Spinal alignment system and related methods

Abstract

A spinal alignment system is disclosed and includes vertebral connectors, elongated elements that link the vertebral connectors, and fasteners that lock the elongated elements in position. An elongated element has at least one shaped end that is received by a coupling member of the connector. The shaped end permits the elongated element to be angularly moveable with respect to the coupling member until locked in place with a fastener received in the coupling member. The elongated element also preferably includes a length adjustment mechanism, such as a telescoping or threaded section to provide a desired length in conjunction with a desired degree of alignment. Various coupling mechanisms are disclosed to provide multiple degrees of freedom prior to fixation.

1 . A spinal alignment system comprising: 
 a rigid elongated element including a rod segment extending between a first shaped end and a second shaped end, said elongated element dimensioned to span between a first vertebra and a second vertebra; 
 a first spinal engagement member having a lower portion configured for spinal engagement into said first vertebra, said spinal engagement member also having an upper portion angularly movable relative to said lower portion prior to being locked in a position, said upper portion comprising a peripheral body formed about a space for receiving said first shaped end of said elongated element, said space being intersected by a line extending from a longitudinal axis of said first lower portion, said peripheral body including at least one U-shaped side opening for receiving a portion of said rod segment when said first shaped end is received within said space;  
 a second spinal engagement member having a lower portion configured for spinal engagement into said second vertebra, said spinal engagement member also having an upper, said upper portion comprising a peripheral body formed about a space for receiving said second shaped end of said elongated element, said space being intersected by a line extending from a longitudinal axis of said first lower portion, said peripheral body including at least one U-shaped side opening for receiving a portion of said rod segment when said second shaped end is received within said space;  
 a first fastener for locking said first shaped end of said elongated element within said space of said first upper; and  
 a second fastener for locking said second shaped end of said elongated element within said space of said second upper portion.  
   
   
   
       2 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first lower portion and said second lower portion comprises a pedicle screw.  
   
   
       3 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first lower portion and said second lower portion comprises a sublaminar hook.  
   
   
       4 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said first shaped end and said second shaped end comprise at least partially spherical shapes.  
   
   
       5 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 4 , wherein said partial spherical shape of at least one of said first shaped end and said second shaped end includes at least one flat surface.  
   
   
       6 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said first shaped end and said second shaped end are unitary ball-type ends.  
   
   
       7 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first shaped end and said second shaped end have a generally circular cross-section.  
   
   
       8 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said portion of said rod segment received within said U-shaped opening of said first upper portion has an at least partially circular cross-section and said another portion of said rod segment received within said U-shaped opening of said second upper portion has an at least partially circular cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second fasteners is a threaded compression fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said rod segment has a cross-section which is at least one of a circle, a regular polygon, and a hexagon.  
   
   
       11 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second vertebrae are at adjacent vertebral levels within the spine.  
   
   
       12 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second vertebrae are not at adjacent vertebral levels within the spine.  
   
   
       13 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a third spinal engagement member having a lower portion configured for spinal engagement into a third located between said first vertebra and said second vertebra, said spinal engagement member also having an upper portion configured to receive a portion of said rod segment when said first shaped end is received within said space of said first spinal engagement member and said second shaped end is received within said space of said second spinal engagement member; and    a third fastener for locking said portion of said rod segment to said third spinal engagement member.    
   
   
       14 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second elongated element dimensioned to span between said first vertebra and said second vertebra on the opposite side of said first and second vertebra from said first elongated element; and    a second pair of spinal engagement members having lower portions configured for engagement into said first and second vertebra, respectively, and upper portions configured to receive said second elongated element.    
   
   
       15 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 14 , wherein said first elongated element and said second elongated element are connected by a transverse connector.  
   
   
       16 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 14 , wherein said second elongated element is one of generally parallel and not generally parallel to said first elongated element.