400 results about "Vertebral arch" patented technology

Disclosed is a multi-axial spinal pedicle screw engaged with a spinal rod and inserted into and fixed to a pedicle. The multi-axial spinal pedicle screw includes: a screw rod in which a spherical articulation is integrally formed at an upper portion thereof, the screw rod being inserted into and fixed to the pedicle through a screw thread formed on the outer surface of a lower portion thereof; a spherical chuck having a plurality of claws, for surrounding and fixing the spherical articulation; a head section in which a receiving hole for receiving the spherical chuck fixing the spherical articulation is formed at a lower portion thereof so as to penetrate the lower portion, a rod receiving channel for receiving the spinal rod is opened upward, and an engagement screw root is formed on the inner surface of the rod receiving channel; and a tightening screw in which an engagement screw thread corresponding to the engagement screw root is formed on the outer surface thereof, the tightening screw being engaged with the head section through the rod receiving channel to fix the spinal rod.

Cephalad and caudal vertebral facet joint prostheses and methods of use are provided. The cephalad prostheses are adapted and configured to be attached to a lamina portion of a vertebra without blocking a pedicle portion of the cephalad vertebra.

A spinal screw assembly providing an adjustable securement of a fixation rod across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion and a tool engagement surface in the head portion for use in driving the screw into a vertebrae. The head portion of the screw is positioned in a body member adjacent a curvilinear surface disposed about an aperture in the end of the body member such that the shaft portion of the screw extends therethrough and the curvilinear inner surface abuts and mates with the head portion of the screw so as to define a ball joint therewith. The body member additionally defines a pair of opposed parallel slots therein adapted to receive a portion of the fixation rod and a locking cap bears against the fixation rod to releasably secure the rod within the assembly.

The present invention is directed to one piece connector for connecting angularly misaligned implanted pedicle screws to transverse spinal rods in spinal fixation systems. The body portion includes a bore having an inside diameter and a longitudinal axis, with the longitudinal axis of the bore being positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The leg portion includes a slot placed through a section of the leg portion, along the transverse axis of the leg portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg portion. The slot intersects the bore of the body portion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore. The slot allows the one piece connector to be securely clamped around a longitudinal spinal rod when a pedicle screw is implanted at variable distances from the longitudinal spinal rod. The one piece connector allows for angular misalignment of an implanted pedicle screw in relation to a longitudinal spinal rod and the one piece connector, and for the attachment of the one piece connector to both the longitudinal spinal rod and to the implanted pedicle screw with a single locking mechanism when the one piece connector is used in a spinal fixation system.

Cephalad and caudal vertebral facet joint prostheses and methods of use are provided. The cephalad prostheses are adapted and configured to be attached to a lamina portion of a vertebra without blocking a pedicle portion of the cephalad vertebra.

A vertebral dynamic stabilization system is used to fix the positional relationship of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The vertebrae stabilization system includes at least two pedicle screws, with an interconnecting rod disposed therebetween, the pedicle screws each having a threaded shaft to be screwed into a vertebra segment, and a screw head adapted to securely receive the interconnecting rod. The system allows some compression and extension of the vertebrae relative to each other, while still maintaining the overall positional relationship within an appropriate range.

A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae of a patient includes advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the inferior vertebrae. A proximal portion of the stabilization device is positioned such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae by contacting a surface of the superior vertebrae.

A device for covering and protecting the spinal cord of a patient after some or all of the spinous process or lamina has been removed. The device includes a main body adjustably attached to at least two rod attachment flanges such that each rod attachment flange may be adjusted closer and further from the main body. The rod attachment flanges are each attached to a pedicle rod having at least four pedicle screws attached thereto. The pedicle attachment screws are adapted for attachment to at least one vertebrae of the patient.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus in which a surgical retractor comprises a plurality of mechanically coupled tissue retaining walls that are guided into position along one or more guides previously implanted into the patient. The walls are preferably coupled by pivots, so that separating some of the walls from one another opens an operating space. There are preferably two guides, which are driven or screwed into the pedicles of vertebrae, or other bone. Since practical considerations will usually mean that the guides are completely parallel to one another, the retractor has oversized channels to receive the guides. The channels are best disposed in a frame, which also serves to hold lock the walls apart. Various convenience features are contemplated including a web disposed between the walls, which expands as the walls are separated. Also contemplated are projections from near the bottoms of one or more of the walls, which can alternatively or additionally help to hold the underlying tissue in place.

An implant for a bone connector includes an implant body, a hook portion, a fixing clamp and a movable clamp. The fixing clamp has a curved shape and supports a vertebral arch of a vertebra by grasping the vertebral arch. The implant body is provided on an upper portion of the fixing clamp. The hook portion over which a connecting member is hooked is provided on an upper portion of the implant body. Further, the movable clamp, which has a curved shape and grasps the vertebral arch, is provided on the upper portion of the implant body and is disposed to be opposed to the fixing clamp.

A method of treating spine disease including the steps of removing at least a portion of a natural facet joint from a vertebral body; implanting an intervertebral disc prosthesis and replacing the portion of the natural facet joint with a facet joint prosthesis. The removed facet portion may be a cephalad or a caudal facet or both. The replacing step may include the step of attaching the facet joint prosthesis to the vertebral body, such as at or near a pedicle and/or spinous process. The invention also provides spinal prostheses to treat spine disease. The spinal prostheses include an intervertebral disc prosthesis and a facet joint prosthesis having artificial facet joint structure adapted and configured to replace a removed portion of the natural facet joint (cephalad, caudal or both).

A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae of a patient includes advancing a distal end of a stabilization device made of a bio-absorbable material, such as cortical bone, into a pedicle of the inferior vertebrae. A proximal portion of the stabilization device is positioned such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae by contacting a surface of the superior vertebrae.

A method of determining the size and/or placement of screws or other instruments in pedicles during surgery in a selected spinal area, comprising generating a dimensionally true three-dimensional image of the bony spine in the selected spinal area; hollowing out the vertebra in the three-dimensional image with cortical wall thicknesses selected by a surgeon performing the surgery; determining the narrowest cross section (isthmus) within each pedicle; generating a straight line starting at the center of the isthmus and extending inwardly to a point centered within the anterior cortex so that it is positioned concentrically within the pedicle without touching the walls thereof, the line terminating inside the vertebral body a predetermined distance from the anterior inner cortical wall and extending outwardly in the opposite direction to penetrate the posterior pedicle cortex; expanding the line concentrically and radially to a cross sectional size that is less than that of the isthmus, the line being expanded into a cylinder that stops growing when any portion thereof contacts the inner cortical wall of the hollowed out vertebral body, with the exception of the posterior pedicle cortex; and calculating the ideal pedicle screw or instrument diameter, length and/or trajectory based on the dimensions and trajectory of the cylinder generated for each pedicle. Also, a new and improved method for providing access to the interior of a pedicle for a desired transpedicular procedure, and a new and improved pedicle cannula construction are disclosed herein.

There is provided a modular pedicle screw assembly that includes various components which may be configured in various manners so as to provide different functionalities to the pedicle screw assembly. This advantageously decreases surgery time, reduces repetitive and tedious surgical steps, and allows for streamlining inventory of expensive medical equipment. In one embodiment, a pedicle screw assembly includes a pedicle screw, a rod holding element, an insert, a rod, and a set screw. The pedicle screw includes a threaded shaft and a cap. The rod holding element includes a screw hole, an insert bearing area, a chamber, chamber walls, a saddle area, and a threading area. The insert is disposed within the chamber, and the insert defines a bearing surface, an upper surface, side walls and a receiving area. The insert is positioned within the chamber such that the insert bearing surface contacts the rod holding element insert bearing area; additionally the side walls of the insert can bear against the chamber walls. The pedicle screw is positioned so that the screw shaft passes through the screw hold of the rod holding element and the screw cap rests within the receiving area of the insert. The rod is disposed so as to rest on the upper surface of the insert; and the set screw, joined to the threading area of the rod holding element, secures the rod to the upper surface of the insert. The insert may have a uniplanar configuration which allows movement of the insert, prior to final attachment, in a plane of motion. The insert may optionally have a monoaxial configuration which prevents movement of the insert.

A spinal fixation access system includes a vertebral anchor with selectively attached extension members to extend percutaneously from the spine. The surgical procedure associated with this invention involves making small, discrete incisions for the placement of select vertebral anchors. The extension members retract soft tissue, muscle and the like to thereby provide visibility and access to the head of the anchor. Through the extension members, instrumentation such as a spine rod, set screw and other required hardware may be delivered to the anchors. Once a spine rod or other components are secured to the pedicle screws, the extension members are disengaged from the anchors and removed from the patient.

A vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening device that restores the loss of disc height as a result of disc degeneration and other factors. The vertebral disc annular fibrosis tensioning and lengthening device includes pedicle screws having heads with cup-shaped cavities. The pedicle screws are threaded into the vertebral bodies of adjacent vertebrae through the pedicles so that open parts of the heads of the pedicle screws face each other. A spring is inserted into the cup-shaped cavities in compression so that the spring bias forces the pedicle screws apart, thus increasing the height of the disc space.