US2014046373A1PendingUtilityA1

Spinal stabilization system and method

44
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 10, 2012Filed: Oct 23, 2012Published: Feb 13, 2014
Est. expiryAug 10, 2032(~6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:William A. Brennan
A61B 17/7032A61F 2002/2835A61F 2310/00023A61F 2310/00017A61F 2002/4677A61B 17/7044A61F 2002/30062A61B 17/8685A61B 17/7034A61F 2/4455A61B 17/7059A61F 2002/30677A61F 2310/00029
44
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Claims

Abstract

A method for stabilizing the spine at the level of one or more vertebrae includes the step of inserting a pedicle connector through the pedicle of a vertebra from one of the anterior side and posterior side of the vertebra to the other of the anterior side and the posterior side of the vertebra. The pedicle connector is secured to a stabilization construct positioned adjacent to either the anterior side or posterior side of the vertebra. The process is repeated for the opposite side of the pedicle connector. A system for stabilizing the spine and a pedicle connector are also disclosed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for stabilizing the spine at the level of one or more vertebrae having anterior and posterior sides, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a pedicle connector through the pedicle of a vertebra from one of the anterior side and the posterior side of a vertebra to the other of the anterior side and the posterior side of the vertebra;   securing the pedicle connector to a stabilization construct positioned adjacent to either the anterior side of the pedicle connector or the posterior side of the pedicle connector;   repeating the process for the opposite side of the pedicle connector.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting a pedicle connector comprises the step of positioning a guide wire through the vertebra to guide the placement of the connector. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a needle is positioned through the vertebra, and the guide wire is directed through the needle and through the vertebra, and the needle is removed to leave the guide wire in position through the vertebra. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the anterior stabilization construct is threaded onto the wire to position the stabilization construct adjacent to the anterior surface of the vertebra. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the pedicle connector is guided by the wire and positioned through the pedicle of the vertebra. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pedicle connector is secured to the stabilization construct by cooperating threaded portions on the pedicle connector and the stabilization construct. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pedicle connector is secured to the stabilization construct by locking screws. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the stabilization construct is placed over the wire on the posterior side of the vertebra and attached to the pedicle connector. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the pedicle connector is a screw. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilization construct is at least one selected from the group consisting of spinal hardware and a spinal anchor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the spinal hardware comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a rod, plate, connector, variable angle connector, corpectomy cage, an artificial disc, and interbody devices. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the spinal anchor provides at least a 10% increase over the outside diameter of the pedicle connector. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of performing a discectomy and inserting an interbody device. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a stabilization construct extends across two or more vertebral segments. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior stabilization construct is applied first followed by the anterior stabilization construct. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the pedicle connector between attachment points on the anterior and posterior stabilization constructs is from 20-80 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the pedicle connectors at a vertebral level are separated by between 15-70 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the distance between adjacent pedicle connectors in the rostro-caudal plane is between 15-50 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the pedicle connector is between 1-15 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A system for stabilizing the spine, comprising:
 an anterior stabilization construct;   a pedicle connector for extending through the pedicle of a vertebra;   engagement structure for securing the pedicle connector to the anterior stabilization construct;   a posterior stabilization construct for attaching to the pedicle connector on a posterior side of the vertebra; and,   engagement structure for securing the posterior stabilization construct to the pedicle connector on the posterior side of the vertebra.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the stabilization construct is at least one selected from the group consisting of spinal hardware and a spinal anchor. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the spinal hardware comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of a rod, plate, connector, variable angle connector, corpectomy cage, an artificial disc, and interbody devices. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the spinal anchor provides at least a 10% increase over the outside diameter of the pedicle connector. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the pedicle connector comprises anterior parts and posterior parts, the anterior part and posterior part being detachably engageable. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the length of the pedicle connector between attachment points on the anterior and posterior stabilization constructs is from 20-80 mm. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the pedicle connectors at a vertebral level are separated by between 15-70 mm. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the distance between adjacent pedicle connectors in the rostro-caudal plane is between 15-50 mm. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the diameter of the pedicle connector is between 1-15 mm. 
     
     
         29 . A pedicle connector comprising an anterior part and a posterior part, the anterior part and posterior part comprising engagement structure for securing the anterior part to an anterior stabilization construct, and for securing the posterior part to a posterior stabilization construct, the anterior part and posterior part having bone threads for engaging bone as the connector is advanced through bone. 
     
     
         30 . The pedicle connector of  claim 29 , wherein the anterior part and posterior part are detachable from one another. 
     
     
         31 . The pedicle connector of  claim 30 , wherein the anterior part and posterior part have external cylindrical surfaces, the external surfaces of the anterior part and the posterior part aligning when the anterior part is engaged to the posterior part. 
     
     
         32 . The pedicle connector of  claim 29 , wherein the anterior part and posterior part comprise cooperating male and female threaded portions. 
     
     
         33 . The pedicle connector of  claim 32 , wherein the male threaded portion is provided on a male protrusion on one of the anterior part or the posterior part, with a diameter less than the diameter of the external surface, and the female threaded portion is provided on the other of the anterior part and the posterior part. 
     
     
         34 . A method for stabilizing the spine at the level of one or more vertebrae having anterior and posterior sides, comprising the steps of:
 providing a pedicle connector comprising an anterior part and a posterior part, the anterior part and posterior part comprising engagement structure for securing the anterior part to an anterior stabilization construct, and for securing the posterior part to a posterior stabilization construct, the anterior part and posterior part being detachable from one another;   forming an opening through the pedicle of the vertebrae from the anterior to posterior sides of the vertebrae;   inserting the anterior part of the pedicle connector into the opening from the anterior side of the vertebrae, and inserting the posterior part of the pedicle connector into the opening from the posterior side of the vertebrae;   securing the anterior part of the pedicle connector to the posterior part of the pedicle connector;   securing the pedicle connector to a stabilization construct positioned adjacent to either the anterior side of the pedicle connector or the posterior side of the pedicle connector;   repeating the process for the opposite side of the pedicle connector.

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