Spinal connecting members with tensioned cords and rigid sleeves for engaging compression inserts

Abstract

A spinal implant having at least two bone anchors includes a longitudinal connecting member assembly having hard, non-elastic sleeves for attachment to the bone anchors, at least one spacer located between the bone anchors, and in some embodiments, an end elastic bumper and cord blocker. A cord is received within the rigid sleeves, the spacer and the bumper, the cord being in fixed or sliding relationship with cooperating sleeves. The sleeves include portions for direct engagement with bone screw inserts and closure tops and may include a channel for receiving a projected portion of a spacer.

1 . In a medical implant assembly having at least a pair of bone anchors cooperating with a longitudinal connecting member having a tensioned cord and a spacer located between the first and second bone anchors, the cord extending through the spacer, each of the bone anchors having a first pair of opposed upstanding arms,
 the improvement wherein at least one of the bone anchors is a polyaxial bone anchor having a shank pivotable with respect to a receiver and a compression insert engaging the shank, the compression insert having a second pair of upstanding arms forming a channel, each insert arm having a top surface, and further comprising:   at least one inelastic sleeve for attachment to the polyaxial bone anchor, the sleeve having a first through bore sized and shaped for slidably receiving the tensioned cord, a first aperture formed in the sleeve substantially transverse to the first through bore, the first aperture sized and shaped for receiving a portion of an optional cord gripping closure top and first and second body portions, the first body portion sized and shaped for being closely received within the insert channel and the second body portion being sized and shaped to be received between the bone anchor first pair of upstanding arms, the second body portion also engaging the top surfaces of the insert second pair of upstanding arms.   
     
     
         2 - 25 . (canceled)