Patent ID: 6293949
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for stabilizing at least a portion of a spinal column, comprising:a longitudinal member sized to span a distance between at least two vertebral bodies, said longitudinal member being at least partially formed of a shape-memory material, said shape-memory material exhibiting pseudoelastic characteristics at about body temperature;a plurality of bone anchors for securing said longitudinal member to each of said at least two vertebral bodies; andwherein said longitudinal member stabilizes said portion of the spinal column while allowing at least limited relative displacement between said at least two vertebral bodies, said longitudinal member being reformed from an initial configuration to a different configuration in response to an imposition of stress caused by said relative displacement between said at least two vertebral bodies and recovering toward said initial configuration when said stress is removed.