Systems, kits and methods for treatment of the spinal column using elongate support members
A system, kit and method are provided for treatment of the spinal column, including a plurality of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column wherein at least one of the elongate support elements is formed of a first material and at least one other of the elongate support elements is formed of a second material different from the first material, with the first material having a modulus of elasticity that is different from that of the second material. A plurality of fixation elements are provided which are configured to engage a number of the elongate support elements to the spinal column and which are formed of a third material that is bio-compatible with each of the first and second materials.
1 . A surgical kit for treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
a plurality of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column, at least one of said elongate support elements formed of a first material, at least one other of said elongate support elements formed of a second material different from said first material; and
a plurality of fixation elements configured to engage a number of said elongate support elements to the spinal column.
2 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said first material has a first modulus of elasticity, said second material having a second modulus of elasticity different from said first modulus of elasticity.
3 . The surgical kit of claim 2 , wherein a ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 1.05.
4 . The surgical kit of claim 3 , wherein said ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 1.25.
5 . The surgical kit of claim 4 , wherein said ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 2.
6 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a plastic material.
7 . The surgical kit of claim 6 , wherein said first material is commercially pure titanium.
8 . The surgical kit of claim 6 , wherein said first material is PEEK.
9 . The surgical kit of claim 6 , wherein said second material is an alloy comprising Co and Cr.
10 . The surgical kit of claim 9 , wherein said second material is Cr-Co.
11 . The surgical kit of claim 6 , wherein said second modulus of elasticity of said second material is substantially similar to the modulus of elasticity of stainless steel.
12 . The surgical kit of claim 6 , wherein said second material is a titanium alloy.
13 . The surgical kit of claim 12 , wherein said titanium alloy is Ti-6Al-4V.
14 . The surgical kit of claim 6 , wherein said second material is MP35N.
15 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said first material is titanium; and
wherein said second material is selected from the group consisting of Cr-Co, Co-Cr-Mo, Ti-6Al-4V, and MP35N.
16 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said first material is titanium; and
wherein said second material is a plastic material.
17 . The surgical kit of claim 16 , wherein said plastic material is PEEK.
18 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said elongate support elements comprise spinal rods.
19 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said fixation elements comprise bone screws.
20 . The surgical kit of claim 19 , wherein said fixation elements further comprise a number of connector elements for coupling said bone screws to said elongate support elements.
21 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said fixation elements comprise spinal hooks.
22 . The surgical kit of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fixation elements are formed of a third material that is bio-compatible with each of said first and second materials.
23 . The surgical kit of claim 22 , wherein said first and second materials are each titanium-compatible materials; and
wherein said third material is selected from the group consisting of titanium, a titanium alloy, and an alloy comprising Co and Cr.
24 . The surgical kit of claim 22 , wherein said first and second materials are selected from the group consisting of titanium, a titanium alloy, MP35N, an alloy comprising Co and Cr, and PEEK.
25 . A system for treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
a plurality of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column, at least one of said elongate support elements formed of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity, at least one other of said elongate support elements formed of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity different from said first modulus of elasticity; and
a plurality of fixation elements configured to engage a number of said elongate support elements to the spinal column.
26 . The system of claim 25 , wherein a ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 1.05.
27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein said ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 2.
28 . The system of claim 25 , wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a plastic material.
29 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said second material is an alloy comprising Co and Cr.
30 . The system of claim 28 , wherein said second material is a titanium alloy.
31 . The system of claim 25 , wherein said first material is titanium; and
wherein said second material is selected from the group consisting of Cr-Co, Co-Cr-Mo, Ti-6Al-4V and MP35N.
32 . The system of claim 25 , wherein said first material is titanium; and
wherein said second material is a plastic material.
33 . The system of claim 25 , wherein said plurality of fixation elements are formed of a third material that is bio-compatible with each of said first and second materials.
34 . The system of claim 33 , wherein said third material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a titanium alloy.
35 . A system for controlling inventory of instrumentation used in association with treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
a first product inventory of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column and formed of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity;
a second product inventory of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column and formed of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity different from said first modulus of elasticity; and
a third product inventory of fixation elements configured to engage at least one of said elongate support elements to the spinal column and formed of a third material that is bio-compatible with each of said first and second materials.
36 . The system of claim 35 , wherein a ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 1.05.
37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein said ratio between said first modulus of elasticity and said second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 2.
38 . The system of claim 35 , wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a plastic material.
39 . The system of claim 38 , wherein said second material is an alloy comprising Co and Cr.
40 . The system of claim 38 , wherein said second modulus of elasticity of said second material is substantially similar to the modulus of elasticity of stainless steel.
41 . The system of claim 38 , wherein said second material is a titanium alloy.
42 . The system of claim 35 , wherein said first material is titanium; and
wherein said second material is selected from the group consisting of Cr-Co, Co-Cr-Mo, Ti-6Al-4V and MP35N.
43 . The system of claim 35 , wherein said first material is titanium; and
wherein said second material is a plastic material.
44 . The system of claim 35 , wherein said third material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a titanium alloy.
45 . A method of controlling inventory of instrumentation used in association with treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
providing a first product inventory of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column and formed of a first material having a first modulus of elasticity; x
providing a second product inventory of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column and formed of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity different from the first modulus of elasticity; and
providing a third product inventory of fixation elements configured to engage at least one of the elongate support elements to the spinal column and formed of a third material that is bio-compatible with each of the first and second materials.
46 . The method of claim 45 , wherein a ratio between the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 1.05.
47 . The method of claim 46 , wherein the ratio between the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 2.
48 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the first material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a plastic material.
49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the second material is an alloy comprising Co and Cr.
50 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the second material is a titanium alloy.
51 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the first material is titanium; and
wherein the second material is selected from the group consisting of Cr-Co, Co-Cr-Mo, Ti-6Al-4V and MP35N.
52 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the first material is titanium; and
wherein the second material is a plastic material.
53 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the third material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a titanium alloy.
54 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising:
determining a desired degree of stiffness associated with a spinal construct assembly for use in the treatment of the spinal column;
selecting at least one elongate support element from one of the first and second product inventories of elongate support elements having a modulus of elasticity corresponding to the desired degree of stiffness associated with the spinal construct assembly;
selecting at least two of the fixation elements from the third product inventory of fixation elements; and
anchoring the at least one elongate support element to at least two vertebrae using at least two of the fixation elements to form the spinal construct assembly exhibiting the desired degree of stiffness.
55 . A method of controlling inventory of instrumentation used in association with treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
providing a first product inventory of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column and formed of titanium;
providing a second product inventory of elongate support elements configured for placement across multiple levels of the spinal column and formed of an alloy comprising Co and Cr; and
providing a third product inventory of fixation elements configured to engage at least one of the elongate support elements to the spinal column and formed of titanium.
56 . The method of claim 55 , further comprising:
determining a desired degree of stiffness associated with a spinal construct assembly for use in the treatment of the spinal column;
selecting at least one elongate support element from one of the first and second product inventories of elongate support elements having a modulus of elasticity corresponding to the desired degree of stiffness associated with the spinal construct assembly;
selecting at least two of the fixation elements from the third product inventory of fixation elements; and
anchoring the at least one elongate support element to at least two vertebrae using at least two of the fixation elements to form the spinal construct assembly exhibiting the desired degree of stiffness.
57 . A method of providing a spinal construct for use in association with treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
determining a desired degree of stiffness associated with a spinal construct assembly for use in the treatment of the spinal column;
selecting at least one elongate support element formed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium and an alloy comprising Co and Cr; and
anchoring the at least one elongate support element to at least two vertebrae using at least two fixation elements formed of titanium to form the spinal construct assembly exhibiting the desired degree of stiffness.
58 . A method of providing a spinal construct for use in association with treatment of the spinal column, comprising:
determining a desired degree of stiffness associated with a spinal construct assembly for use in the treatment of the spinal column;
selecting at least one elongate support element formed of a material selected from the group consisting of a first titanium-compatible material having a first modulus of elasticity and a second titanium-compatible material having a second modulus of elasticity different from the first modulus of elasticity; and
anchoring the at least one elongate support element to at least two vertebrae using at least two fixation elements formed of a third titanium-compatible material to form the spinal construct assembly exhibiting the desired degree of stiffness.
59 . The method of claim 58 , wherein a ratio between the first modulus of elasticity and the second modulus of elasticity is at least about 1 to 1.05.
60 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the first titanium-compatible material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a plastic material.
61 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the second titanium-compatible material is an alloy comprising Co and Cr.
62 . The method of claim 60 , wherein the second titanium-compatible material is a titanium alloy.
63 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the first titanium-compatible material is titanium; and
wherein the second titanium-compatible material is selected from the group consisting of Cr-Co, Co-Cr-Mo, Ti-6Al-4V and MP35N.
64 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the first titanium-compatible material is titanium; and
wherein the second titanium-compatible material is a plastic material.
65 . The method of claim 58 , wherein the third titanium-compatible material is selected from the group consisting of titanium and a titanium alloy.