49 results about "Vertebral segment" patented technology

There is disclosed systems and methods for spinal nucleus replacement by constructing channels through vertebral segments on either side of an area into which the spinal nucleus is to be positioned, the channels running from a channel end outside of the area to a channel end abutting the area. One end of a suture is inserted into the outside channel end of a first one of the channels and passed through the first channel and into the area and out of the area through the second channel until it emerges from the second channel. The suture is then used to pull the nucleus into the area.

Apparatus for connecting and stabilizing adjacent vertebral segments, comprising a flexible composite connecting rod extending between the segments, and connection devices for connecting the rod to the vertebral segments. The rod comprises a rod member formed of a flexible plastic material having a predetermined compression strength, and a high tensile strength, low stretch, flexible reinforcing element extending longitudinally through the entire length of the rod member and being bonded thereto. The reinforcing element may be in the form of a single cord, rope, braid or monofilament, a plurality of substantially parallel cords, ropes, braids or monofilaments, or a tubular cord, rope or braid extending through the rod member.

An orthopedic damper system and method to control the degree of flexion and/or extension motion of the mobile vertebral segment while providing additional stability to the spine. The damper system includes an anchor having a spring hitch, a spring coupled to the spring hitch, and a cap coupled to the spring. The anchor is adapted to connect to a spinous process. The spring includes an inner hollow area adapted to accommodate the spring hitch. The cap includes an opening connected to an inner cavity that is adapted to accommodate the spring and the spring hitch.

Apparatus for connecting and stabilizing adjacent vertebral segments, comprising a flexible composite connecting rod extending between the segments, and connection devices for connecting the rod to the vertebral segments. The rod comprises a rod member formed of a flexible plastic material having a predetermined compression strength, and a high tensile strength, low stretch, flexible reinforcing element extending longitudinally through the entire length of the rod member. The reinforcing element may be in the form of a single cord, rope, braid or monofilament, a plurality of substantially parallel cords, ropes, braids or monofilaments, or a tubular cord, rope, braid or woven or wire mesh strain relief device extending through the rod member in slidable relation or bonded thereto.

A method for intra-operative surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis by an anterior minimally invasive approach of the lumbar spine includes inserting an interbody spacer between two vertebrae, attaching an anatomically designed reduction plate to at least one of the two vertebrae, and attaching the interbody spacer to the reduction plate by a fastening means through a central borehole of the reduction plate and the interbody spacer. The interbody spacer may be attached to the anteriorly positioned vertebra by at least bone screw. The upper and lower parts may be attached to the upper and lower vertebra by at least one bone screw to stabilize the displaced vertebral segment of the spine.

Spinal canal expansion through pedicle lengthening in combination with spinal column stabilization, to treat spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, kyphosis, scoliosis or a major spinal rotational deformity, with or without a spinal fusion. A device or implant that includes a pedicle lengthening implant to decompress (expand) the spinal canal, and a bridge to connect two or more pedicle lengthening implants and/or pedicle screws or bone anchors to achieve simultaneous spinal stabilization across one or more vertebral segments. The bridge across the vertebral segments can include a longitudinal member, such as a plate or rod. The pedicle lengthening implant is originally made, or can be modified to, connect to the longitudinal member. Spinal deformity can be manipulated, through operation of one or more pedicle lengthening implants in respective vertebral segments, to improve a relative relationship between the respective vertebra segments, the longitudinal member then fixating the vertebral segments into a multi-level spinal construct.

Featured is a reduction instrument being configured and arranged to allow correction of vertebral translation and applying distraction across a segment in an independent fashion. Such a reduction instrument embodies one or more identical modules that are configured as needed for correcting the deformity. In more particular embodiments, each of the one or more modules has two degrees of freedom (DOF) with uncoupled orthogonal translations. Such a reduction instrument allows the reorientation of the vertebral segment as needed via uncoupled orthogonal translations. Such a reduction instrument also is usable in combination with a plurality of vertebral anchors, such vertebral anchors being any such vertebral anchors as are know to those skilled in the art (e.g., conventional spinal pedicle screw instrumentation) or hereinafter developed so as to form a spinal implant system. Also featured are treatment methods utilizing such a reduction instrument.

This disclosure provides vertebral implants, fastening devices for vertebral implants, and implant instrumentation, and various combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the implant comprises a peripheral wall extending according to a vertical axis between upper and lower surfaces of the implant, with each such surface configured to be placed in contact with a vertebral structure, respectively, at the top and the bottom of the vertebral segment replaced by the implant. Some embodiments comprise fastening means, deployment of which anchors the implant in the lower and upper vertebral structures. Some fastening means may be deployed by sliding parallel to the vertical axis of the implant, and may comprise a plate with at least one part remaining in contact with the peripheral wall of the implant when deployed and a pointed end projecting from one of the upper and lower surfaces of the implant to enter a vertebral structures on completion of deployment.

A vertebral osteosynthesis device includes at least two bone anchoring elements (1) in the vertebral bone structures respectively (S, L5.), a longitudinal linking member (2) between the bone anchoring elements, and connector links (3) between the bone anchoring elements and said linking members. Each bone anchoring element includes a bond fixing part (4), a head (5) to be gripped by a screwing device, a threaded shaft (7) extending the grip head, and a clamping element (8) to be screwed on said shaft to lock together the connector link, the longitudinal linking member and the corresponding bone anchoring element; the threaded shaft (7) is provided at its end with a hinge ball joint (11) in a housing (12) of the grip head (5), enabling a multidirectional adjustment of the shaft (7) and a positioning of the connector link (3) adapted to the vertebral segment configuration (S, L5, . . . Lw) receiving the bone anchoring elements.

A prosthesis for implantation in a de-nucleated intervertebral disc includes a fiber ring-like layer which encloses a polymeric layer to create an annular space. The annular space is inflatable with an in-situ curable liquid polymer and forms an interior cavity. The annular space may be expanded uniformly or differentially to be tailored to the needs of a particular vertebral segment and to achieve optimal disc space width and angle, thereby stabilizing the segment while preserving normal motion of the vertebral segment. The interior cavity provides a void that allows inward deformation of the implant during weight bearing activities and bending. The prosthesis can be elastically deformed through axial elongation to a reduced profile to load into a delivery cannula using pulling techniques.

An automatic vertebral recognition method based on ultrasonic coronal plane image of a spine comprises the following steps: 1) segmenting a vertebral body one by one in target spine segment ultrasonicimage by using the ultrasonic image segmentation technology; 2) performing identifying according to the characteristic anatomical structure, the characteristic vertebral body and the characteristic structure of the vertebral body, judging and identifying the characteristic vertebral body according to the characteristic anatomical structure, and calculating other vertebral body from the characteristic vertebral body; 3) performing verifying and calibrating by characteristic anatomy and vertebral body characteristics. The invention gives consideration to the accurate and efficient identification of ultrasonic bone image features, By using the original ultrasonic image segmentation method of spine, the characteristic anatomical structure of different vertebral segments of the spine is recognized, and the characteristic vertebral body is judged by the characteristic vertebral body. Then the other vertebral bodies are deduced from the count of the characteristic vertebral body according tothe long axis direction of the spine, until the target operative segment. Finally, the characteristic anatomical structure and the characteristic vertebral body are deduced by the bidirectional count, and the identification verification and calibration are completed.

An intervertebral implantation system for restoring disc height and vertebral alignment, while allowing dynamic mobility and stabilization of the vertebral segment, and minimally invasive methods of implanting the same. The implantation system includes an annular reinforcement implant, including an elastomeric balloon inserted into the hollow or interior of a tubular sleeve, and secured only at a first and second neck portions to a securement element coupled to an attachment fixture, forming an annular structure attached to the outer margin of the annulus fibrosus. When the prosthetic implant is in a contracted state the tubular sleeve is redundant and undulated, forming folds, gathered loosely around the circumference of the inner balloon. Upon pressurized inflation with in-situ curable polymer, the elastomeric balloon elongates and expands circumferentially, and the tubular sleeve stretches and unfolds, constraining further expansion and elongation of the elastomeric balloon. The attachment fixture is configured to provide secure attachment to the outer margin of the annulus fibrosus. A temporary, high pressure vertebral distraction balloon is utilized to aid in vertebral distraction during a surgical procedure to implant the annular reinforcement implant.

The invention relates to the field of fixators, in particular to an animal spinal fixator, comprising a first fixture, a second fixture and holding space. The first fixture is provided with a U-shaped channel; the front ends of the two sides of the U-shaped channel are bent, forming two first insert teeth; the second fixture fits the U-shaped channel and can slide in the same; the second fixture is provided with second insert teeth matching with the first insert teeth; the holding space fits the two first insert teeth and is communicated with clamping parts of the first and second fixtures. The animal spinal fixator allows an animal to be fixed and inspected after the animal wakens up; the animal can be fixed effectively; a ganglion and a spinal cord segment of a vertebral segment can be observed at the same time; in the research on spinal cord axon, the animal spinal fixator allows the spinal cord axon on the back of the animal to be observed.