1178 results about "Pedicle screw" patented technology

Surgical implants are configured for placement posteriorly to a spinal canal between vertebral bodies to distract the spine and enlarge the spinal canal. In the preferred embodiments the device permits spinal flexion while limiting spinal extension, thereby providing an effective treatment for treating spinal stenosis without the need for laminectomy. The invention may be used in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. Numerous embodiments are disclosed, including elongated, length-adjustable components coupled to adjacent vertebral bodies using pedicle screws. The preferred embodiments, however, teach a device configured for placement between adjacent vertebral bodies and adapted to fuse to the lamina, facet, spinous process or other posterior elements of a single vertebra. Various mechanisms, including shape, porosity, tethers, and bone-growth promoting substances may be used to enhance fusion. The tether may be a wire, cable, suture, or other single or multi-filament member. Preferably, the device forms a pseudo-joint in conjunction with the non-fused vertebra. Alternatively, the device could be fused to the caudal vertebra or both the cranial and caudal vertebrae.

A polyaxial orthopedic device for use with rod implant apparatus includes a screw having a curvate head, a two-piece interlocking coupling element which mounts about the curvate head, and a rod receiving cylindrical body member having a tapered socket into which both the screw and the interlocking coupling element are securely nested. The interlocking coupling element includes a socket portion which is slotted and tapered so that when it is radially compressed by being driven downwardly into the tapered socket in the cylindrical body it crush locks to the screw. The securing of the rod in the body member provides the necessary downward force onto the socket portion through a contact force on the top of the cap portion. Prior to the rod being inserted, therefore, the screw head remains polyaxially free with respect to the coupling element and the body. In a preferred embodiment, the cap portion and the socket portion are formed and coupled in such a way that when the cap portion is compressed toward the socket portion, there is an additional inward radial force applied by the cap portion to the socket portion, thereby enhancing the total locking force onto the head of the screw.

A dynamic fixation device is provided that allows the vertebrae to which it is attached to move in flexion within the normal physiological limits of motion, while also providing structural support that limits the amount of translation motion beyond normal physiological limits. The present invention includes a flexible portion and two ends that are adapted for connection to pedicle screws.

There is shown a system and method for reducing the difficulty in percutaneous placement of a spine stabilization brace by coupling the brace to a pedicle screw in a single assembly. The brace-screw assembly is delivered along with an anchor extension through a cannula for anchoring in the vertebrae pedicle. The anchor extension becomes a cannula for working on the brace from the exterior of the patient, as constructed with a slot opening along two sides. Once the screw portion of the brace-screw assembly is locked in place with respect to the first vertebra, the proximal end of the brace is below the skin line. The brace is then repositioned so that the proximal end leaves the cannula through one slot and is captured by a corresponding slot positioned in a second cannula coupled to a second anchor. Once captured, the proximal end of the brace is guided by the second cannula to a receptacle positioned in the second vertebra.

A pedicle screw coupling construct for a pedicle screw construct provides fixation of angular orientation thereof relative to a pedicle screw independent of fixation of a received spinal rod to the coupling construct. The pedicle screw construct forms one component or element in a spinal fixation system. The independent fixation coupling construct also provides for fixation of the angular orientation of the coupling construct while the coupling construct has received the spinal rod. In another form, a coupling head or construct is configured to allow a pedicle screw shaft to pass therethrough but retain the pedicle screw head for rotation of the coupling head about the pedicle screw head. The coupling head or construct is also configured to allow at least a 45° arc of pivot or articulation about a pedicle screw shaft relative to a longitudinal axis of a spinal rod received in the body. This allows the head with a received spinal rod to fold, bend or pivot relative to the pedicle screw shaft, particularly to a greater degree than the prior art.

A system and method for discriminating tissue types, controlling the level of therapy to tissue, and determining the health or a known tissue by measuring the characteristics an electrical signal applied to conductive element located within or by the tissue. Additionally, the system and method may be used for determining whether the conductive tip of a pedicle probe or pedicle screw is located in one of cortical bone, cancellous bone, and cortical bone near a boundary with soft tissue, whether the conductive tip of a cannula is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and annulus tissue, and whether the conductive tip of a cathode is located adjacent to one of nerve tissue and prostate gland tissue.

A system and method for effecting multi-level spine stabilization is provided. The system includes a plurality of pedicle screws which are joined relative to each other by elongated members, e.g., rods. At least one of the rods includes a dynamic stabilizing member. The pedicle screw junctions are dynamic, i.e., free relative movement of a socket member is permitted relative to a fixed spherical element. Placement of the spherical element may be facilitated using a guidewire system that includes a guidewire and a tapered guide member. A spine stabilization assembly is also provided that includes an attachment member that includes an opening. At least one spherical element that includes a rod-receiving channel is movably mounted within the opening with three degrees of rotational freedom. The spherical element generally defines an elliptical rod-receiving channel that is deformable to a circular opening to firmly engage a rod positioned therein. Multi-level stabilization systems that combine / mix dynamic and non-dynamic stabilization modalities are also provided. The multi-level spine stabilization system offers efficacious clinical results at least in part due to the inclusion of dynamic stabilizing member(s).

Spinal stabilization devices, systems and methods are provided that include at least one pedicle screw and at least one mechanism that supports three degrees of rotational freedom relative to the pedicle screw. The mechanism may include a universal joint mechanism or a ball and socket mechanism. In the case of the ball and socket mechanism, at least one spherical element is mounted with respect to the at least one pedicle screw and a socket member cooperates with the spherical element. The spherical element and the socket member cooperate to define a dynamic junction that allows the socket member to move relative to the ball element while remaining engaged therewith. The dynamic junction is advantageously incorporated into a spinal stabilization system that includes additional pedicle screw(s), spherical element(s) and socket member(s). The spinal stabilization system may incorporate dynamic stabilizing member(s) to so as to provide clinically efficacious results.

The present invention relates to a spinal fixation apparatus having a segment flexible rod for connecting pedicle screws and a transverse link for spacing out the rods, which are made from a shape memory alloy, thereby easily and simply connecting the rods and the pedicle screws. According to the present invention, it can easily and simply fit the rods to the misaligned pedicle screw, even if it may be a failure of alignment of the pedicle screws in surgery. Also, it can easily set up the transverse link on a pair of the longitudinal rods, even if the longitudinal rods are declined or are not in parallel.

A medical device and methods of use thereof are provided for supporting a structure (e.g., bone). A screw assembly is provided that is comprised of a base, an arm, and an interconnection means for coupling the base to the arm. The interconnection means allows the arm to be positionable in a first position that is parallel to a long axis of the base and positionable in a second position that is perpendicular to the long axis of the base. The base is configured for attachment to a structure and the arm configured for attachment to a support structure. A support structure is provided that includes one or more receivers having locking means, which can be configured as an open-ended saddle for attachment to a medical device (e.g., a screw assembly). The support structure is configured to receive one or more medical devices and lock the medical devices to the support structure after installation in a patient.

A method and system for marking and guiding the insertion of securing members (e.g., pedicle screws) of a spinal fixation device. In one embodiment, the marking and guidance method and system includes the use of a guide tube configured to be inserted into a patient's back until a first end reaches an entry point on or near a vertebral bone of the patient's spinal column, wherein the guide tube includes a hollow cylindrical channel along its longitudinal center axis; a penetrating device configured to be positioned within the cylindrical channel of the guide tube and having a sharp tip configured to protrude outwardly from the first end of the guide tube so as to allow the first end of the guide tube to penetrate through the patient's back muscle and tissue and reach the vertebral bone at the entry point; a marking pin configured to be inserted through the cylindrical channel of the guide tube, after removal of the penetrating device, until a first end of the marking pin having a sharp tip reaches the entry point; and a pushing device configured to be inserted through the cylindrical channel of the guide tube and provide a driving force at a second end of the marking pin, opposite the first end, so as to drive and secure the first end of the marking pin into the vertebral bone, wherein the marking pin identifies the location of the entry point on the vertebral bone for subsequent implantation of a securing member of a spinal fixation device.

A minimally invasive method for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae to be fused is accomplished with a device configured to interlink the pedicles of the adjacent vertebrae and including multiple pedicle screws. Each of the pedicle screws has a screw head configured to receive a connecting rod in a position, in which the rod and the receiving pedicle screw are vertically aligned.

A screw and coupling element assembly for use with an orthopedic rod implantation apparatus includes a screw with a head and a shaft extending from the head, a coupling element with a seat within which the head is seatable such that the shaft protrudes from the coupling element, and a locking element mateable with the coupling element and when mated is selectively movable through a plurality of positions including unlocked and locked positions. When in the unlocked position, the locking element presents a rod-receiving channel and the head is movable in the seat such that the shaft is directable in a plurality of angles relative to the coupling element. When in the locked position, a rod disposed within the rod-receiving channel is fixed relative to the coupling element and the head is immovable in the seat such that the shaft is fixed at an angle relative to the coupling element.

The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and / or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.

The invention is directed to a device for connecting a longitudinal bar to a pedicle screw for fixation of the spine. The device includes a body having an axis, an upper end, a lower end, a hole coaxial with the axis, and a through hole positioned perpendicular to the axis. The device also includes a coller chuck slidably disposed within the hole. The coller chuck includes a through hole substantially aligned with the through hole of the body for receiving the longitudinal bar, and a chamber defined by elastic tongues for receiving the head of the pedicle screw.

A minimally invasive spinal fixation system used for spinal arthrodesis or motion preservation spinal repair, comprising a plurality of pedicle screws, including a first screw placed into a first vertebral body, and a second screw placed into a second vertebral body; an attachment assembly for connecting said pedicle screws, said assembly comprising a connector for attaching to said first screw and said second screw; and, a removable guide for percutaneously attaching the connector to said first screw and said second screw.

Spinal stabilization devices, systems and methods are provided that include a stabilization member including a first structural member that mounts to a pedicle screw, a second structural member adjacent the first structural member and that can move away therefrom, a resilient element mounted between the structural members and that elongates to accommodate relative movement therebetween, and a travel-limiting structure mounted between the structural members and that defines and imposes upon the stabilization member a maximum distance by which the first and second structural members may be separated. The travel-limiting structure can include an axially inextensible, laterally flexible elongate element, e.g., wire-rope cable, disposed between the structural members. The resilient element extends between respective first ends of the structural members, while the travel-limiting structure can include terminations at opposite ends of the elongate element and mounted to respective second ends of the structural members opposite the first ends thereof.

A dynamic fixation device is provided that allows the vertebrae to which it is attached to move in flexion within the normal physiological limits of motion, while also providing structural support that limits the amount of translation motion beyond normal physiological limits. The present invention includes a flexible portion and two ends that are adapted for connection to pedicle screws.

The present invention is directed to one piece connector for connecting angularly misaligned implanted pedicle screws to transverse spinal rods in spinal fixation systems. The body portion includes a bore having an inside diameter and a longitudinal axis, with the longitudinal axis of the bore being positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The leg portion includes a slot placed through a section of the leg portion, along the transverse axis of the leg portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The slot intersects the bore of the body portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore. The slot allows the one piece connector to be securely clamped around a longitudinal spinal rod when a pedicle screw is implanted at variable distances from the longitudinal spinal rod. The one piece connector allows for angular misalignment of an implanted pedicle screw in relation to a longitudinal spinal rod and the one piece connector, and for the attachment of the one piece connector to both the longitudinal spinal rod and to the implanted pedicle screw with a single locking mechanism when the one piece connector is used in a spinal fixation system.

A low-profile surgical implant assembly is provided that includes a connector device that is an integral part of a rod, the connector device allowing the rod to be attached directly to a bone screw, such as a pedicle screw. Another aspect of the invention is a clamp device that allows the length of a rod spanning to attachment devices to be adjusted at the time of implantation, and further allows the clamp device to be secured by tightening a securing end of the clamp at the attachment device. The assemblies are useful for insertion into bone and connecting a foreign object to bone via a polyaxial coupling mechanism. A method for implanting the assembly is also provided.

The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and / or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.

A pedicle fixation assembly and method for assembly comprises a screw head comprising a male bulbous end; a bone fixator component comprising a female concave semi-spherical socket for receiving the screw head; a locking saddle pin for engaging the screw head and the bone fixator component; and a blocker for engaging the screw head and for securing the longitudinal member.

An orthopedic device is described for stabilizing the spinal column between first and second vertebral bodies. The device has first and second screws adapted for fixation to the first and second vertebral bodies, respectively. The device further includes an elongated ligament with a first end connected to the first screw and the second end operatively connected with the second screw. The ligament is made preferably of a nickel titanium alloy selected to have ductile inelastic properties at body temperature and is capable of continuous plastic deformation to allow relative constrained motion between the vertebral bodies. In a preferred embodiment the second pedicle screw includes a bearing for receiving the ligament in a slideably engageable relationship. The device further includes optional first and second dampening members surrounding the ligament for restraining the spinal column during flexion and extension. Other preferred devices and kits containing such devices are also described.

A method and apparatus for aligning and fixing vertebral bodies is provided. The low profile vertebral alignment / fixation assembly of the current invention comprises a hemispherical headed pedicle screw disposed within a slotted coupling unit designed to allow angular adjustment of the pedicle screw up to 90° and which may be securely locked into position via a single internal locking nut once a standard alignment rod has been inserted into the slotted coupling unit. The low profile vertebral alignment / fixation assembly enabling the angular adjustment of the fixation system hardware after final placement and insertion of the pedicle screw into the vertebral body. A system and method for aligning and fixing vertebral bodies using the low profile vertebral alignment / fixation assembly of the invention is also provided.

The pedicle screw system may be used for fixation of spinal segments and may be advantageous when minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques are employed. The pedicle screw system includes a tulip assembly comprising of a tulip body, a inner member, and an expansion member. Installation of the pedicle screw system into pedicles of the spine, for example, includes inserting the pedicle screw into a portion of the spine and then coupling the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw. The tulip assembly may be locked onto the pedicle screw before a distraction rod is placed in the tulip assembly. After the rod is placed in the tulip assembly, the tulip body and the inner member can be rotated relative to one another to lock the rod into the tulip assembly. In addition, the relative rotation may also provide additional locking of the tulip assembly to the pedicle screw.

A method for stabilizing a spine includes providing a coupling element having upper and lower ends, a rod receiving opening adapted to receive an elongated stabilizing rod, a bore extending through the lower end and a conical-shaped seat surrounding the bore adjacent the lower end; providing a fastener having upper and lower ends, a head having a radial surface, and at least one anchoring element between the lower end of the fastener and the head; assembling the fastener with the coupling element so that the lower end of the fastener passes through the bore of the coupling element and the radial surface of the head engages the conical-shaped seat. The method also includes anchoring the fastener to bone; moving the coupling element relative to the fastener for capturing the elongated stabilizing rod in the rod receiving opening; and urging the captured stabilizing rod toward the head of the fastener so that the rod contacts the head and forces the radial surface of the head against the conical-shaped seat of the coupling element for locking the coupling element from further movement relative to the fastener.

Disclosed is a spinal pedicle screw assembly including a spinal pedicle screw cooperating with a spine rod for fixing a spine, which includes: a head-coupling element having an upper and a lower end, a rod-receiving channel opening toward the upper end for receiving the spine rod, female screw threads formed on the inside of the rod-receiving channel, and a connecting bore of a given size extending through the lower end, the connecting bore having an upper end toward the rod-receiving channel and an opposite lower end; a screw rod having an upper and a lower end, a spherical head integrally formed with the upper end thereof for being inserted into the connection bore, and male screw threads formed on the periphery of the screw rod between the spherical head and lower end thereof, the screw rod being fixedly inserted into the pedicle by means of the male screw threads thereof; a tightening screw having a periphery formed with male screw threads for engaging the female screw threads of the rod-receiving channel so as to fix the spine rod in the head-coupling element; and a final fixing screw threadedly engaged by the connecting bore for preventing the spherical head from disconnecting from the head-coupling element.

A pedicle screw assembly and method of assembly comprises a longitudinal member; a bendable ball ring adapted to receive the longitudinal member; a poly stem comprising a bendable male bulbous end; and a connector comprising a pair of first apertures adapted to receive the poly stem; and a second aperture adapted to receive the ball ring and the longitudinal member, wherein the second aperture is transverse to the first aperture. The assembly further comprises a bone fixator component comprising a female socket adapted to receive the poly stem; and a blocker pin adapted to engage the poly stem and to secure the longitudinal member.