SPINAL TENSION BAND

• US 20090177233A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
• Inventors: Malek, Michel H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,617,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/263
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7022 Tethers, i.e. longitudinal elements capable of transmitting tension only, e.g. straps, sutures or cables A61B17/702 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7067 Devices bearing against one or more spinous processes and also attached to another part of the spine; Tools therefor

Abstract

Medical apparatuses for restricting the motion of a vertebra relative to another vertebra and methods for using the apparatuses are provided herein. The medical apparatuses comprise a flexible element having two ends and a connector capable of securing the ends of the flexible element to a first vertebra disposed above or below a second vertebra or to a spinal device. The flexible element is disposed across at least a portion of one or more vertebral elements of the second vertebra and is tensioned to restrict the motion of the second vertebra relative to the first vertebra.

Claims

1. A medical apparatus comprising:

a flexible element having a first end and a second end; and

a first connector configured to secure the first end of the flexible element to a spinal device or to a first vertebra,

wherein the first vertebra is disposed above or below a second vertebra,

the first and second vertebrae comprising one or more vertebral elements,

the flexible element is disposed across at least a portion of the one or more vertebral elements of the second vertebra, and

the flexible element is tensioned to restrict the motion of the second vertebra.

2. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first vertebra is a fused or a stabilized vertebra.

3. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more vertebral elements are a spinous process, a transverse process, a pedicle, a lamina or an articular process.

4. The medical apparatus of claim 3, wherein the flexible element is disposed across at least a portion of the spinous process and the transverse processes of the second vertebra.

5. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element comprises a biologically compatible material selected from the group consisting of titanium, a titanium alloy, stainless steel, and a polymer.

6. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible element comprises a plurality of wires or cables wound or braided together.

7. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connector is a pedicle screw, a polyaxial pedicle screw, a lateral mass screw, a hook or a polyaxial hook.

8. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises a bar, a rod, a plate, a housing, or a fastener for attaching the first connector to the first vertebra or the spinal device.

9. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the two ends of the flexible element are secured to the first connector via screws, hooks, pins, welds, clips, snaps, or by wrapping or bending the ends of the flexible element around the first connector.

10. The medical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second connector configured to secure the second end of the flexible element.

11. The medical apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spinal device comprises one or more trans-vertebral stabilization elements.

12. The medical apparatus of claim 11, wherein the trans-vertebral stabilization element comprises a rod or a plate.

13. The medical apparatus of claim 11, wherein the trans-vertebral stabilization element is attached to one or more vertebrae via pedicle screws, polyaxial pedicle screws, lateral mass screws, hooks or polyaxial hooks and the first connector is attached to the trans-vertebral stabilization element.

14. The medical apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tension adjustment element attached to the first connector.

15. A method comprising:

attaching a first connector to a spinal device or to a first vertebra, the first vertebra being disposed above or below a second vertebra, and the first and second vertebrae comprising one or more vertebral elements;

passing a flexible element having a first end and a second end across the one or more vertebral elements of the second vertebra; and

securing the first end of flexible element to the first connector.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising adjusting the tension of the flexible element.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more vertebral elements of the second vertebra are the spinous process and the transverse process.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a second connector to the first vertebra or the spinal device, wherein the first end of the flexible element is secured to the first connector and the second end of the flexible element is secured to the second connector.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching the spinal device to one or more vertebrae.