Spine surgery device and method
A surgical connector useful to link spine rods together. The connector may be used adjacent a pair of mounting screws in one vertebra to limit movement between the screws or may be used to apply a lateral force to a portion of the spine to change curvature. A method of performing spinal surgery is also provide to reinforce a patient's spine.
1. A cross connector system for use in spine surgery, the system including:
a first rod extending longitudinally along a spine;
a second rod extending longitudinally along the spine;
a cross connector comprising:
first and second hooks each having a throat partially defined by a respective shanks, said throats receiving the respective first rod and second rod, said throats each including an opening generally facing toward one another;
a flexible connector secured to the first hook and extending to the second hook, said first and second hooks each including a passage for receiving the flexible connector; and
a rigid connector secured to and extending between the first and second hooks to fix a distance of separation between the first hook and the second hook,
wherein the cross-connector extends generally perpendicularly to the first and second rods
wherein the flexible connector includes a first end and a second end, the second end configured as a free end that extends beyond the shank and configured to receive a tool for tensioning
wherein the rigid connector having a pair of fingers on opposite ends thereof with each pair of fingers having a channel therebetween for receiving a respective said hook shank therein.
2. The cross connector system of claim 1 wherein the hooks each including a said shank, a bight portion, a leg portion and a latch portion with the latch portion extending toward the shank forming a mouth opening into the throat with a size smaller than the throat to provide a resiliently deformable lock for retaining a rod in the throat.
3. The cross connector system of claim 1 wherein the rigid connector including a groove with an open side extending between the channels and receiving the flexible connector therein.
4. The cross connector system of claim 3 wherein the fingers forming the channels being configured to resist rotational movement of a hook shank positioned therein.
5. The cross connector system of claim 3 wherein one of said fingers on each end on the rigid connector being positioned between a respective said hook shank and a rod when a rod is positioned in a respective said throat.
6. The cross connector system of claim 3 including a fastener securing each of the hook shanks to the rigid connector.
7. The cross connector system of claim 6 wherein one of said fasteners also securing the flexible connector to the second hook.
8. The cross connector system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid connector is separable from the flexible connector.
9. The cross connector system of claim 1 , wherein the rigid connector is mounted on the flexible connector.
10. A cross connector system for use in spine surgery, the system including:
a first rod extending longitudinally along a spine;
a second rod extending longitudinally along the spine;
a cross connector comprising:
first and second hooks each having a throat partially defined by a respective shank, said throats each being adapted to receive the respective first and second rods;
a flexible connector secured to the first hook and extending to the second hook, said first and second hooks each including a passage for receiving the flexible connector;
a rigid connector secured to and extending between the first and second hooks to fix a distance of separation between the first hook and the second hook; and
a fastener for engaging the flexible connector to secure it to the second hook, wherein the cross-connector extends generally perpendicularly to the first and second rods
wherein the flexible connector includes a first end and a second end, the second end configured as a free end that extends beyond the shank and configured to receive a tool for tensioning
wherein the rigid connector has a pair of fingers on opposite ends thereof with each pair of fingers having a channel therebetween for receiving a respective said hook shank therein.
11. The cross connector system of claim 10 , wherein said throats each include an opening generally facing toward one another.
12. The cross connector system of claim 10 , wherein the rigid connector is separable from the flexible connector.