Segmental tensioning of spinal tethers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020360059-A1
Application number	US-201916625498-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 30, 2019
Priority date	Jan 30, 2018
Publication date	Nov 19, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Implantable devices for dynamic interconnection between bones, and especially between vertebrae. The devices provide for various types of manipulation of a flexible connection such as a tether, such as by providing an aperture through which the flexible connection is passed and guided, or a post to which a loop of the flexible connection can be attached, or a groove in which a loop of the flexible connection can be placed.

First claim

1 - 39 . (canceled)

40 . A method for flexibly connecting vertebrae, comprising:
attaching a first tethering head to a first vertebra; attaching a second tethering head to the first vertebra spaced apart from the first tethering head; attaching a third tethering head to a second vertebra; coupling a first flexible member to a first groove in the first tethering head; coupling a second flexible member to a second groove in the second tethering head; connecting the first vertebra to the second vertebra by placing the first flexible member within a groove in the third tethering head; and connecting the first vertebra to the second vertebra by placing the second flexible member within a groove in the third tethering head

41 . The method of claim 40 which further comprises attaching together the free ends of the first flexible member and creating a first loop of flexible member before said placing the first flexible member.

42 . The method of claim 40 which further comprises attaching together the free ends of the first flexible member and creating a first loop of flexible member before said coupling the first flexible member.

43 . The method of claim 40 wherein the first flexible member is a loop.

44 . The method of claim 40 wherein the second flexible member is a loop.

45 . The method of claim 40 wherein said coupling a first flexible member is to a first peripheral groove.

46 . The method of claim 40 wherein said coupling a first flexible member to a first groove is by passing the first flexible member through an opening in the head of the first tethering head.

47 . A method for flexibly connecting vertebrae, comprising:
attaching a first tethering head to a first vertebra; attaching a second tethering head to a second vertebra; placing a flexible member in a first groove extending around the periphery of the first tethering head; extending the looped flexible member from the first tethering head to the second tethering head; and passing the extension of the looped flexible member though an aperture in the second tethering head.

48 . The method of claim 47 wherein the aperture includes two separated passageways and wherein said passing includes guiding one side of the flexible member loop within one passageway and guiding the other side of the flexible member loop within the other passageway.

49 . The method of claim 47 which further comprises attaching a third tethering head to a third vertebra, the second vertebra being located between the first vertebra and the third vertebra, and placing the flexible member passed through the second tethering head in a third groove extending around the periphery of the third tethering head.

50 . The method of claim 47 wherein the aperture includes two separated passageways and wherein said passing includes placing the flexible member loop within one passageway and around a portion of the second tethering head.

51 . The method of claim 47 wherein the flexible member is a first flexible member, wherein the aperture includes two separated passageways, the extension of the first looped flexible member is within one passageway and around a portion of the second flexible head, and which further comprises:
attaching a third tethering head to a third vertebra, the second vertebra being located between the first vertebra and the third vertebra;
placing one end of a second flexible member within the other passageway and around a different portion of the second flexible head, and
placing the other end of the second flexible member in a third groove extending around the periphery of the third tethering head.

52 . The method of claim 47 wherein the flexible member is a first flexible member, wherein the first groove is a lower groove, the first tethering head including an upper groove, and which further comprises:
attaching a third tethering head to a third vertebra,
placing a second flexible member in the upper groove extending around the periphery of the first tethering head,
extending the placed second flexible member from the first tethering head to the third tethering head; and
coupling the extension of the placed flexible member to the third tethering head.

53 . The method of claim 47 which further comprises attaching together the free ends of a portion of flexible member and creating an endless loop of flexible member from the portion after said passing.

54 . The method of claim 47 whether the flexible material is a suture.

55 . The method of claim 47 wherein the flexible material is a tether.

56 . The method of claim 47 wherein the flexible material is fabricated from a polymeric compound.

57 - 72 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Orthopediatrics Corp

Inventors

• Hoernschemeyer Daniel Gerard
• Prygoski Matthew
• Tozakoglou Evangelos

Classifications

• A61B17/8605 Primary

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

• A61B17/7053 Primary

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

• A61B17/7059

  Cortical plates (A61B17/7007, A61B17/7058 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7031

  made wholly or partly of flexible material · 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