Flexible systems for spinal stabilization and fixation

Abstract

Systems for spinal stabilization and fixation replace, reconstruct or augment the spinal ligamentous and/or bony tissues resected during surgical procedures. The spinal stabilization system includes at least an implant configured to span the intervertebral disc space with at least one of its ends attached to a respective vertebral body by at least one anchor. The system has a low profile conformable to the spinal anatomy.

1 - 38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . A method for stabilizing a portion of the spinal column, comprising: 
 providing an implant having a first end and an opposite second end;    forming a tunnel in a first vertebral body;    placing at least a portion of one the first end and the second end of the implant in the tunnel; and    attaching the one end of the implant to the first vertebral body.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel at an angle relative to the axial plane of the spinal column in the range of 0 degrees to 80 degrees.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein attaching the one end includes placing at least one anchor in the tunnel in the first vertebral body.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 forming a second tunnel in a second vertebral body;    placing the other of the first end and the second end of the implant in the second tunnel; and    attaching the other end of the implant in the second tunnel of the second vertebral body.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein attaching the other end includes placing at least one anchor in the second tunnel in the second vertebral body.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the first tunnel and the second tunnel are formed such that the implant extends along the anterior faces of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the first tunnel and the second tunnel are formed such that the implant extends along the lateral faces of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the first tunnel and the second tunnel are formed such that the implant extends along the posterior of the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , further comprising inserting a device in a spinal disc space between the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 forming a second tunnel in the first vertebral body that intersects the tunnel; and    inserting at least one anchor in the second tunnel to attach the implant.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel in communication with the anterior face of the first vertebral body, and forming the second tunnel includes forming the second tunnel in communication with the lateral face of the first vertebral body.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel in communication with the anterior face of the first vertebral body, and forming the second tunnel includes forming the second tunnel in communication with the antero-lateral face of the first vertebral body.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein: 
 forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel in communication with the anterior face of the first vertebral body adjacent one of its endplates and at a first angle relative to the axial plane of the spinal column; and    forming the second tunnel includes forming the second tunnel in communication with the anterior face of the first vertebral body adjacent the other of its endplates at a second angle relative to the axial plane.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein: 
 forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel from a first opening adjacent one endplate of the first vertebral body to a second opening adjacent the other endplate of the first vertebral body;    placing the implant includes placing the one end of the implant through the first opening and the tunnel to the second opening; and    attaching the one end includes attaching the one end of the implant at the second opening.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the first opening extends through the one endplate.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 providing a second implant having a first end and an opposite second end;    forming a second tunnel in the first vertebral body;    placing at least portion of one of the first end and second end of the second implant into the second tunnel; and    attaching the one end of the second implant to the first vertebral body.    
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , further comprising: 
 forming a third tunnel in a second vertebral body;    placing the other of the first and second ends of the implant in the third tunnel;    attaching the other end of the implant to the second vertebral body;    forming a fourth tunnel in the second vertebral body;    placing the other of the first end and second end of the second implant in the fourth tunnel; and    attaching the other end of the second implant to the second vertebral body.    
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the first and second implants are attached to the first and second vertebral bodies in a parallel arrangement.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the first and second implants are attached to the first and second vertebral bodies in an X-shaped arrangement.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 forming a second tunnel formed in the first vertebral body spaced from the tunnel;    forming a third tunnel in a second vertebral body from a first opening adjacent one endplate of the second vertebral body to a second opening adjacent the one endplate of the second vertebral body;    placing the implant through the third tunnel;    placing the other of the first end and second end of the implant into the second tunnel; and    attaching the other end in the second tunnel to the first vertebral body.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein: 
 forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel between a first opening adjacent one endplate of the first vertebral body and a second opening adjacent the one endplate of the first vertebral body, and further comprising:    forming a second tunnel through a second vertebral body from a third opening adjacent one endplate of the second vertebral body to a fourth opening adjacent the one endplate of the second vertebral body;    placing the implant through the second tunnel;    placing the one end of the implant into the tunnel through the first opening;    placing the other of said first and second ends of the implant into the tunnel through the second opening and adjacent the one end of the implant in the first tunnel; and    attaching the first and second ends to the first vertebral body.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising: 
 forming a notch in the first vertebral body;    forming the tunnel includes forming the tunnel in communication with the notch; and    attaching the one end to the first vertebral body in the notch.    
     
     
         61 - 77 . (canceled)