Implant kit for supporting a spinal column
First Claim
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1. An implant kit for supporting a spinal column, which comprises:
- a. at least first and second support elements for fixation to vertebrae of a spinal column, extending generally along the spinal column between spaced apart vertebrae,b. a plurality of fixation devices for (i) fixing the support elements to one another in an end-to-end arrangement and (ii) fixing the support elements to the vertebrae,wherein the material of the first support element is different from the material of the second support element, and the first support element is formed from a metal which exhibits thermally initiated shape memory properties and the second support element is formed from a metal which does not exhibit thermally initiated shape memory properties, the metal of the first support element having an Af temperature between about 20°
C. and about 32°
C. such that the metal of the first support element may be cooled to a martensitic state, bended to conform to the spinal column in a pre-corrected state, and heated to an austenitic state to apply a corrective force to the spinal column.
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Abstract
An implant kit for supporting a spinal column comprises at least first and second support elements (8, 10, 12) for fixation to vertebrae of a spinal column, extending generally along the spinal column between spaced apart vertebrae. The kit includes a plurality of fixation devices for (i) fixing the support elements to one another in an end-to-end arrangement and (ii) fixing the support elements to the vertebrae. At least the first support element is formed from a material which exhibits shape memory properties.
427 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An implant kit for supporting a spinal column, which comprises:
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a. at least first and second support elements for fixation to vertebrae of a spinal column, extending generally along the spinal column between spaced apart vertebrae, b. a plurality of fixation devices for (i) fixing the support elements to one another in an end-to-end arrangement and (ii) fixing the support elements to the vertebrae, wherein the material of the first support element is different from the material of the second support element, and the first support element is formed from a metal which exhibits thermally initiated shape memory properties and the second support element is formed from a metal which does not exhibit thermally initiated shape memory properties, the metal of the first support element having an Af temperature between about 20°
C. and about 32°
C. such that the metal of the first support element may be cooled to a martensitic state, bended to conform to the spinal column in a pre-corrected state, and heated to an austenitic state to apply a corrective force to the spinal column.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An implant kit for supporting a spinal column, which comprises:
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at least first and second spinal rods for fixation to vertebrae of a spinal column, extending generally along the spinal column between spaced apart vertebrae, a plurality of bone anchors for fixing the spinal rods to the vertebrae and a plurality of spinal rod connectors for fixing the spinal rods to one another, the plurality of bone anchors including a plurality of bone screws each having a proximal channel for receiving one of the spinal rods and a distal threaded shaft for screwing into the vertebra, the plurality of spinal rod connectors including one or more tandem rod connectors permitting the connection of two spinal rods in an side-by-side relationship, wherein the material of the first spinal rod is different from the material of the second spinal rod, and the first spinal rod is formed from a metal which exhibits thermally initiated shape memory properties and the second spinal rod is formed from a metal which does not exhibit thermally initiated shape memory properties, the metal of the first spinal rod having an Af temperature between about 20°
C. and about 32°
C. such that the metal of the first spinal rod may be cooled to a martensitic state, bended to conform to the spinal column in a pre-corrected state, and heated to an austenitic state to apply a corrective force to the spinal column through the bone anchors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification