keep the tissue out of the surgical site. A holding sleeve may be operably connected to the holding assembly and pedicle screw and may be used to insert the pedicle screw into the body. Multiple constructs may be inserted into the body so that a portion of the holding assembly extends from the body and provides access to and visualization of the surgical site. A rod holder may also be used to insert a rod into the head of the screw. The rod may be held by the rod holder so that the rod may be angulated as the rod is inserted into the screw heads. Once the rod is positioned in the screw heads, locking caps and/or set screws may be positioned over the rod and engage the screw heads so that the position of the rod may be fixed with respect to the screws. In some embodiments, a movement mechanism may be used to move the screws relative to each other to compress and/or distract the vertebrae.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A fixation system comprising:

a first bone anchor having a first U-shaped channel, the first bone anchor being sized and configured to be selectively insertable into a first bone tissue;
a second bone anchor having a second U-shaped channel, the second bone anchor being sized and configured to be selectively insertable into a second bone tissue;
a first holding assembly comprising a first lateral implant holder and a first sleeve, the first lateral implant holder having a distal end sized and configured to selectively receive the first bone anchor, the first sleeve having a distal end, a first tissue protection portion, and a first passageway sized and configured to selectively receive the first lateral implant holder;
and
a second holding assembly comprising a second lateral implant holder and a second sleeve, the second lateral implant holder having a distal end sized and configured to selectively receive the second bone anchor, the second sleeve having a distal end, a second tissue protection portion, and a second passageway sized and configured to selectively receive the second lateral implant holder;
wherein the first tissue protection portion includes a first helical shaped cutout and the second tissue protection portion includes a second helical shaped cutout, the first and second helical shaped cutouts being sized and configured to permit the first and second tissue protection portions to intermesh so that an opening is created to enable a rod to be inserted through the opening and into the first and second U-shaped channels of the first and second bone anchors, respectively.

3 more elements

A method for implanting a rod into first and second U-shaped channels formed in first and second bone anchors, respectively, the method comprising:

coupling a first holding assembly to the first bone anchor, the first holding assembling including a first lateral implant holder each lateral implant holder having a distal end and a receiving portion at the distal end for receiving the first bone anchor, the first holding assembling further including a first, the first sleeve having a distal end sized and configured to contact the receiving portion of the first lateral implant holder and a first tissue protection portion having a first helical shaped cutout;
coupling a second holding assembly to the second bone anchor, the second holding assembling including a second lateral implant holder having a distal end and a receiving portion at the distal end for receiving the second bone anchor, the second holding assembling further including a second sleeve, the second sleeve having a distal end sized and configured to contact the receiving portion of the second lateral implant holder and a second tissue protection portion having a second helical shaped cutout;
moving the first and second sleeves from a first position on the first and second lateral implant holders, respectively, wherein the first and second bone anchors can be removed from the first and second lateral implant holders, respectively, to a second position on the first and second lateral implant holders, respectively, wherein the first and second bone anchors are retained by the first and second lateral implant holders, respectively;
inserting the first and second bone anchors, lateral implant holders and sleeves into a patient's body through an incision in the body via a driving mechanism;
aligning the first and second helical shaped cutouts to permit the first and second tissue protection portions to create an opening;
inserting a rod through the incision and into the opening in a first rod position and moving the rod into a second rod position as the rod is inserted into the first and second U-shaped channels;
and
fixing the rod with respect to the first and second bone anchors.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Minimally invasive fixation system

Life of this patent

Minimally invasive fixation system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42