Rod delivery device and method

• US 20050277934A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arnold B. Vardiman
• Original Assignee: Arnold B. Vardiman
• Inventors: Vardiman, Arnold B.
• Application Number:
  US11/150,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20050277934A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/914
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7083 Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00238 Type of minimally invasive operation A61B2017/00805 takes precedence

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. 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;

a removable guide for percutaneously attaching the connector to said first screw and said second screw.

2. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said connector is a rod.

3. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said connector is a plate.

4. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said connector is a pin.

5. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said connector is a flexible rod.

6. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 5, wherein said flexible connector is a polymer fillable rod.

7. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 5, wherein said flexible connector is a flexible rod with a link and an insert, whereby a stiffener can force said link and said insert into close alignment and thereby prevent or minimize relative movement between said link and said insert.

8. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 5, wherein said flexible connector is a cement fillable-to-harden rod.

9. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 5, wherein said flexible connector is formed of ferroelectric material that is pliable until exposed to electric current.

10. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 5, wherein said flexible connector is a thin rod and whereby there is some preservation of motion.

11. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 5, wherein said flexible connector is a polymer rod and whereby there is some preservation of vertebral motion.

12. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said pedicle screws is a uni-channeled pedicle screw.

13. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 12, wherein said uni-channeled pedicle screw further comprises an adjustable channel.

14. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said pedicle screws is a multi-channeled pedicle screw.

15. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 14, wherein said multi-channeled pedicle screws further comprises an adjustable channel.

16. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said removable guide is a handle.

17. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said removable guide is a handle and a shaft.

18. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said removable guide comprises a handle, a shaft and a bayonet attachment.

19. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said removable guide comprises a handle, a shaft and a computer aided surgery device.

20. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said removable guide comprises a handle, a steering mechanism and a steerable tip.

21. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 1, wherein said removable guide comprises a handle and a pathfinder.

22. A minimally invasive spinal fixation system as in claim 19, wherein said computer aided surgery device is a neuronavigational system.

23. A rod delivery device, comprising:

a handle;

a rod releasably fastened to said handle; and

,

a pedicle screw having a channel there through;

whereby said handle allows a surgeon to guide said rod through said channel in said pedicle screw using said handle.

24. A rod delivery device, comprising:

a handle;

a bayonet attachment fastened to said handle;

a rod releasably fastened to said rod handle;

a pedicle screw having a channel there through; and

a screw extender fastened to said pedicle screw;

whereby said bayonet attachment and said screw extenders act as guidance phantoms to assist a surgeon in guiding said rod through a channel in said pedicle screw.

25. A multi-channeled pedicle screw, comprising:

a screw portion;

a head fastened to said screw portion; and

,

a plurality of channels disposed there through said head wherein the locations of said plurality of channels are selected based on the locations best sited to best overcome the type of anatomic offset required.

26. A minimally invasive method for using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies anatomically positioned in a patient, the method comprising:

percutaneously placing a first pedicle screw into a first vertebral body and second pedicle screw into a second vertebral body;

percutaneously inserting a connector into the patient into a first position adjacent the first pedicle screw, the connector designed to accommodate the anatomical positions of the vertebral bodies and the orientation of said first pedicle screw and said second pedicle screw;

guiding the connector from said first position to a second position adjacent said second pedicle screw;

attaching said connector to the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw.

27. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 26, wherein said step of guiding the connector from said first position to said second position adjacent to said second pedicle screw comprises:

selecting a suitable handle; and

,

releasably fastening said handle to said connector;

wherein said handle is used to guide said connector from said first position to a second position adjacent said second pedicle screw.

28. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 26, wherein said step of guiding the connector from said first position to said second position adjacent to said second pedicle screw comprises:

selecting a suitable handle;

selecting a suitable bayonet attachment;

fastening a screw extender to said pedicle screws, said pedicle screw having a channel there through, and said screw extender having groove there through; and

,

passing said connector through said channel using said bayonet attachment as a guidance phantom;

wherein said connector acts as an internal splint to immobilize and strengthen the spine during a period of bony healing.

29. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 26 wherein said step of guiding the connector from said first position to said second position adjacent to said second pedicle screw comprises:

selecting a suitable handle;

selecting a suitable shaft; and

,

selecting a suitable computer aided surgery device;

guiding said connector from said first position to a second position adjacent said second pedicle screw using said handle, said shaft and said computer aided surgery device.

30. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 29, wherein said computer aided surgery device is a neuronavigational system.

31. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 26, wherein said step of guiding the connector from said first position to said second position adjacent to said second pedicle screw comprises:

selecting a suitable handle;

selecting a suitable steering mechanism;

selecting a suitable steerable tip;

wherein said handle, said steering mechanism and said steerable tip guide said connector from said first position to a second position adjacent said second pedicle screw.

32. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 26, wherein said step of guiding the connector from said first position to said second position adjacent to said second pedicle screw comprises:

selecting a suitable handle;

selecting a suitable pathfinder;

passing said pathfinder through a channel of a pedicle screw;

fastening said connector to said pathfinder;

drawing said connector through said channel of said pedicle screw; and

,

hardening said connector such that said connector becomes substantially rigid;

whereby said connector acts as an internal splint to immobilize and strengthen the spine during a period of bony healing.

33. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 32 wherein said step of fastening said connector to said pathfinder comprises using a tongue-in-groove connection.

34. A minimally invasive method of using pedicle screws to stabilize vertebral bodies as in claim 32 wherein said step of fastening said connector to said pathfinder comprises using a snap-lock connection.

35. A surgical kit used for minimally invasive spinal arthrodesis or motion preservation spinal repair, the kit comprising:

a plurality of pedicle screws;

a plurality of connectors;

a guide comprising a handle and a plurality of removable shafts attachable to said connectors, said shafts designed to connect to one or more of said connectors.

36. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said pedicle screws are selected from the group consisting of uni-channeled pedicle screws, multi-channeled pedicle screws, uni-channeled pedicle screws with an adjustable channel, multi-channeled pedicle screws with an adjustable channel and pedicle screws with a loop.

37. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said connectors are selected from the group consisting of rods, plates, pins, flexible rods, polymer fillable rods, flexible rods and flexible connectors.

38. A surgical kit as in claim 37, wherein said flexible rods are selected from the group consisting of polymer fillable rods, flexible rods with a link and an insert, cement fillable-to-harden rods, flexible rods formed of ferroelectric material that is pliable until exposed to electric current, thin rods and polymer rods.

39. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said guide is a handle.

40. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said guide is a handle and a shaft.

41. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said guide is a handle, a shaft and a bayonet attachment.

42. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said guide is a handle, a shaft and a computer aided surgery device.

43. A surgical kit as in claim 42, wherein said computer aided surgery device is a neuronavigational system.

44. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said guide is a handle, a steering mechanism and a steerable tip.

45. A surgical kit as in claim 35, wherein said guide is a handle, a pathfinder and a flexible rod.