Spinal alignment system and related methods

Abstract

A spinal alignment system is disclosed and includes vertebral connectors, elongated elements that link the vertebral connectors, and fasteners that lock the elongated elements in position. An elongated element has at least one shaped end that is received by a coupling member of the connector. The shaped end permits the elongated element to be angularly moveable with respect to the coupling member until locked in place with a fastener received in the coupling member. The elongated element also preferably includes a length adjustment mechanism, such as a telescoping or threaded section to provide a desired length in conjunction with a desired degree of alignment. Various coupling mechanisms are disclosed to provide multiple degrees of freedom prior to fixation.

1 . A spinal alignment system, comprising: 
 a rigid elongated element having a shaped end and a rod segment, said elongated element dimensioned to span between a first vertebra and a second vertebra and said rod segment including a first rod portion adjacent to said shaped end and a second rod portion located a distance from said shaped end;    a first connector having a lower portion configured for engagement into said first vertebra and an upper portion configured to receive said shaped end such that said first shaped end is positioned within a space intersected by a longitudinal axis of said lower portion, and wherein said elongated element is temporarily angularly moveable relative to said first upper portion;    a second connector having a lower portion configured for engagement into a second vertebra and an upper portion configured to receive said second rod portion;    a first fastener for locking said shaped end of said elongated element within said upper portion to prevent said elongated element from being temporarily angularly moveable relative to said first upper portion; and    a second fastener for locking said second portion of said rod segment within said second upper portion to prevent said rod segment from being longitudinally movable relative to said second upper portion.    
   
   
       2 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped end comprises an at least partially spherical shape.  
   
   
       3 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 2 , wherein said partial spherical shape includes at least one generally flat surface.  
   
   
       4 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped end is a unitary ball-type ends.  
   
   
       5 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said shaped end has a generally circular cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said upper portion of said first connector comprises a peripheral body formed about said space and at least one side opening through said peripheral body, said at least one side opening configured to receive said first rod portion when said shaped end is received within said space.  
   
   
       7 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one side opening is substantially U-shaped  
   
   
       8 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 7 , wherein said first rod portion received within said U-shaped opening of said first upper portion has an at least partially circular cross-section.  
   
   
       9 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second fasteners is a threaded compression fastener.  
   
   
       10 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said rod segment includes a cross-section having at least three generally flat sides.  
   
   
       11 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second vertebrae are at adjacent vertebral levels within the spine.  
   
   
       12 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second vertebrae are not at adjacent vertebral levels within the spine.  
   
   
       13 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a third connector having a lower portion configured for engagement into a third vertebra located between said first vertebra and said second vertebra, said connector also having an upper portion configured to receive a third rod portion located between said first rod portion and said second rod portion; and    a third fastener for locking said third rod portion to said third connector.    
   
   
       14 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second elongated element dimensioned to span between said first vertebra and said second vertebra on the opposite side of said first and second vertebra from said first elongated element; and    a second pair of a connectors having lower portions configured for engagement into said first and second vertebra, respectively, and upper portions configured to receive said second elongated element.    
   
   
       15 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 14 , wherein said first elongated element and said second elongated element are connected by a transverse connector.  
   
   
       16 . The spinal alignment system of  claim 14 , wherein said second elongated element is one of generally parallel and not generally parallel to said first elongated element.