Patent ID: 7799053
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A spinal stabilization system, comprising: an elongated stabilization device including an elongated outer member and an elongated inner member movably received in said outer member, said inner and outer members each including a curved configuration along a longitudinal axis that extends along a length of said stabilization device between a leading end and an opposite trailing end of said stabilization device, said stabilization device further maintaining said curved configuration when in a collapsed insertion configuration and an expanded engagement configuration, wherein said curved configuration of each of said inner and outer members forms an arc along a length of said stabilization device and said arc and said longitudinal axis are co-linear along said length in each of said collapsed insertion configuration and said expanded engagement configuration, said stabilization device including a cross-section along said length with said length and cross-section sized for positioning through a pathway formable from an opening in a lateral mass of a first vertebra and into the first vertebra, through a facet joint formed by an articular surface of the first vertebra and an articular surface of an adjacent bony structure, and into the adjacent bony structure, wherein said inner member is movable in said outer member so that in said expanded engagement configuration a leading end and an opposite trailing end of said outer member are each expanded to engage bony tissue along the insertion pathway.