Patent ID: 7776074
Filing Date: 2010-08-17
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of aligning and stabilizing a plurality of bone elements comprising: gaining access to the bone elements; attaching respective bone fasteners to the plurality of bone elements; initially securing to a respective one of one or more aligning devices one or more of the bone fasteners that has been attached to a respective bone elements; thereafter, for each of selected ones of the other bone fasteners after the selected bone fastener has been attached to a respective bone element, (a) applying an increasing compressive force between the selected bone fastener and a respective one of the one or more aligning devices to which the selected bone fastener is to be secured with a tool engaged with the selected bone fastener and a respective one of the one or more aligning devices to which the selected bone fastener is secured to so as to incrementally bring the bone element to which the selected bone fastener is attached nearer into alignment with the respective one aligning device while measuring the magnitude of the increasing compressive force, (b) discontinuing the application of the increasing compressive force prior to the measured magnitude of the increasing compressive force reaching a selected magnitude, and (c) securing the selected bone fastener to the respective one aligning device; and securing to a respective one of the one or more aligning devices any non-selected ones of said other bone fasteners, separate from the step of applying an increasing compressive force, wherein a respective coupling member is employed to secure each of one or more of the selected bone fasteners to a respective one of the one or more aligning devices, a first portion of each coupling member being secured to a respective selected bone fastener and a second portion of each coupling member being secured to a respective one of the one or more aligning devices, and the first portion of each coupling member includes a plurality of sites at which a respective selected bone fastener may be secured and the effective length of the coupling member and the proximity of the second portion of the coupling member to a respective one of the one or more aligning devices thereby adjusted.