Systems and Methods for Treating Spinal Deformities

Abstract

Systems and methods of treating spinal deformity, including one or more intervertebral implants to be introduced laterally into respective intervertebral spaces, a plurality of bone screws introduced generally laterally into vertebral bodies adjacent to the intervertebral implants and/or the intervertebral implants themselves, and a cable dimensioned to be coupled to the bone screws and manipulated to adjust and/or correct the spinal deformity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for treating spinal deformities, comprising:
 a spinal fusion implant dimensioned to be introduced into an intervertebral space between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body in a generally lateral approach;   a first bone screw dimensioned to be introduced into said first vertebral body in a generally lateral approach;   a second bone screw dimensioned to be introduced into said second vertebral body in a generally lateral approach; and   an elongate member dimensioned to be coupled to said first and second bone screws to move the first and second vertebral bodies to minimize the spinal deformity.   
     
     
         2 . The system for treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second spinal fusion implant dimensioned to be introduced into a second intervertebral space adjacent to at least one of the first and second vertebral bodies; and   a third bone screw dimensioned to be introduced into a third vertebral body adjacent to said second intervertebral space in a generally lateral approach.   
     
     
         3 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second bone screws each includes a tulip-shaped housing. 
     
     
         4 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second bone screws are at least one of fixed-axis screws and variable angle screws. 
     
     
         5 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one of said first and second bone screws are at least one of cannulated and non-cannulated. 
     
     
         6 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate member is secured to at least one of said first and second bone screws by a set screw. 
     
     
         7 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of said elongate member includes a shaped head member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate member is composed of at least one of steel, titanium, titanium allow, Nitinol, nylon, and plastic, and polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein said elongate member is at least one of a cable and a rigid rod. 
     
     
         10 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 2 , wherein said third bone screw includes a side-loading housing dimensioned to receive said elongate member therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second bone screws has a threaded post on a first end, and wherein said elongate member has at least one aperture dimensioned to receive the threaded post to secure said elongate member to at least one of said first and second bone screws. 
     
     
         12 . A system for treating spinal deformities, comprising:
 a first spinal fusion implant dimensioned to be introduced into a first intervertebral space in a generally lateral approach;   a second spinal fusion implant dimensioned to be introduced into a second intervertebral space in a generally lateral approach;   a first screw dimensioned to be introduced into at least one of said first spinal fusion implant and a vertebral body adjacent to said first intervertebral space;   a second screw dimensioned to be introduced into at least one of said second spinal fusion implant and a vertebral body adjacent to said second intervertebral space; and   an elongate member dimensioned to be coupled to said first and second screws to minimize the spinal deformity.   
     
     
         13 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second screws are secured at least one of midway through and substantially through the length of the spinal fusion implant. 
     
     
         14 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first and second screws are introduced into said first and second spinal fusion implants, respectively, at least one of before, during, and after the first and second fusion implants are introduced into said first and second intervertebral spaces, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second screws each includes a tulip-shaped housing. 
     
     
         16 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said first and second screws are at least one of fixed-axis screws and variable angle screws. 
     
     
         17 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one of said first and second screws are at least one of cannulated and non-cannulated. 
     
     
         18 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein said elongate member is secured to at least one of said first and second screws by a set screw. 
     
     
         19 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein the first end of said elongate member includes a shaped head member. 
     
     
         20 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein said elongate member is composed of at least one of steel, titanium, titanium allow, Nitinol, nylon, and plastic, and polymer. 
     
     
         21 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , wherein said elongate member is at least one of a cable and a rigid rod. 
     
     
         22 . The system for treating spinal deformities of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a third spinal fusion implant dimensioned to be introduced into a third intervertebral space in a generally lateral approach; and   a third screw dimensioned to be introduced into at least one of said third spinal fusion implant and a vertebral body adjacent to said third intervertebral space.   
     
     
         23 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one of said first screw, said second screw, and said third screw includes a side-loading housing having an aperture dimensioned to receive said elongate member. 
     
     
         24 . The system of treating spinal deformities of  claim 13 , wherein said at least one of said first screw, said second screw, and said third screw includes a threaded post on a first end, and wherein said elongate member has at least one aperture dimensioned to receive said threaded post of at least one of said first screw, said second screw and said third screw. 
     
     
         25 . A method of treating spinal deformities, comprising the steps of:
 accessing an intervertebral space forming part of a spinal deformity via a generally lateral approach;   introducing a spinal fusion implant into said intervertebral space via a generally lateral approach;   introducing first and second bone screws into first and second vertebral bodies via a generally lateral approach; and   coupling an elongate member to said first and second bone screws to minimize said spinal deformity.   
     
     
         26 . The method of treating spinal deformities of  claim 25 , wherein the step of accessing the intervertebral space is performed using a minimally invasive technique. 
     
     
         27 . The method of treating spinal deformities of  claim 25 , wherein said step of coupling an elongate member includes manipulating said elongate member such that the distance between said first and second screws is reduced.