Minimally invasive method and apparatus for fusing adjacent vertebrae
First Claim
1. A minimally invasive surgical method for fusing adjacent upper and lower vertebrae, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus comprising first and second K-wires, first and second fixation blocks, a swivel block having relatively movable first and second block members, a rod member extending between the fixation blocks and the first block member, and a cannula extending from the second block member;
inserting the first K-wire into the spinous process of the upper vertebrae;
inserting the second K-wire into the transverse process on a first side of the lower vertebrae;
securing the first fixation block to the first K-wire and the second fixation block to the second K-wire with the rod member extending across the K-wires;
securing the second block member of the swivel block assembly relative to the first block member to achieve a desired angle for a first axis along which a first screw will be implanted into the facet joint on the first side;
securing the swivel block assembly at a desired axial position on the rod member;
obtaining percutaneous access along the first axis to a second side of the upper vertebrae via the cannula;
providing a first one removable screw for insertion into the cannula, the first screw having a threaded section for implantation across the facet joint to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebrae and an elongated shank section that is shearable subcutaneously following implantation;
inserting the first screw through the cannula;
implanting the threaded section of the first screw along the first axis across the facet joint on the first side to attach the upper and lower vertebrae;
percutaneously inserting a shearing tool over the elongated shank section of the first screw; and
shearing the elongated shank section of the first screw with the shearing tool to form an accessible head portion of the shank section that lies above the surface of the lamina of the upper vertebrae.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a minimally invasive surgical method for fusing adjacent vertebrae. A first K-wire is inserted into the spinous process of an upper vertebrae. A second K-wire is inserted into a transverse process of a lower vertebrae. A first fixation block is secured to the first K-wire and a second fixation block is secured to the second K-wire. A rod member extends across the K-wires. A swivel block assembly is secured to achieve a desired angle for a first axis along which a first screw will be implanted into a facet joint. The swivel block assembly is secured at a desired axial position on the rod member. Percutaneous access to the upper vertebrae along the first axis is then obtained via a cannula. A removable screw having a threaded section for implantation across the facet joint and an elongated shank section that is shearable subcutaneously is inserted through the cannula. The threaded section is implanted along the first axis across the facet joint to attach the upper and lower vertebrae. A shearing tool is inserted percutaneously over the shank section and the shank section is sheared off immediately above the lamina.
264 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A minimally invasive surgical method for fusing adjacent upper and lower vertebrae, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing an apparatus comprising first and second K-wires, first and second fixation blocks, a swivel block having relatively movable first and second block members, a rod member extending between the fixation blocks and the first block member, and a cannula extending from the second block member;
inserting the first K-wire into the spinous process of the upper vertebrae;
inserting the second K-wire into the transverse process on a first side of the lower vertebrae;
securing the first fixation block to the first K-wire and the second fixation block to the second K-wire with the rod member extending across the K-wires;
securing the second block member of the swivel block assembly relative to the first block member to achieve a desired angle for a first axis along which a first screw will be implanted into the facet joint on the first side;
securing the swivel block assembly at a desired axial position on the rod member;
obtaining percutaneous access along the first axis to a second side of the upper vertebrae via the cannula;
providing a first one removable screw for insertion into the cannula, the first screw having a threaded section for implantation across the facet joint to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebrae and an elongated shank section that is shearable subcutaneously following implantation;
inserting the first screw through the cannula;
implanting the threaded section of the first screw along the first axis across the facet joint on the first side to attach the upper and lower vertebrae;
percutaneously inserting a shearing tool over the elongated shank section of the first screw; and
shearing the elongated shank section of the first screw with the shearing tool to form an accessible head portion of the shank section that lies above the surface of the lamina of the upper vertebrae. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for fusing a facet joint between adjacent first and second vertebrae in a minimally invasive surgical procedure, said apparatus comprising:
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a first K-wire for inserting into one of the first and second vertebrae;
a first fixation block removably connected to said first K-wire;
a second K-wire for inserting into the other of the first and second vertebrae;
a second fixation block removably connected to said second K-wire;
a rod member removably connected to both of said first and second fixation blocks;
a swivel block assembly comprising relatively movable first and second block members, said rod member being removably connected to said first block member; and
a cannula for obtaining percutaneous access to the vertebrae, said cannula extending from said second block member; and
at least one removable screw for insertion into the cannula, said at least one screw having a threaded section for implantation across the facet joint to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebrae and an elongated shank section that is shearable subcutaneously following implantation. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification