Patent ID: 9592132
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: A61F

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing a spinal fusion system comprising: providing segments including a first segment and a second segment, the segments having circumferentially closed through holes and guide holes both extended therethrough, the circumferentially closed through holes including a first conduit vertically offset from a second conduit; coupling the first segment to the second segment with a flexible member threaded through the circumferentially closed through holes, the flexible member configured to have a deformable state based upon a temperature of the flexible member being below a transition temperature range or based upon a stress being applied to the flexible member, and the flexible member configured to enter a shape-set state from the deformable state based on the temperature of the flexible member rising above the transition temperature range, or based upon the stress being removed from the flexible member and the temperature of the flexible member being above the transition temperature range; and inserting a mandrel into the guide holes, the mandrel having a rounded tip extended beyond the segments, the rounded tip useful for distracting vertebra during a spinal fusion procedure, the guide holes positioned nearer to radially inner sides of the segments than the flexible member, the radially inner sides being sides of the segments located closer to a center of an arc than radially outer sides of the segments based on the segments being in a curved configuration, and the radially inner sides having a shorter length than the radially outer sides.