Patent ID: 9439692
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A minimally invasive method of attaching a spinal fixation system to a spine of a patient, comprising the steps of: placing a first bone screw extension assembly through an incision, said first bone screw extension assembly comprising a first bone screw including a shaft having a threaded portion and a first yoke articulatingly attached to said shaft, said first yoke including a pair of upstanding opposed arms defining a first slot having a first width therebetween, and a first bone screw extension having a distal end and a proximal end, said first screw extension including a first tubular member defined by a perimetric sidewall having a first pair of opposing slots through said sidewall in alignment and communication with said first slot of said first yoke, said first screw extension being releasably engaged to said first yoke for articulation therewith; attaching said first bone extension assembly to said spine by threadably introducing said threaded portion of said shaft of said first bone screw into a first vertebra, a portion of said first tubular member and said first pair of slots being disposed exteriorly of said patient; placing a second bone screw extension assembly through an incision, said second bone screw extension assembly comprising a second bone screw including a shaft having a threaded portion and a second yoke articulatingly attached to said shaft, said second yoke including a pair of upstanding opposed arms defining a second slot having a second width therebetween, and a second bone screw extension having a distal end and a proximal end, said second screw extension including a second tubular member defined by a perimetric sidewall having a second pair of opposing slots through said sidewall in alignment and communication with said second slot of said first second yoke, said second screw extension being releasably engaged to said second yoke for articulation therewith; attaching said second bone extension assembly to said spine by threadably introducing said threaded portion of said shaft of said second bone screw into a second vertebra spaced from said first vertebra, a portion of said second tubular member and said second pair of slots being disposed exteriorly of said patient; orienting said first tubular member and said second tubular member such that a first slot of said first pair of slots is in generally facing relation to a first slot of said second pair of slots; placing a connecting element between said first tubular member and said second tubular member outside said patient, said connecting element having first and second opposite ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said connecting element including a first tab adjacent to said first end and projecting from said connecting element transversely to said longitudinal axis and a second tab adjacent to said second end and projecting from said connecting element transversely to said longitudinal axis; and manipulating said connecting element from between said first tubular member and said second tubular member such that said first tab is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of said first tubular member with a portion of said connecting element adjacent said first tab extending through said first pair of opposing slots and with said first tab extending across a second slot of said first pair of slots and such that said second tab is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of said second tubular member with a portion of said connecting element adjacent said second tab extending through said second pair of opposing slots and with said second tab extending across a second slot of said second pair of slots.