Method and device for fixing and correcting spondylolisthesis anteriorly

Claim 1

An apparatus for securing one vertebra to another in a living vertebrate animal across an interposed disk, the device including: (a) a rigid disk cage sized to fit within an interdiscal space to support adjacent vertebrae; (b) an elongated screw; and (c) said disk cage including an angled bore therethrough constructed and arranged such that said screw may pass therethrough such that it would enter one vertebra anteriorly, pass into said disk cage and into the adjacent vertebra to cross-pin said vertebra to said disk cage.

Claim 2

An apparatus for securing one vertebra to another in a living vertebrate animal across an interposed disk, the device including: (a) a rigid disk cage sized to fit within an interdiscal space to support adjacent vertebrae; (b) an elongated screw; and (c) said disk cage including an angled bore therethrough constructed and arranged such that said screw may pass therethrough such that it would enter one vertebra anteriorly, pass into said disk cage and into the adjacent vertebra to cross-pin said vertebra to said disk cage.

Claim 12

An apparatus for securing one vertebra to another in a living vertebrate animal across an interposed disk, the device including: (a) a rigid disk cage sized to fit within an interdiscal space to support adjacent vertebrae, said cage including an upper and a lower surface, a pair of opposing sides and a ventral and dorsal end; (b) an elongated screw; and (c) said disk cage including an angled bore through said upper and lower surfaces constructed and arranged such that said screw may pass therethrough such that it would enter one vertebra anteriorly, pass into and through said disk cage and into the adjacent vertebra to cross-pin said vertebra to said disk cage.

Claim 13

An apparatus for securing one vertebra to another in a living vertebrate animal across an interposed disk, the device including: (a) a rigid disk cage sized to fit within an interdiscal space to support adjacent vertebrae, said cage including an upper and a lower surface, a pair of opposing sides and a ventral and dorsal end; (b) an elongated screw; and (c) said disk cage including an angled bore through said upper and lower surfaces constructed and arranged such that said screw may pass therethrough such that it would enter one vertebra anteriorly, pass into and through said disk cage and into the adjacent vertebra to cross-pin said vertebra to said disk cage.

Claim 20

A method for anteriorly correcting spondylolisthesis comprising the steps of: (a) exposing adjacent vertebrae and the disk therebetween anteriorly; (b) reaming out said disk to create and interdiscal space; (c) lifting and realigning the adjacent vertebra as required; (d) inserting a disk cage into the interdiscal space to provide a rigid support across the adjacent vertebrae; (e) drilling an opening through one vertebra, through an angled opening in said disk a cage and into said adjacent vertebra; and (f) inserting an elongated screw through said opening to cross-pin said disk cage to said adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 21

A method for anteriorly correcting spondylolisthesis comprising the steps of: (a) exposing adjacent vertebrae and the disk therebetween anteriorly; (b) reaming out said disk to create and interdiscal space; (c) lifting and realigning the adjacent vertebra as required; (d) inserting a disk cage into the interdiscal space to provide a rigid support across the adjacent vertebrae; (e) drilling an opening through one vertebra, through an angled opening in said disk a cage and into said adjacent vertebra; and (f) inserting an elongated screw through said opening to cross-pin said disk cage to said adjacent vertebrae.

Claim 22

A system for fixing and correcting spondylolisthesis anteriorly comprising: a) an instrument having a pair of linked arms each having a free end and each further having a sharp projection located upon the free end; a slide member supported upon said linked arms and being freely moveable along the length of said linked arms; said slide member having a plurality of push members oriented in the direction opposite to that of the sharp projections; a central rod attached to the linked arms through a central opening and being further attached to the slide member; and a depth adjustment mechanism having the means to fix the position of the slide member along the linked arms; b) a substantially hollow disk cage having an opening therethrough and a plurality of side holes; said disk cage further having an upper and a lower surface which each contain one or more guide holes; c) an insertion tool having an elongated body, said elongated body having a head constructed and manufactured to be of determinable size and shape so that said head can fasten to said opening of the disk cage; d) a drill guide having a means for fastening to the opening of the disk cage; said drill guide further having a hollow shaft mounted to the fastening means so that when the drill guide is properly fastened to the disk cage the hollow shaft will be in linear alignment with the guide holes of the disk cage; and e) an elongated screw constructed and arranged to pass through said guide holes of said disk cage.

Claim 23

A system for fixing and correcting spondylolisthesis anteriorly comprising: a) an instrument having a pair of linked arms each having a free end and each further having a sharp projection located upon the free end; a slide member supported upon said linked arms and being freely moveable along the length of said linked arms; said slide member having a plurality of push members oriented in the direction opposite to that of the sharp projections; a central rod attached to the linked arms through a central opening and being further attached to the slide member; and a depth adjustment mechanism having the means to fix the position of the slide member along the linked arms; b) a substantially hollow disk cage having an opening therethrough and a plurality of side holes; said disk cage further having an upper and a lower surface which each contain one or more guide holes; c) an insertion tool having an elongated body, said elongated body having a head constructed and manufactured to be of determinable size and shape so that said head can fasten to said opening of the disk cage; d) a drill guide having a means for fastening to the opening of the disk cage; said drill guide further having a hollow shaft mounted to the fastening means so that when the drill guide is properly fastened to the disk cage the hollow shaft will be in linear alignment with the guide holes of the disk cage; and e) an elongated screw constructed and arranged to pass through said guide holes of said disk cage.

Claim 26

A method of correcting and fixing spondylolisthesis anteriorly comprising: (a) placing a distracting tool against and between two adjacent vertebrae at the point where said vertebrae are in misalignment; (b) realigning said vertebrae by utilizing the distraction tool to lift and distract one vertebra from the adjacent vertebra thereby increasing the gap between said vertebrae; (c) reaming out the disk between said vertebrae to create an interdiscal space; (d) inserting an insertion device into a disk cage, said disk cage including an angled through guide hole therethrough; (e) placing the disk cage into the interdiscal space; (f) aligning said disk cage by placing the guide holes of said disk cage in alignment with the vertebrae surrounding said disk cage; (g) removing of said insertion device from the disk cage; (h) removing said distracting tool from said adjacent vertebrae; (I) mounting a drill guide into said disk cage to position said drill guide to be in linear alignment with said disk cage guide holes; (j) drilling a hole through said drill guide anteriorly into a vertebra at an angle sufficient to lead a drill bit through the guide hole of the drill cage and into the adjacent vertebra; (k) removing said drill bit and drill guide from said disk cage; and (l) inserting a screw into the hole running between both vertebra thereby cross-pinning the adjacent vertebrae together through the disk cage and screw.

Claim 27

A method of correcting and fixing spondylolisthesis anteriorly comprising: (a) placing a distracting tool against and between two adjacent vertebrae at the point where said vertebrae are in misalignment; (b) realigning said vertebrae by utilizing the distraction tool to lift and distract one vertebra from the adjacent vertebra thereby increasing the gap between said vertebrae; (c) reaming out the disk between said vertebrae to create an interdiscal space; (d) inserting an insertion device into a disk cage, said disk cage including an angled through guide hole therethrough; (e) placing the disk cage into the interdiscal space; (f) aligning said disk cage by placing the guide holes of said disk cage in alignment with the vertebrae surrounding said disk cage; (g) removing of said insertion device from the disk cage; (h) removing said distracting tool from said adjacent vertebrae; (I) mounting a drill guide into said disk cage to position said drill guide to be in linear alignment with said disk cage guide holes; (j) drilling a hole through said drill guide anteriorly into a vertebra at an angle sufficient to lead a drill bit through the guide hole of the drill cage and into the adjacent vertebra; (k) removing said drill bit and drill guide from said disk cage; and (l) inserting a screw into the hole running between both vertebra thereby cross-pinning the adjacent vertebrae together through the disk cage and screw.

Claim 28

A method of correcting and fixing spondylolisthesis anteriorly comprising: (a) placing a distracting tool against and between two adjacent vertebrae at the point where said vertebrae are in misalignment; (b) realigning said vertebrae by utilizing the distraction tool to lift and distract one vertebra from the adjacent vertebra thereby increasing the gap between said vertebrae; (c) reaming out a disk between said vertebrae to create an interdiscal space; (d) inserting an insertion device into a disk cage, said disk cage being prismoidal in shape and having a first pair of opposing surfaces that are spaced closer together than a second pair of generally opposing surfaces; (e) placing the disk cage into said interdiscal space with the first pair of opposing surfaces against said vertebrae; (f) rotating said disk cage through application of torque to said insertion device until said second pair of opposing surfaces are against said vertebrae to thereby firmly seat said disk cage between said vertebrae; (g) aligning said disk cage by placing the guide holes of said disk cage in alignment with the vertebrae surrounding said disk cage; (h) removing of said insertion device from the disk cage; (I) removing said distracting tool from said adjacent vertebrae; (j) mounting a drill guide into said disk cage to position said drill guide to be in linear alignment with said disk cage guide holes; (k) drilling a hole through said drill guide anteriorly into a vertebra at an angle sufficient to lead a drill bit through the guide hole of the drill cage and into the adjacent vertebra; (l) removing said drill bit and drill guide from said disk cage; (m) inserting a screw into the hole running between both vertebra thereby cross-pinning the adjacent vertebrae together through the disk cage and screw. (n) aligning said disk cage thereby placing the guide holes of said disk cage in alignment with the vertebrae surrounding said disk cage; (o) applying bone ingrowth medium into said disk cage and said hollow screw to thereby encourage formation of bone and fibrous fusions between both vertebra across said disk.

Claim 29

A method of correcting and fixing spondylolisthesis anteriorly comprising: (a) placing a distracting tool against and between two adjacent vertebrae at the point where said vertebrae are in misalignment; (b) realigning said vertebrae by utilizing the distraction tool to lift and distract one vertebra from the adjacent vertebra thereby increasing the gap between said vertebrae; (c) reaming out a disk between said vertebrae to create an interdiscal space; (d) inserting an insertion device into a disk cage, said disk cage being prismoidal in shape and having a first pair of opposing surfaces that are spaced closer together than a second pair of generally opposing surfaces; (e) placing the disk cage into said interdiscal space with the first pair of opposing surfaces against said vertebrae; (f) rotating said disk cage through application of torque to said insertion device until said second pair of opposing surfaces are against said vertebrae to thereby firmly seat said disk cage between said vertebrae; (g) aligning said disk cage by placing the guide holes of said disk cage in alignment with the vertebrae surrounding said disk cage; (h) removing of said insertion device from the disk cage; (I) removing said distracting tool from said adjacent vertebrae; (j) mounting a drill guide into said disk cage to position said drill guide to be in linear alignment with said disk cage guide holes; (k) drilling a hole through said drill guide anteriorly into a vertebra at an angle sufficient to lead a drill bit through the guide hole of the drill cage and into the adjacent vertebra; (l) removing said drill bit and drill guide from said disk cage; (m) inserting a screw into the hole running between both vertebra thereby cross-pinning the adjacent vertebrae together through the disk cage and screw. (n) aligning said disk cage thereby placing the guide holes of said disk cage in alignment with the vertebrae surrounding said disk cage; (o) applying bone ingrowth medium into said disk cage and said hollow screw to thereby encourage formation of bone and fibrous fusions between both vertebra across said disk.