Spinal stabilization system with rigid and flexible elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10631898-B2
Application number	US-201815861320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2018
Priority date	Mar 21, 2007
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A spinal stabilization system generally comprises first and second anchor members configured to be secured to first and second vertebrae within a patient's body, a flexible element secured to the first anchor member, and a rigid element secured to the second anchor member. An end portion of the rigid element is coupled to an end portion of the flexible so that the system is able to provide both rigid and dynamic stabilization. The coupling is maintained even if the flexible element relaxes after a period of time within the patient's body.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A method of securing a flexible ent in a spinal stabilization system, comprising:
securing an anchor member to a vertebra of a patient, the anchor member including a threaded shank and a housing having internal threads attached to the threaded shank;
inserting a rigid element into the housing of the anchor member, the rigid element having a flexible element extending into an axial bore extending into the rigid element and a fastener extending into an opening on an outer surface of the rigid element which intersects the axial bore;
rotatably engaging a set screw with the internal threads of the housing to advance the fastener in the opening of the rigid element into engagement with the flexible element; and
securing the rigid element within the housing with the set screw.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a separate component from the set screw.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fastener is aligned with the set screw and rotatably engaging the set screw with the internal threads of the housing brings the set screw into contact with the fastener prior to advancing the fastener into engagement with the flexible element in the axial bore.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fastener is integrally formed with the set screw as a single component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein advancing the fastener into engagement with the flexible element compresses the flexile element within the axial bore.

6. The method of claim 1 , further including removing first and second tabs from the housing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rigid element includes a protrusion extending into the axial bore.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the protrusion extends into the axial bore opposite the opening.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein advancing the fastener into engagement with the flexible element compresses the flexible element between the protrusion and the fastener.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the axial bore extends into the rigid element from an end surface of the rigid element.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rigid element is inserted into the housing of the anchor member in a direction transverse to the axial bore.

12. A method of assembling a spinal stabilization system having a flexible element, the method comprising:
assembling an anchor member by inserting a threaded shank into a housing having internal threads;
inserting a rigid element into the housing of the anchor member, the rigid element comprising:
an axial bore extending into a first axial end of the rigid element;
a flexible element extending from the axial bore; and
a rod element extending from a second axial end of the rigid element;

radially sliding a fastener into the rigid element to engage the flexible element and secure the flexible element to the rigid element; and
inserting a closure member into the housing to secure the rigid element to the housing;
wherein the fastener comprises a pin and the closure member is configured to push the fastener into the flexible element.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
inserting the flexible element into the axial bore; and
positioning a needle element in the axial bore to engage the flexible element.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising force fitting the fastener into the rigid element.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
positioning the rod element into a housing of a first adjacent anchor member; and
positioning the flexible element into a housing of a second adjacent anchor member.

16. A method of securing a flexible element in a spinal stabilization system, comprising:
securing a first anchor member to a first vertebra of a patient, the first anchor member including a first threaded shank and a first housing having internal threads attached to the first threaded shank;
inserting a rod element into the first housing of the first anchor member, the rod element including a flexible element extending from an axial end thereof;
securing a second anchor member to a second vertebra of the patient, the second anchor member including a second threaded shank and a second housing having internal threads attached to the second threaded shank;
inserting the flexible element into the second housing of the second anchor member;
securing the rod element to the first housing and the flexible element to the rod element using a first closure member; and
additionally securing the flexible element to the rod element with a needle member.

17. The method of claim 16 ; further comprising:
engaging external threads of the first closure member with the internal threads of the first housing to secure the rod element to the first housing; and
pushing a pin element into the flexible element with the first closure member to secure the flexible element to the rod element.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising engaging external threads of a second closure member with the internal threads of the second housing to secure the flexible element to the second housing.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising positioning a spacer along the flexible element adjacent the second housing.

Assignees

• Zimmer Spine Inc

Inventors

• Zylber Emmanuel
• Egli Thomas
• Thompson Rosemary E
• Froehlich Markus
• Cicerchia Giuseppe
• Dant Jack A
• Viker Thomas O
• Ley Kevin R

Classifications

• A61B17/7005

  Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit in the screw or hook heads · CPC title

• A61B17/7034

  characterised by a lateral opening · CPC title

• A61B17/7032

  Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass · CPC title

• A61B17/7022

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

• A61B17/7008

  with parts of, or attached to, the longitudinal elements, bearing against an outside of the screw or hook heads, e.g. nuts on threaded rods (A61B17/7007 takes precedence) · CPC title