Guide wire mounting collar for spinal fixation using minimally invasive surgical techniques

Abstract

An improved guide wire having a collar member for affixation to a pedicle screw, the guide wire assembly used in a system, set of instrumentation and method comprising the combination and use of plural pedicle screws, a rod for connecting pedicle screws in a relatively rigid manner, and instrumentation means to optimize insertion of the rod into the pedicle screws, such means comprising a guide wire and instrumentation to position the guide wire in the pedicle screws, whereby the guide wire is mounted to a pedicle screw, all the screws are implanted into the vertebrae, and the rod subsequently guided into the pedicle screws along the guide wire, all using minimally invasive surgical incisions.

1 . In a spinal fixation system comprising the combination of plural pedicle screws affixed to the pedicles of vertebrae, said pedicle screws having receiving heads, a fixation rod connecting said pedicle screws to each other in a relatively rigid manner, and a guide wire directing insertion of said fixation rod into said pedicle screws, wherein said guide wire is positioned in and between said receiving heads of said pedicle screws implanted into the vertebrae, whereby said rod is mounted onto said guide wire and inserted through skin and tissue in a generally axial direction and guided into said receiving heads of said pedicle screws along said guide wire, and rod securing members that mate with said receiving heads of said pedicle screws, whereby said rod is secured to said pedicle screws using said rod securing members;
 the improvement comprising a collar member adapted to receive one of said pedicle screws, said collar member being connected to said guide wire, whereby said collar member is mounted to said one of said pedicle screws prior to affixation of said one of said pedicle screws.   
   
   
       2 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said guide wire is permanently connected to said collar member. 
   
   
       3 . The improvement of  claim 1 , wherein said guide wire is releasably connected to said collar member. 
   
   
       4 . The improvement of  claim 3 , wherein said collar member comprises an eyelet and said guide wire comprises a hook member. 
   
   
       5 . A spinal fixation system comprising the combination of plural pedicle screws affixed to the pedicles of vertebrae, said pedicle screws having receiving heads, a fixation rod connecting said pedicle screws to each other in a relatively rigid manner, a guide wire directing insertion of said fixation rod into said pedicle screws, a collar member connected to said guide member, wherein said collar member is mounted onto one of said pedicle screws and further wherein said guide wire is positioned in and between said receiving heads of said pedicle screws implanted into the vertebrae, whereby said rod is mounted onto said guide wire and inserted through skin and tissue in a generally axial direction and guided into said receiving heads of said pedicle screws along said guide wire, and rod securing members that mate with said receiving heads of said pedicle screws, whereby said rod is secured to said pedicle screws using said rod securing members. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said guide wire is permanently connected to said collar member. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said guide wire is releasably connected to said collar member. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said collar member comprises an eyelet and said guide member comprises a hook member. 
   
   
       9 . A spinal fixation assembly comprising the combination of plural pedicle screws affixed to the pedicles of vertebrae, said pedicle screws having receiving heads, a fixation rod connecting said pedicle screws to each other in a relatively rigid manner, a guide wire, and a collar member connected to said guide wire and mounted onto one of said pedicle screws, said guide wire positioned in and between said receiving heads of said pedicle screws, and rod securing members that mate with said receiving heads of said pedicle screws, whereby said rod is secured to said pedicle screws using said rod securing members. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said guide wire is permanently connected to said collar member. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said guide wire is releasably connected to said collar member. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said guide wire further comprises an eyelet disposed in said collar member and a hook member.