Flexible spine stabilization system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016199102-A1
Application number	US-201614988788-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Apr 30, 2007
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for flexibly stabilizing a vertebral motion segment by connecting a first vertebra and a second vertebra. The system includes an elongate connection element with end portions interconnected by a flexible coupling member. The system includes first and second attachment portions for connecting the connection element to the vertebrae. A first resilient member is positioned between the first end portion and the first attachment portion, and a second resilient member is positioned between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion. The system is designed such that the second resilient member is compressed when the first and second attachment portions move towards each other, and the first resilient member is compressed when the first and second attachment portions extend away from each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of stabilizing a first vertebra with respect to a second vertebra, the method comprising:
providing an elongate connection element extending from a first end portion to a second end portion along a longitudinal axis, the first and second end portions interconnected by a flexible coupling member, the elongate connection element comprising a first attachment portion, a second attachment portion, a first resilient member positioned between the first end portion and the first attachment portion, and a second resilient member positioned between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion; connecting the first attachment portion to a first fixation member comprising a first head having a first channel such that the first attachment portion is received in the first channel; and connecting the second attachment portion to a second fixation member comprising a second head having a second channel such that the second attachment portion is received in the second channel, wherein the elongate connection element permits motion of the first attachment portion relative to the second attachment portion, the first and second attachment portions compress the second resilient member when the first and second attachment portions move towards each other, and the first end and first attachment portions compress the first resilient member when the first and second attachment portions extend away from each other.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising, before connecting the first and second attachment portions to the first and second fixation members, attaching the first and second fixation members to first and second vertebrae, respectively.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment portions are top loaded into the first and second fixation members.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is a cord.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the first attachment portion, second attachment portion, first resilient member and second resilient member are coaxial with the cord.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the coupling member is made from a polyethylene material.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end portion and second end portion are rigidly fixed to the coupling member.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein a portion of the first and second end portions pierce the coupling member.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the first and second end portions clamp the coupling member.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongate connection element is curved in a neutral position to accommodate lordosis in the spine.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient members are made of a urethane material.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second fixation members is a pedicle screw.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the pedicle screw is a multi-axial pedicle screw.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient members have a durometer between about shore 80 A to about shore 100 A.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second resilient members are made from materials having a different hardness.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment portion is slidable with respect to the coupling member and the second attachment portion is integral with the second end portion.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment portions comprise spools.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second end portion comprises an elongate rod.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment portions extend away from each other up to 4 mm.

20 . A method of flexibly stabilizing a joint, comprising:
providing a connection element that compresses a first resilient member during compression of the connection element and compresses a second resilient member during extension of the connection element; securing a first portion of the connection element to a first bony portion of the joint; and securing a second portion of the connection element to a second bony portion of the joint.

Assignees

• Globus Medical Inc

Inventors

• Friedrich Adam
• Karpowicz Edward
• Iott Andrew

Classifications

• A61B17/7052

  of variable angle or length · CPC title

• A61B17/7049

  Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7019 Primary

  Longitudinal elements having flexible parts, or parts connected together, such that after implantation the elements can move relative to each other · CPC title

• A61B17/7001

  Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae (A61B17/7058 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7007 Primary

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