Patent ID: 8870879
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A minimally invasive method for achieving spinal stabilization, the method including the following steps: implanting a pedicle screw into each vertebra of a portion of the spine to be stabilized, each pedicle screw implanted through a unique incision, each pedicle screw having a head including a first end, and a second end opposed to the first end, aligning each pedicle screw such that a corresponding longitudinal axis of each pedicle screw is parallel to each other and a corresponding passage provided in each pedicle screw is aligned along a longitudinal axis of the spine, subcutaneously threading a suture through the corresponding passage in each pedicle screw by: withdrawing a leading end of the suture from the body through an access incision, subcutaneously threading a hollow pedicle rod through the passage of each pedicle screw by passing the pedicle rod along the suture through the access incision into the body and through each respective passage such that the pedicle rod spans all implanted pedicle screws, and securing the pedicle rod relative to each pedicle screw.