AN ASSEMBLY FOR THE STABILISATION OF VERTEBRAL BODIES OF THE SPINE

摘要

An assembly for the stabilisation of vertebral bodies 12, 14 of the spine is described. It comprises a pair of pedicle screws 20 each having a threaded shaft 20a with a tapering first end 20b for introduction into a vertebral body and a head portion 20c with a second end 20d, and is characterised in that it further comprises a spring member 18, 22, 24, 40, 42, 44 of the following form. The spring member has first and second ends, substantially straight portions 18b adjacent each end and a substantially curvilinear central portion 18a therebetween, the straight portions and the substantially curvilinear central portion being substantially coplanar. The assembly also includes a pair of fixation mechanisms 26 for securing the first and second ends of the spring member to the pair of pedicle screws. Typically the assembly will be for stabilisation of two adjacent vertebral bodies of the spine, that is one motion segment.