Bone anchoring system

摘要

Methods and apparatus for connecting to a bone, which avoid the use of bone screws. A triangular shaped modular implant is used, with two sides of the structure and their respective vertex secured generally within the bone, with the base of the triangle outside the bone. These two arms, whether straight or arcuate, are cannulated, and are held together at their distal ends by a tightened cable that runs through both of the arms. The proximal ends of these arms are connected to a base side that completes the triangular structure. The device may be inserted into a vertebra and the base used for vertebral fusion. Alternatively, the arms themselves may be used to stabilize and fixate adjacent vertebrae, by insertion through adjacent vertebrae trans-segmentally. In the latter case, the vertex may be within the intervertebral space or within the vertebral body close to the intervertebral space.

主权项

1. A method for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of a spine, comprising the steps of:
forming a first arcuate passage in a first one of said vertebrae from a pedicle entry point to an intra-vertebral anterior position; forming a second arcuate passage in said first vertebrae from the opposite pedicle entry point to meet said intra-vertebral anterior position; threading a wire between said pedicle entry points; sliding an arcuate cannulated member into each of said arcuate passages; tensioning said wire such that said ends of said arcuate members become tightened onto a junction at said intra-vertebral anterior position; repeating said steps on a second vertebra adjacent to said first vertebra; and fixating said first and second vertebra by rigidly connecting at least one pair of pedicular ends of said cannulated members between said first and second vertebrae.