Surgical implants

Claim 1

A surgical implant (20) comprising a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material with at least one bight (22) at each end of the hank, a tail (25) extending from at least one end, and at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26) encircling part of the hank intermediate the bights (22), characterized in that the sleeve-like element (26) is formed of ductile material and encircles at least overlapping end lengths (27) of the strand, and further characterized by a pair of hooking members (30), each having a broad flat hook portion (31) for engaging one part of the spinal column, integrated with an oppositely directed and reverse facing round hook portion (32) engageable with the bight or bights (22, 29) at one end of the hank.

Claim 16

A method of spinal stabilization comprising securing to two parts (23) of the spinal column respective bights (22) at the ends of a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material having part of the hank intermediate the bights encircled by at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26), with a tail (25) of the strand (21) extending from an end of the hank, and pulling the tail (25) to take up slack in the hank and tension the strand (21), characterized in that the crimpable sleeve-like element is formed of ductile material and is squeezed on to the lengths of strand passing therethrough to secure the strand in its tensioned state, and in that excess strand material (21) is then cut off; and further characterized in that hooking members (39), each having a broad flat yoke (40) with a round hook portion (32) integrated with and oppositely directed to each end of the yoke, are applied one to each of two spinous processes (23), with the respective yoke portion (40) engaged with a spinous process (23), the round hook portions (32) then being engaged by respective bights (22) of a pair of hanks (20) each of which is formed from a single strand (21) of material, with a tail (25) and an encircling ductile crimpable sleeve-like element (26), the tails (25) being pulled, the ductile crimpable sleeve-like elements (26) squeezed, and excess strand material (21) cut off, as described above, to achieve symmetrical loading.

Claim 17

A method of spinal stabilization comprising securing to two parts (23) of the spinal column respective bights (22) at the ends of a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material having part of the hank intermediate the bights encircled by at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26), with a tail (25) of the strand (21) extending from an end of the hank, and pulling the tail (25) to take up slack in the hank and tension the strand (21), characterized in that the crimpable sleeve-like element is formed of ductile material and is squeezed on to the lengths of strand passing therethrough to secure the strand in its tensioned state, and in that excess strand material (21) is then cut off; and further characterized in that hooking members (39), each having a broad flat yoke (40) with a round hook portion (32) integrated with and oppositely directed to each end of the yoke, are applied one to each of two spinous processes (23), with the respective yoke portion (40) engaged with a spinous process (23), the round hook portions (32) then being engaged by respective bights (22) of a pair of hanks (20) each of which is formed from a single strand (21) of material, with a tail (25) and an encircling ductile crimpable sleeve-like element (26), the tails (25) being pulled, the ductile crimpable sleeve-like elements (26) squeezed, and excess strand material (21) cut off, as described above, to achieve symmetrical loading.

Claim 18

A method of spinal stabilization comprising securing to two parts (23) of the spinal column respective bights (22) at the ends of a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material having part of the hank intermediate the bights encircled by at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26), with a tail (25) of the strand (21) extending from an end of the hank, and pulling the tail (25) to take up slack in the hank and tension the strand (21), characterized in that the crimpable sleeve-like element is formed of ductile material and is squeezed on the lengths of strand passing therethrough to secure the strand in its tensioned state, and in that excess strand material (21) is then cut off; and further characterized in that a hooking member (39) having a broad flat yoke (40) with a round hook portion (32) integrated with and oppositely directed to each end of the yoke is applied to the spinous process (23) of one vertebra (24), and two hooking members (30) each having a broad flat hook portion (31) integrated with an oppositely directed and reverse facing round hook portion (32) are applied to the lamina (47) at both sides of the spinous process (23) of another vertebra (24), the respective round hook portions (32) of the yoke (40) and the corresponding hooking members (30) engaged with the lamina (47) then being engaged by respective bights (22) of a pair of hanks (20) each of which is formed from a single strand (21) of material, with a tail (25) and an encircling ductile crimpable sleeve-like element (26), the tails (25) being pulled, the ductile crimpable sleeve-like elements (26) squeezed, and excess strand material (21) cut off, to achieve symmetrical loading.

Claim 19

A method of spinal stabilization comprising securing to two parts (23) of the spinal column respective bights (22) at the ends of a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material having part of the hank intermediate the bights encircled by at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26), with a tail (25) of the strand (21) extending from an end of the hank, and pulling the tail (25) to take up slack in the hank and tension the strand (21), characterized in that the crimpable sleeve-like element is formed of ductile material and is squeezed on the lengths of strand passing therethrough to secure the strand in its tensioned state, and in that excess strand material (21) is then cut off; and further characterized in that a hooking member (39) having a broad flat yoke (40) with a round hook portion (32) integrated with and oppositely directed to each end of the yoke is applied to the spinous process (23) of one vertebra (24), and two hooking members (30) each having a broad flat hook portion (31) integrated with an oppositely directed and reverse facing round hook portion (32) are applied to the lamina (47) at both sides of the spinous process (23) of another vertebra (24), the respective round hook portions (32) of the yoke (40) and the corresponding hooking members (30) engaged with the lamina (47) then being engaged by respective bights (22) of a pair of hanks (20) each of which is formed from a single strand (21) of material, with a tail (25) and an encircling ductile crimpable sleeve-like element (26), the tails (25) being pulled, the ductile crimpable sleeve-like elements (26) squeezed, and excess strand material (21) cut off, to achieve symmetrical loading.

Claim 20

A method of spinal stabilization comprising securing to two parts (23) of the spinal column respective bights (22) at the ends of a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material having part of the hank intermediate the bights encircled by at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26), with a tail (25) of the strand (21) extending from an end of the hank, and pulling the tail (25) to take up slack in the hank and tension the strand (21), characterized in that the crimpable sleeve-like element is formed of ductile material and is squeezed on to the lengths of strand passing therethrough to secure the strand in its tensioned state, and in that excess strand material (21) is then cut off; and further characterized in that hooking members (30), each having a broad flat hook portion (31) integrated with an oppositely directed and reverse facing round hook portion (32), are applied one to each of two vertebrae (24), with the respective flat hook portion (31) engaged with the spinous process (23) or to the lamina (47) or transverse process at one side of the spine, then engaging the bights (22) of the hank with the respective round hook portions (32) of the hooking members (30), prior to the tail (25) of the strand (21) being pulled, and excess strand material (21) cut off.

Claim 21

A method of spinal stabilization comprising securing to two parts (23) of the spinal column respective bights (22) at the ends of a hank formed from a single strand (21) of flexible biocompatible material having part of the hank intermediate the bights encircled by at least one crimpable sleeve-like element (26), with a tail (25) of the strand (21) extending from an end of the hank, and pulling the tail (25) to take up slack in the hank and tension the strand (21), characterized in that the crimpable sleeve-like element is formed of ductile material and is squeezed on to the lengths of strand passing therethrough to secure the strand in its tensioned state, and in that excess strand material (21) is then cut off; and further characterized in that hooking members (30), each having a broad flat hook portion (31) integrated with an oppositely directed and reverse facing round hook portion (32), are applied one to each of two vertebrae (24), with the respective flat hook portion (31) engaged with the spinous process (23) or to the lamina (47) or transverse process at one side of the spine, then engaging the bights (22) of the hank with the respective round hook portions (32) of the hooking members (30), prior to the tail (25) of the strand (21) being pulled, and excess strand material (21) cut off.