Patent ID: 6558386
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61N

Abstract:
A method of treating a series of adjacent vertebrae located within a human lumbar and sacral spine having an anterior aspect, a posterior aspect and an axial aspect, the vertebrae separated by intact or damaged spinal discs, the method comprising the steps of:accessing an anterior sacral position of the anterior surface of a sacral vertebra through pre-sacral space; boring an anterior axial bore extending along a visualized, axial instrumentation/fusion line extending in said axial aspect through the series of adjacent vertebral bodies, the anterior axial bore having a caudal axial bore opening through the anterior surface of the sacrum and extending cephalad through at least two vertebral bodies, comprising at least cephalad and caudal vertebral bodies, and any intervening spinal discs; providing a spinal implant comprising an elongated spinal implant body formed of a bio-compatible material extending between a cephalad spinal implant body end that is dimensioned and configured to be inserted through said caudal axial bore opening and advanced in the cephalad direction to be seated in the cephalad bore end and a caudal spinal implant body portion that is dimensioned and configured to fit within the axial bore traversing the caudal vertebral body; and implanting said elongated spinal implant into said axial bore to extend cephalad and axially through the vertebral bodies of the series of adjacent vertebrae and any intervening spinal discs.