Apparatus and method for connecting spinal vertebras

Abstract

An orthopedic implantable device articulately connecting a first spinal vertebra to an adjacent second spinal vertebra includes a pair of first components adapted to be attached to locations left and right of a midline of the first vertebra, respectively and a pair of second components adapted to be attached to locations left and right of a midline of the second vertebra, respectively. Each of the first components includes a body and a male articulation member attached to the first component body and each of the second components includes a body and a female articulation member attached to the second component body. The first components are articulately connected to the second components by engaging the male articulation members to the female articulation members, thereby articulately connecting the first vertebra to said second vertebra along lines left and right of the midlines and without crossing the midlines, respectively.

1 . An orthopedic implantable device articulately connecting a first spinal vertebra to an adjacent second spinal vertebra comprising: 
 a pair of first components adapted to be attached to locations left and right of a midline of said first vertebra and without crossing said first vertebra midline, respectively;    a pair of second components adapted to be attached to locations left and right of a midline of said second vertebra and without crossing said second vertebra midline, respectively;    wherein said pair of first components engages and articulately connects to said pair of second components without crossing said first and second vertebra midlines, respectively; and    wherein each of said first components comprises a body and a male articulation member attached to said first component body and each of said second components comprises a body and a female articulation member attached to said second component body and wherein said first components are articulately connected to said second components by engaging said male articulation members to said female articulation members, thereby articulately connecting said first vertebra to said second vertebra along lines left and right of said midlines and without crossing said first and second vertebra midlines, respectively.    
     
     
         2 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said male articulation member comprises a hook and said female articulation member comprises a loop.  
     
     
         3 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein each of said first component bodies further comprises a female articulation member.  
     
     
         4 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein each of said second component bodies further comprises a male articulation member.  
     
     
         5 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said locations of said first and second vertebrae comprise one of a pedicle, transverse processes, facets, pars interarticularis, intervertebral disc, lamina, or vertebral body.  
     
     
         6 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said bodies of said pair of first components are attached to first and second pedicles of said first vertebra, respectively, and said bodies of said pair of second components are attached to first and second pedicles of said second vertebra, respectively.  
     
     
         7 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 6  wherein said pairs of first and second components are attached to said first and second vertebrae, respectively, via at least one of screws, wires, or hooks.  
     
     
         8 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said pair of first components are articulately connected to said pair of second component s via a hinge.  
     
     
         9 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said pairs of first and second components have adjustable length.  
     
     
         10 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 9  wherein said length of said first and second components can be adjusted between 10 and 200 millimeters.  
     
     
         11 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said female articulation members are formed within said second component bodies and comprise a bar connecting opposite sides of a cavity formed within a surface of the body.  
     
     
         12 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  comprising at least one of metal, plastic, ceramic, bone, polymers, composites, absorbable material, biodegradable material, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The orthopedic implantable device of  claim 1  wherein said first and second vertebrae comprise one of cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacrum vertebrae.  
     
     
         14 . A spine stabilization method articulately connecting a first vertebra to a second vertebra comprising: 
 providing a pair of first components wherein each of said first components comprises a body and a male articulation member attached to said first component body;    attaching said pair of first components to locations left and right of a midline of said first vertebra, respectively;    providing a pair of second components wherein each of said second components comprises a body and a female articulation member attached to said second component body;    attaching said pair of second components to locations left and right of a midline of said second vertebra, respectively; and    engaging said male articulation members of said first components to said female articulation members of said second components and thereby articulately connecting said pair of first component to said pair of second components without crossing said first and second vertebra midlines, respectively.