Device and method for percutaneous placement of lumbar pedicle screws and connecting rods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of stabilizing the spine of a patient, comprising the steps of:
- identifying and marking landmarks each corresponding to an entry point to respective pedicles of at least two vertebra of the spine;
guiding screws each through a respective entry point into the respective pedicles of the at least two vertebra;
guiding a pin, provided on a leading end of a connecting rod and extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, through a pair of aligned recesses formed in a screw head of a first screw to mount the connecting rod on the first screw;
coupling the leading end of the connecting rod to the first screw head with the pin in a first position of the connecting rod, in which the connecting rod is aligned with the first screw; and
displacing the connecting rod about the pin at the leading end thereof so that a trailing end of the connecting rod engages a second screw of a second vertebrae in a final position of the connecting rod.
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Abstract
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.
399 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of stabilizing the spine of a patient, comprising the steps of:
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identifying and marking landmarks each corresponding to an entry point to respective pedicles of at least two vertebra of the spine; guiding screws each through a respective entry point into the respective pedicles of the at least two vertebra; guiding a pin, provided on a leading end of a connecting rod and extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof, through a pair of aligned recesses formed in a screw head of a first screw to mount the connecting rod on the first screw; coupling the leading end of the connecting rod to the first screw head with the pin in a first position of the connecting rod, in which the connecting rod is aligned with the first screw; and displacing the connecting rod about the pin at the leading end thereof so that a trailing end of the connecting rod engages a second screw of a second vertebrae in a final position of the connecting rod. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A spinal surgical kit, comprising:
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a plurality of screws, each configured to be percutaneously placed into a respective one of at least two pedicles to be interlinked; and at least one connecting rod having a longitudinal axis, a leading end, and a pin positioned proximal to the leading end, the leading end coupled with a first screw so that the connecting rod is able to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the pin between a first position, in which the connecting rod is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first screw, and a final position, in which the connecting rod is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first screw such that the connecting rod bridges the first screw and a second screw, wherein a first screw head has a pair of opposed recesses such that the pin when seated in the recesses rotatably mounts the connecting rod to the first screw head. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A medical system comprising:
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first and second pedicle screws, each screw having a screw head rotatably coupled thereto, each screw head having at least one slot, and the first screw head having a pair of aligned recesses spaced uniformly from the at least one slot; and a connecting rod, having a longitudinal axis, the connecting rod coupled to a pin which is located in proximity to a leading end of the connecting rod, wherein the pin is seated in the pair of recesses so that the connecting rod is rotatably mounted to the first screw head thereby enabling the connecting rod to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the pin to engage the at least one slot of the second screw head. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A spinal surgical kit, comprising:
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a plurality of screws each configured to be placed into a respective one of at least two pedicles to be interlinked;
wherein a first screw of the plurality of screws has a screw head having a pair of opposed recesses;at least one connecting rod having a leading end and a pin positioned proximal to the leading end, wherein the pin is seated in the opposed recesses so that the connecting rod is rotatably mounted to the first screw head such that the connecting rod is able to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the pin between a first position, in which the connecting rod is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first screw, and a final position, in which the connecting rod is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first screw such that the connecting rod bridges the first screw and a second screw. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A medical system comprising:
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first and second pedicle screws, each screw having a screw head coupled thereto, a pin formed as an integral part of the first screw head, a connecting rod having a longitudinal axis, the connecting rod permanently coupled to the pin so that the connecting rod is rotatably coupled to the first screw head, thereby enabling the connecting rod to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the pin between a first position wherein the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first screw and a second position wherein the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the first screw such the connecting rod bridges the first screw and the second screw.
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Specification