# US 8,465,493 B2 · Spinal stabilization installation instrumentation and methods

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- Number: US 8,465,493 B2
- Document ID: US8465493B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/418,403
- Filed: 2012-03-13
- Published: 2012-07-05
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-12
- Assignees: Zimmer Spine, Inc.
- Applicants: Hugh D. Hestad
- Inventors: Hugh D. Hestad
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465493B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/7083: {Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements}
- A61B 17/0642: {for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone}
- A61B 17/0682: {for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil}
- A61B 17/701: {Longitudinal elements with a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, cross-section (A61B17/7005, A61B17/7007 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/7029: {the entire longitudinal element being flexible}
- A61B 17/7031: {made wholly or partly of flexible material}
- A61B 17/7076: {for driving, positioning or assembling spinal clamps or bone anchors specially adapted for spinal fixation}
- A61B 17/105: {Wound clamp magazines (for packaging sharps A61B50/3001)}
- A61B 2017/0641: {having at least three legs as part of one single body}
- A61B 2017/0647: {having one single leg, e.g. tacks}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending distally from the handle portion. The shaft includes a conduit and a staple mechanism. The system also includes a flexible implant member extending along the conduit configured to be advanced out from a distal end of the shaft, and a staple housed in the staple mechanism. The staple is configured to secure the flexible implant member to a vertebra. The handle portion is configured to selectively advance the flexible implant member from the shaft and to selectively actuate the staple mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An installation tool for installing a vertebral stabilization system, the installation tool comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a conduit extending therethrough for directing a flexible implant member axially through the conduit to a vertebra of a spinal column;
a handle portion at the proximal end of the elongate shaft, the handle portion configured to be actuated to advance the flexible implant member through the conduit and out a distal opening of the conduit; and
an anchoring mechanism located proximate the distal end of the elongate shaft, the anchoring mechanism configured to apply an anchor into the vertebra to secure the flexible implant member to the vertebra;
wherein the conduit includes a lumen extending from the proximal end of the elongate shaft to the distal end of the elongate shaft, the lumen curving laterally away from a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft at the distal end of the elongate shaft such that the flexible implant member is directed away from the longitudinal axis as the flexible implant member is advanced out the distal opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The installation tool of claim 1, wherein the anchoring mechanism includes a cartridge located proximate the distal end of the elongate shaft configured to hold a plurality of staples.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The installation tool of claim 1, wherein the handle portion includes a first actuatable handle for advancing the flexible implant member through the conduit and a second actuatable handle for activating the anchoring mechanism.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The installation tool of claim 1, wherein the distal opening of the conduit is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft.