SPINAL STABILIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. The collar may be rotated and/or angulated relative to the bone fastener. Detachable members may be coupled to the collar to allow for formation of the spinal stabilization system through a small skin incision. The detachable members may allow for alignment of the collars to facilitate insertion of an elongated member in the collars. An elongated member may be positioned in the collars and a closure member may be used to secure the elongated member to the collars.

主权项

1. A delivery device for delivering a spinal rod to a bone anchor, comprising:
an inner member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the distal end being configured to releasably engage a collar of a bone anchor, wherein the inner member has a first slot formed therein, the first slot having an opening at a distal end of the inner member and extending a first slot length toward the proximal end of the inner member; an outer member disposed over at least a portion of the inner member, the outer member having proximal and distal ends and a lumen extending therebetween, the distal end of the outer member being configured to maintain engagement of the distal end of the inner member with the collar, wherein the outer member has a second slot formed therein aligned with the first slot, the second slot having an opening at the distal end of the outer member and extending a second slot length toward the proximal end of the outer member, the first slot length and the second slot length sized to span at least from a skin incision in a patient to the distal ends of the inner member and the outer member, respectively, such that the first slot and the second slot may be accessible from outside of the patient when the delivery device is engaged to the collar of a bone anchor inserted in a bone of the patient; and a connection mechanism configured to threadingly connect the inner member to the outer member, wherein the connection mechanism includes external threading on the inner member; wherein the lumen of the inner member and the lumen of the outer member are sized to pass a threaded closure mechanism configured to threadingly engage the collar of the bone anchor therethrough, and wherein the delivery device is configured such that after the delivery device is engaged to the bone anchor, the closure mechanism may be inserted through the inner member and threaded onto the collar of the bone anchor.