Spinal construct with flexible member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10292740-B2
Application number	US-201715730325-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Jul 7, 2015
Publication date	May 21, 2019
Grant date	May 21, 2019

Abstract

A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of securing a flexible member to a bony element, the method comprising:
passing ends of the flexible member through a groove of a handle of an inserter such that a central portion of the flexible member is disposed within the groove with a securement member in an unsecured position, the flexible member attached to a head of a fixation member; and
transitioning the securement member to a secured position in which a grip of the securement member directly engages the flexible member to pin the flexible member between the grip and an outer surface of the handle to fix the flexible member within the groove of the inserter and to secure the fixation member to the inserter, the grip forming a distal end of the securement member when the securement member is in the secured position.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising engaging a bony element with a shank of the fixation member.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein engaging the bony element with the shank of the fixation member includes the fixation member rotatably fixed to the inserter.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising driving the fixation member into the bony element with the inserter.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising rotatably fixing the head of the fixation member in the inserter before transitioning the securement member to the secured position.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising attaching the flexible member to the head of the fixation member.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein attaching the flexible member to the head of the fixation member precedes passing ends of the flexible member through the groove of the handle.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein attaching the flexible member to the head of the fixation member includes passing an end of the ends of the flexible member through a slot defined in the head of the fixation member.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein fixing the flexible member within the groove of the handle further includes passing the ends of the flexible member through a passage of a tubular member engaged with the head of the fixation member.

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising passing the ends of the flexible member through the passage such that the flexible member extends entirely through the passage and extends distally through the groove from a proximal end of the passage towards a distal end of the handle, the passage extending entirely through the inserter.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein transitioning the securement member to the secured position includes pivoting the securement member such that the grip of the securement member is pivoted towards the handle.

12. A method of assembling an inserter kit, the method comprising:
passing ends of a flexible member through an entire passage of an inserter, the passage extending through a handle of the inserter, the flexible member attached to a head of a fixation member;
positioning the head of the fixation member within the inserter;
drawing the ends of the flexible member distally from a proximal end of the passage that is defined in a proximal end surface of the handle; and
transitioning a securement member of the inserter to a secured position to fix a portion of the flexible member relative to the inserter and to secure the fixation member within the inserter.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein transitioning the securement member to the secured position includes rotatably fixing the head of the fixation member to the inserter.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein passing ends of the flexible member through the inserter includes disposing the flexible member within a groove defined in a handle of the inserter.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein transitioning the securement member to the secured position includes fixing a portion of the flexible member within the groove.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein positioning the head of the fixation member within the inserter includes drawing the ends of the flexible member through the inserter such that a portion of the flexible member pulls the head into the inserter.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein passing the ends of the flexible member through the entire passage includes passing the ends of the flexible member along a central longitudinal axis of the inserter from a distal end of the inserter to a proximal end of the inserter.

18. A kit comprising:
a fixation member including a head and a shank, the head defining a slot, the slot configured to receive a flexible member; and
an inserter including a handle and a tubular member, the tubular member having a distal portion including a coupler configured to receive the head of the fixation member with a flexible member received in the slot of the fixation member, the handle defining a groove along an outside surface of the handle, the handle including a securement member pivotally coupled to the handle, the securement member including a grip configured to selectively engage a flexible member within the groove of the handle to fix the flexible member relative to the handle such that the flexible member is pinned directly between the grip and an outer surface of the handle, the grip being a distal end of the securement member when the flexible member is fixed relative to the handle.

19. The kit according to claim 18 , further comprising a flexible member having two ends and a central portion between the two ends.

20. The kit according to claim 19 , wherein the central portion of the flexible member is disposed within the slot of the fixation member.

Assignees

• K2M Inc

Inventors

• Mundis Jr Gregory
• Kim Han Jo
• Ferguson John
• Blakemore Laurel
• Barrus Michael

Classifications

• A61B17/7022

  Tethers, i.e. longitudinal elements capable of transmitting tension only, e.g. straps, sutures or cables (A61B17/702 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/0401

  Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811) · CPC title

• A61B17/8605

  Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone · CPC title

• A61B17/7053

  with parts attached to bones or to each other by flexible wires, straps, sutures or cables · CPC title

• A61B17/7083 Primary

  Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements · CPC title