Implantable vertebral frame systems and related methods for spinal repair
First Claim
1. A method of fusing two or more adjacent vertebral bodies in a portion of a spinal column, the method comprising:
- inserting an interbody repair implant into an intervertebral space;
securing an implantable vertebral fixation frame to the adjacent vertebral bodies over the implant such that a desired spatial relationship between the vertebrae is maintained, the fixation frame having an internal aperture there-through for providing visual access to at least a portion of the interbody repair implant intra-operatively and post-operatively, the aperture sized to have a smaller medio-lateral width than that of the interbody repair implant;
visualizing the interbody repair implant through the aperture intra-operatively or post-operatively;
installing a retention member to the frame to cover at least a portion of the aperture;
after the installing step, moving a locking portion of the retention member from an unlocked position to a locked position to prevent the retention member from being separated from the frame, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one section that contacts a posterior side of the frame when the locking portion is in the locked position; and
wherein the step of moving a locking portion of the retention member comprises rotating an elongated locking arm that is elongated along a first axis around a second axis transverse to the first axis.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates generally to systems and methods for securing adjacent vertebrae in a fixed spacial relationship. In one embodiment, the system includes at least one interbody repair implant, at least one implantable vertebral frame and at least one retention member. In this embodiment, the interbody repair implant is sized to fit in an intervertebral space. The at least one implantable vertebral frame is configured to span between the adjacent vertebrae. The frame is also configured to attach to each of the adjacent vertebra to postoperatively maintain a desired spatial relationship between the vertebrae. The frame has at least one internal aperture there-through for providing visual access to at least a portion of the interbody repair implant, both intra-operatively and post-operatively. Methods of fusing two or more adjacent vertebral bodies in a portion of a spinal column are also disclosed. One such method includes the steps of inserting an interbody repair implant into a intervertebral space, securing an implantable vertebral fixation frame to the adjacent vertebral bodies over the implant, installing a retention member to the frame to cover at least a portion of the aperture, and moving a locking portion of the retention member from an unlocked position to a locked position.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of fusing two or more adjacent vertebral bodies in a portion of a spinal column, the method comprising:
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inserting an interbody repair implant into an intervertebral space; securing an implantable vertebral fixation frame to the adjacent vertebral bodies over the implant such that a desired spatial relationship between the vertebrae is maintained, the fixation frame having an internal aperture there-through for providing visual access to at least a portion of the interbody repair implant intra-operatively and post-operatively, the aperture sized to have a smaller medio-lateral width than that of the interbody repair implant; visualizing the interbody repair implant through the aperture intra-operatively or post-operatively; installing a retention member to the frame to cover at least a portion of the aperture; after the installing step, moving a locking portion of the retention member from an unlocked position to a locked position to prevent the retention member from being separated from the frame, wherein the locking portion comprises at least one section that contacts a posterior side of the frame when the locking portion is in the locked position; and wherein the step of moving a locking portion of the retention member comprises rotating an elongated locking arm that is elongated along a first axis around a second axis transverse to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification