Method and apparatus for spinal fixation

• US 8,109,977 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Interventional Spine, Inc (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Culbert, Brad S., Stevens, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana, Anu
• Application Number:
  US11/623,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,849 Days
• Field of Search: 606/279, 606/300, 606/301, 606/305, 606/306, 606/310
• US Class Current: 606/279
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/70 Spinal positioners or stabilisers ; Bone stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7007 Parts of the longitudinal elements, e.g. their ends, being specially adapted to fit around the screw or hook heads
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/701 Longitudinal elements with a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, cross-section A61B17/7005, A61B17/7007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7049 Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7064 Devices acting on, attached to, or simulating the effect of, vertebral facets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8047 wherein the additional element surrounds the screw head in the plate hole A61B17/8052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/86 Pins or screws or threaded wires; nuts therefor A61B17/72 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8685 comprising multiple separate parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0424 the separate member staying in the anchor after placement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0425 the anchor or the separate member comprising threads, e.g. a set screw in the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/681 Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

Disclosed is a fixation device for spinal fixation. The fixation device includes an elongated body comprising a bone anchor at a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device. In one embodiment, the device is inserted through a first vertebra and the bone anchor is rotated into positioned within a second vertebra. The proximal anchor is distally advanced with respect to the bone anchor to provide compression across the first and second vertebra. In other embodiments, the device is used to secure stabilization devices across two or more vertebra.

Claims

1. A method of providing spinal fixation, comprising the steps of:

advancing a first fixation device that comprises a body having a first portion that forms a bone anchor and a second portion that forms a proximal end into a first vertebra;

advancing a second fixation device that comprises a body having a first portion that forms a bone anchor and a second portion that forms a proximal end into a second vertebra;

coupling a first portion of a fixation structure to the first fixation device;

coupling a second portion of the fixation structure to the second fixation device;

securing the first portion of the fixation structure to the first vertebra by advancing a first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device and proximally retracting the body of the first fixation device with respect to the first proximal anchor; and

securing the second portion of the fixation structure to the second vertebra by advancing a second proximal anchor distally along the body of the second fixation device and proximally retracting the body of the second fixation device with respect to the second proximal anchor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first vertebra is the L-5 vertebra and the second vertebra comprises the S-1 portion of the sacrum.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second vertebrae are in a cervical region of a spine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprises advancing the first proximal anchor over at least 10% of the overall length of the first fixation device, the overall length measured from a proximal end of the body of the first fixation device to a distal end of the body of the first fixation device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprises advancing the first proximal anchor over at least 20% of the overall length of the first fixation device, the overall length measured from a proximal end of the body of the first fixation device to a distal end of the body of the first fixation device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprises advancing the first proximal anchor over at least 50% of the overall length of the first fixation device, the overall length measured from a proximal end of the body of the first fixation device to a distal end of the body of the first fixation device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing a slip ring over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing the first proximal anchor over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of advancing the advancing the first fixation into the first vertebra comprises rotating a helical anchor into the first vertebra.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing a slip ring over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing the first proximal anchor over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the first vertebra is the L-5 vertebra and the second vertebra comprises the S-1 portion of the sacrum.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first and second vertebrae are in a cervical region of a spine.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising advancing at least a portion of the first fixation device through an opening in the fixation structure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of advancing the advancing the first fixation into the first vertebra comprises rotating a helical anchor into the first vertebra.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing a slip ring over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing the first proximal anchor over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first vertebra is the L-5 vertebra and the second vertebra comprises the S-1 portion of the sacrum.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second vertebrae are in a cervical region of a spine.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of advancing the first proximal anchor distally along the body of the first fixation device comprising advancing the first proximal anchor over retention structures on the body of the first fixation device.