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US 9,066,811 B2Granted
Artificial functional spinal unit system and method for use
AssigneeFlexuspine, Inc.
InventorsMichael E. Landry, Erik J. Wagner, Michael S. Schular
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of stabilizing a human spine is provided. The spine may be stabilized by inserting one or more dynamic interbody devices in a disc space between a first vertebra and a second vertebra. A dynamic interbody device may be inserted using an anterior approach. One or more dynamic interbody devices may be inserted using a posterior approach. One or more of the dynamic interbody devices may allow for coupled axial rotation and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra. The spine may also be stabilized by installing one or more posterior dynamic stabilization systems.
Claims20
A method of stabilizing a first vertebrae and a second vertebra of a human spine, comprising:
- inserting a first intervertebral implant in the intervertebral space between the two vertebra, wherein the first intervertebral implant comprises a first member configured to couple to the first vertebra, a second member configured to couple to the second vertebra, and a third member configured to be disposed between the first and second member,
- wherein one of the first and third members comprises an elongated slot that extends substantially laterally to the sagittal plane of the spine and the other of the first and third members comprises an elongated protrusion that extends substantially laterally to the sagittal plane of the spine such that the elongated slot and the elongated protrusion are substantially parallel to one another along at least a portion of their lengths, wherein the slot and the protrusion are curved along at least a portion of their lengths,
- wherein the slot and the protrusion slidingly engage one another to guide motion of the first member relative to the second member along a curved path such that axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member results in lateral movement of the first member relative to the second member, and lateral movement of the first member relative to the second member results in axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member to accommodate coupled axial rotation and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra such that axial rotation of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra results in lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra results in axial rotation of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and
- wherein the third member is pivotably coupled to the second member, such that the second member pivots relative to the third member in a direction substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the spine to accommodate flexion/extension of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.
1 more element
A method of stabilizing a first vertebrae and a second vertebra of a human spine, comprising:
- inserting a first dynamic interbody device in the intervertebral space between the two vertebra, wherein the first dynamic interbody device comprises a first member configured to couple to the first vertebra, a second member configured to couple to the second vertebra, and a third member configured to be disposed between the first and second member,
- wherein one of the first and third members comprises an elongated slot that extends substantially laterally to the sagittal plane of the spine and the other of the first and third members comprises an elongated protrusion that extends substantially laterally to the sagittal plane of the spine such that the elongated slot and the elongated protrusion are substantially parallel to one another along at least a portion of their lengths, wherein the slot and the protrusion are curved along at least a portion of their lengths,
- wherein the slot and the protrusion slidingly engage one another to guide motion of the first member relative to the second member along a curved path such that axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member results in lateral movement of the first member relative to the second member, and lateral movement of the first member relative to the second member results in axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member to accommodate coupled axial rotation and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra such that axial rotation of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra results in lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra results in axial rotation of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and
- wherein the third member is pivotably coupled to the second member, such that the second member pivots relative to the third member in a direction substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the spine to accommodate flexion/extension of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra;
- and
- inserting a second dynamic interbody device in the intervertebral space between the two vertebra, wherein the second dynamic interbody device comprises a first member configured to couple to the first vertebra and a second member configured to couple to the second vertebra.
3 more elements
A method of stabilizing a first vertebrae and a second vertebra of a human spine, comprising:
- inserting a first dynamic interbody device in the intervertebral space between the two vertebrae on a first side of a sagittal plane of the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the first dynamic interbody device comprises a first member configured to couple to the first vertebra, a second member configured to couple to the second vertebra, and a third member configured to be disposed between the first and second member,
- wherein one of the first and third members comprises an elongated slot that extends towards the sagittal plane of the spine and the other of the first and third members comprises an elongated protrusion that extends towards the sagittal plane of the spine such that the elongated slot and the elongated protrusion are substantially parallel to one another along at least a portion of their lengths, wherein the slot and the protrusion are curved along at least a portion of their lengths,
- wherein the slot and the protrusion slidingly engage one another to guide motion of the first member relative to the second member along a curved path such that axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member results in lateral movement of the first member relative to the second member, and lateral movement of the first member relative to the second member results in axial rotation of the first member relative to the second member to accommodate coupled axial rotation and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra such that axial rotation of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra results in lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and lateral bending of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra results in axial rotation of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and
- wherein the third member is pivotably coupled to the second member, such that the second member pivots relative to the third member in a direction substantially parallel to the sagittal plane of the spine to accommodate flexion/extension of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra;
- and
- inserting a second dynamic interbody device in the intervertebral space between the two vertebra on a second side of the sagittal plane of the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the second dynamic interbody device comprises a first member configured to couple to the first vertebra and a second member configured to couple to the second vertebra.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.