Vertebral stabilization assembly and method with rigid and semi-rigid members

Abstract

A vertebral stabilization assembly for stabilizing vertebrae is provided. The vertebral stabilization assembly includes a first and a second vertebral screw, a first and second connecting screw, and a connecting member. The first and second vertebral screws each have a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable for threading engagement of the first and second vertebral screws with a first and second vertebra, respectively. Each shaft also has an engaging portion. The first and second connecting screws each have a first end adapted to be received by the engaging portions of the first and second pedicle screws, respectively. The connecting member has a first end connected to the first connecting screw and a second end connected to the second connecting screw for stabilization of the first and second vertebra. A method for stabilizing a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra from an anterior side of the vertebrae using a vertebral stabilization assembly is also provided.

1 . A vertebral stabilization assembly for stabilizing vertebrae, the assembly comprising: 
 a first vertebral screw having a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable for threading engagement of the first vertebral screw with a vertebral body of a first vertebra, the shaft having an engaging portion;    a first connecting screw having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be received by the engaging portion of the first vertebral screw;    a second vertebral screw having a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable for threading engagement of the second vertebral screw with a vertebral body of a second vertebra, the shaft having an engaging portion;    a second connecting screw having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be received by the engaging portion of the second vertebral screw; and    a connecting member having a first end, a second end, a first location and a second location, wherein: 
 the connecting member is configured to allow a limited degree of movement between the vertebrae;  
 the connecting member is operable to couple with the first connecting screw positionable in the first vertebra at the first location of the connecting member; and  
 the connecting member is operable to couple with the second connecting screw positionable in the second vertebra at the second location of the connecting member for stabilization of the first vertebra and the second vertebra.  
   
   
   
       2 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an artificial disc disposed between the first vertebra and the second vertebra.    
   
   
       3 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a third vertebral screw having a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable for threading engagement of the third vertebral screw with a vertebral body of a third vertebra, the shaft having an engaging portion; and    a third connecting screw having a first end and a second end, the first end adapted to be received by the engaging portion of the third vertebral screw, wherein: 
 the connecting member has a third location; and  
 the connecting member is operable to couple with the third connecting screw positionable in the third vertebra at the third location of the connecting member for stabilization of the third vertebra with the first and second vertebra.  
   
   
   
       4 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the connecting member is a cable.  
   
   
       5 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is a plurality of connecting members.  
   
   
       6 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is made of flexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the connecting member is defined as a flexible rod.  
   
   
       8 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertebral screw is operable to be positioned in the first vertebra from an anterior side of the first vertebra into the vertebral body of the first vertebra, and the second vertebral screw is operable to be positioned in the second vertebra from an anterior side of the second vertebra into the vertebral body of the second vertebra.  
   
   
       9 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member connected to the first and second connecting screw is sized to retain the first vertebra a distance from the second vertebra.  
   
   
       10 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is defined as a bracket.  
   
   
       11 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is defined as a plate.  
   
   
       12 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first vertebral screw is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the first vertebra and into a pedicle portion of the first vertebra, and the second vertebral screw is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the second vertebra and into a pedicle portion of the second vertebra.  
   
   
       13 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first vertebral screw is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the first vertebra but not into a pedicle portion of the first vertebra, and the second vertebral screw is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the second vertebra but not into a pedicle portion of the second vertebra.  
   
   
       14 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertebral screw is a first anterior vertebral screw, and the second vertebral screw is a second anterior vertebral screw.  
   
   
       15 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertebral screw is a first pedicle screw, and the second vertebral screw is a second pedicle screw.  
   
   
       16 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is coupled to the first connecting screw adjacent the second end of the first connecting screw, wherein the connecting member is coupled to the second connecting screw adjacent the second end of the second connecting screw.  
   
   
       17 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first location of the connecting member is at the first end of the connecting member, wherein the second location of the connecting member is at the second end of the connecting member.  
   
   
       18 . The vertebral stabilization assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting member is coupled to the first connecting screw at the second end of the first connecting screw, wherein the connecting member is coupled to the second connecting screw at the second end of the second connecting screw.  
   
   
       19 . A method for stabilizing a lower vertebra and an upper vertebra from an anterior side of the vertebrae using a vertebral stabilization assembly, the method comprising: 
 inserting a first vertebral screw, which includes a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable to threadingly engage the lower vertebra, into the lower vertebra such that a portion of the threaded portion of the shaft engages a vertebral body portion of the lower vertebra, the shaft of the first vertebral screw having an engaging portion;    inserting a first end of the first connecting screw into the engaging portion of the first vertebral screw;    inserting a second vertebral screw, which includes a shaft provided with a threaded portion operable to threadingly engage the upper vertebra, into the upper vertebra such that a portion of the threaded portion of the shaft engages a vertebral body portion of the upper vertebra, the shaft of the second vertebral screw having an engaging portion;    inserting a first end of the second connecting screw into the engaging portion of the second vertebral screw;    positioning a connecting member on an anterior side of the upper vertebra and the lower vertebra;    coupling a connecting member to a second end of the first connecting screw and to a second end of the second connecting screw; and    allowing a limited degree of movement between the upper and lower vertebra via an arrangement of the connecting member.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 inserting an artificial disc between the lower vertebra and the upper vertebra.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first vertebral screw is inserted from an anterior side of the lower vertebra and is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the lower vertebra and into a pedicle portion of the lower vertebra, and    the second vertebral screw is inserted from an anterior side of the upper vertebra and is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the upper vertebra and into a pedicle portion of the upper vertebra.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 the first vertebral screw is inserted from an anterior side of the lower vertebra and is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the lower vertebra but not into a pedicle portion of the lower vertebra, and    the second vertebral screw is inserted from an anterior side of the upper vertebra and is operable to be positioned through the vertebral body of the upper vertebra but not into a pedicle portion of the upper vertebra.