Patent ID: 9451987
Filing Date: 2016-09-27
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. A spinal correction system for correcting a spinal deformity of a patient's spinal column, the patient's spinal column including a first vertebra and a second vertebra and having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the spinal correction system comprising: a first rod adapted to extend longitudinally along the first side of the spinal column of the patient; a second rod adapted to extend longitudinally along the second side of the spinal column of the patient; a transverse coupler adapted to couple the first rod and the second rod such that the first rod and the second rod are constrained against substantial lateral translation relative to one another; a first rod anchor adapted to be fixed to the first vertebra of the spinal column at an inferior position relative to the transverse coupler, the first rod anchor coupled to the first rod such that the first rod is secured against substantial lateral translation relative to the first rod anchor while allowing the first rod to change alignment relative to the first rod anchor; a second rod anchor adapted to be fixed to the second vertebra of the spinal column at a superior position relative to the transverse coupler, the second rod anchor coupled to the first rod such that the first rod is secured against substantial lateral translation relative to the first rod anchor while allowing the first rod to change alignment relative to the second rod anchor; a third rod anchor adapted to be fixed to a second side inferior vertebra of the spinal column at an inferior position relative to the transverse coupler, the third rod anchor coupled to the second rod such that the second rod is secured against substantial lateral translation relative to the third rod anchor while allowing the second rod to change alignment relative to the third rod anchor; and a fourth rod anchor adapted to be fixed to a second side superior vertebra of the spinal column at a superior position relative to the transverse coupler, the fourth rod anchor coupled to the second rod such that the second rod is secured against substantial lateral translation relative to the fourth rod anchor while allowing the second rod change alignment relative to the fourth rod anchor, wherein at a first point in time during a deformity correction, the first and second rods are free to change in at least pitch, yaw and roll relative to the transverse coupler, and at a second, different point in time after the deformity correction, the first and second rods are prevented from changing in pitch, yaw, and roll relative to the transverse coupler.