Patent ID: 9375239
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A method for stabilizing a spinal segment comprising a superior vertebral bone, an immediately adjacent inferior vertebral bone and an intervening intervertebral disc space, said method comprising: identifying said spinal segment using an imaging modality; creating a first corridor configured to extend through a psoas muscle and onto a lateral side surface of said intervertebral disc space; advancing a first implant at least partially into said intervertebral disc space using said first corridor; advancing a second implant through a second corridor configured to extend onto a lateral aspect of an interspinous space positioned between a spinous process of said superior vertebral bone and a spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone, said second corridor being ipsilateral to said first corridor, and said second implant comprising: advancing said second implant at least partially into said interspinous space, said first and said second bone abutment members of said second implant being positioned on opposing sides of at least one of said spinous process of said superior vertebral bone and/or said spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone; performing a first actuation of a locking mechanism of said second implant, said first actuation thereof causing rotation of said longitudinal axis of said first bone abutment member to a greater angle with respect to said longitudinal axis of said elongated body; performing a second actuation of said locking mechanism of said second implant, said second actuation thereof causing translation of said bone abutment members toward one another without further rotation of said first bone abutment member relative to said elongated body; and immobilizing said spinous process of said superior vertebral bone relative to said spinous process of said inferior vertebral bone.