SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES FOR PERCUTANEOUS PLACEMENT OF SPINAL STABLIZATION ELEMENTS
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Abstract
Systems and methods for positioning a connecting element adjacent the spinal column in minimally invasive procedures include instruments that guide the connecting element from a location remote from one or more anchors to a location proximate to the one or more anchors. The instruments include extensions mountable to anchors, and inserter instruments mountable to the connecting element for positioning the connecting element adjacent the anchors in a minimally invasive procedure. The inserter instruments need not be mounted to the anchors or to the anchor extensions, and are operable independently thereof to position the connecting element into the patient along a minimally invasive insertion path from a location remote from the anchor extensions.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1-24. -24. (canceled)
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25. A method for stabilizing a portion of a spinal column, comprising:
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engaging at least one anchor to at least one vertebra; providing an extension from the at least one anchor with the extension extending proximally from the at least one anchor to a proximal end remote from the at least one anchor; and guiding a connecting element through tissue of the patient to a space adjacent the anchor with an inserter instrument, wherein neither the connecting element nor the inserter instrument are engaged to or guided by the extension to the space. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for stabilizing a portion of a spinal column, comprising:
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engaging at least one anchor to each of a first vertebra and a second vertebra; providing an extension from each of the at least one anchors with the extension extending proximally from the respective anchor to a proximal end remote from the at least one anchor, wherein the extension includes a first member having a distal portion engaged to the anchor forming a space adjacent to the respective anchor and a second member proximal of the space; engaging a connecting element with a distal end of an inserter arm of an inserter instrument, the inserter instrument including a proximal handle portion extending from a proximal end of the inserter arm; guiding the connecting element through tissue of the patient to the space formed by each of the anchor extensions with the proximal handle portion of the inserter instrument; and advancing the second member of each of the extensions into contact with the connecting element to seat the connecting element into each anchor. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification