Method and associated instrumentation for installation of spinal dynamic stabilization system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE47646-E
Application number	US-201715619948-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Jun 12, 2017
Priority date	Apr 19, 2007
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

In one embodiment, a spinal stabilization apparatus includes a vertebral anchor having a head portion and a bone attachment portion. An elongate, flexible guide is removably coupled to the head portion of the vertebral anchor and has a channel extending longitudinally thereof and communicating with a slot in the head portion of the anchor. An elongate cord may be received within the channel to facilitate inserting and securing a spacer between pairs of anchors installed into adjacent vertebrae of a person's spine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of installing a spinal stabilization construct, comprising:
installing first and second vertebral anchors onto first and second vertebrae, respectively, each vertebral anchor having an upwardly open channel adapted to receive a flexible connecting element extending between the first and second vertebrae; mounting first and second access members onto the first and second vertebral anchors, respectively, each access member having a cannula to provide access to the channel of the respective vertebral anchor; inserting the connecting element through a slot in the first access member; advancing the flexible connecting element from the slot in the first access member into the channel of the first vertebral anchor; securing the flexible connecting element to the channel of the first vertebral anchor with a first fastener; positioning a spacer on the connecting element adjacent the first vertebral anchor; inserting the flexible connecting element through a slot in the second access member; translating a tool along an exterior of the second access member without rotation to advance the flexible connecting element along the slot in the second access member into the channel in the second vertebral anchor; positioning the spacer between the vertebral anchors; and securing the flexible connecting element to the channel of the second vertebral anchor with a second fastener.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the spacer between the vertebral anchors includes:
pushing the spacer into position between the vertebral anchors with the tool.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the tool includes a lateral portion extending transverse to a longitudinal axis of the tool for contacting the spacer.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the lateral portion is a flange including an arcuate surface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the arcuate surface contacts an outer surface of the spacer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the tool is a tubular member slidably disposed around the second access member.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
tensioning the connecting element after securing the flexible connecting element to the channel of the first vertebral anchor and prior to securing the flexible connecting element to the channel of the second vertebral anchor.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
distracting the first and second vertebrae during positioning of the spacer between the vertebral anchors.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein securing the flexible connecting element to the channel of the first vertebral anchor with the first fastener includes passing the first fastener through the first access member percutaneously to the first vertebral anchor, and securing the flexible connecting element to the channel of the second vertebral anchor with the second fastener includes passing the second fastener through the second access member percutaneously to the second vertebral anchor.

10. A system for stabilizing a patient's spine comprising:
a plurality of vertebral anchors adapted to be anchored to a plurality of vertebrae, each vertebral anchor having an upwardly open channel defined between upwardly directed arms; a flexible cord adapted to extend between the vertebral anchors and be seated in the channels; a plurality of fasteners adapted to be mated with the upwardly open channel in each of the plurality of vertebral anchors to secure the cord in the plurality of vertebral anchors; a plurality of access members configured to be coupled to the plurality of vertebral anchors, respectively; a cord guide tool engageable with a first one of the plurality of vertebral anchors by slideably engaging and translating along an exterior of a first access member of the plurality of access members coupled to the first one of the plurality of vertebral anchors without rotation, the cord guide tool including a lumen extending therethrough in communication with the upwardly open channel of the first vertebral anchor; a tensioning tool engageable with a proximal end region of the cord guide tool; and a driver engageable with a first one of the plurality of fasteners to secure the first fastener in the upwardly open channel of the first vertebral anchor through the lumen of the cord guide tool.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the cord guide tool includes a handle and an elongate shaft extending distally from the handle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the tensioning tool is configured to engage the handle of the cord guide tool.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the handle of the cord guide tool includes a port providing access to the lumen of the cord guide tool.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the handle of the cord guide tool is T-shaped.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the tensioning tool includes a handle portion having first and second actuatable arms configured to be gripped by a hand of a user.

Assignees

• Zimmer Spine Inc

Inventors

• Rice Mark W
• Gisel Thomas J
• Hestad Hugh D
• Kroll Mark J

Classifications

• A61B17/7031

  made wholly or partly of flexible material · CPC title

• A61B17/7085

  for insertion of a longitudinal element down one or more hollow screw or hook extensions, i.e. at least a part of the element within an extension has a component of movement parallel to the extension's axis · CPC title

• A61B17/8869 Primary

  Tensioning devices · 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

• A61B2017/564

  Methods for bone or joint treatment · CPC title