SURGICAL TOOL AND METHOD FOR PASSING PILOT-LINE SUTURES THROUGH SPINAL VERTEBRAE

摘要

A method for installing spine-stabilization components comprises directing a long flexible tool (100) through a sublaminar space of a human spine vertebr ae inside the spinal canal. Such tool enters the sublaminar space of a particul ar one of the human spine vertebrae posteriorly from the intervertebral gap wit h an adjacent verterbrae. It exits the sublaminar space of the particular one of the human spine vertebrae posteriorly from the intervertebral gap with anoth er opposite-side adjacent vertebrae. A suture (200) is threaded through an eye (102) of the tool. The suture is pulled back through the sublaminar space by withdrawing the tool. A pulled-through part of the suture is attached to a spinal-fixation wire or cable. The suture is then usable as a pilot-line to draw the spinal-fixation wire or cable through the sublaminar space. The spinal-fixation wire or cable is used to anchor a spinal-fixation system.