Spinal stabilization installation instrumentation and methods

1. A method of installing a vertebral stabilization system, the method comprising:

inserting an installation tool through an incision toward a vertebral body of a first vertebra such that a distal end of the installation tool is positioned proximate the vertebral body of the first vertebra, the installation tool including an anchoring mechanism proximate the distal end of the installation tool, the anchoring mechanism including a first anchor and a second anchor located in the anchoring mechanism as the distal end of the installation tool including the anchoring mechanism is inserted through the incision;

securing a flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the first vertebra with the first anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the first vertebra;

moving the distal end of the installation tool to a position proximate a vertebral body of a second vertebra without removing the installation tool from the incision; and

securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the second vertebra with the second anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the second vertebra.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible implant member is inserted through the incision through a conduit of the installation tool.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the flexible implant member is positioned in the conduit prior to inserting the installation tool through the incision.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchoring mechanism is actuated with a handle of the installation tool positioned exterior of the incision.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incision is a lateral incision.

6. A method of installing a vertebral stabilization system, the method comprising:

inserting an installation tool through an incision toward a vertebral body of a first vertebra such that a distal end of the installation tool is positioned proximate the vertebral body of the first vertebra, the installation tool including an anchoring mechanism proximate the distal end of the installation tool;

securing a flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the first vertebra with a first anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the first vertebra;

moving the distal end of the installation tool to a position proximate a vertebral body of a second vertebra without removing the installation tool from the incision; and

securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the second vertebra with a second anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the second vertebra;

wherein the flexible implant member is inserted through the incision through a conduit of the installation tool; and

wherein the flexible implant member is positioned in the conduit prior to inserting the installation tool through the incision.

7. A method of installing a vertebral stabilization system, the method comprising:

inserting an installation tool through an incision toward a vertebral body of a first vertebra such that a distal end of the installation tool is positioned proximate the vertebral body of the first vertebra, the installation tool including an anchoring mechanism proximate the distal end of the installation tool;

securing a flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the first vertebra with a first anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the first vertebra;

moving the distal end of the installation tool to a position proximate a vertebral body of a second vertebra without removing the installation tool from the incision;

securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the second vertebra with a second anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the second vertebra;

wherein the flexible implant member is inserted through the incision through a conduit of the installation tool; and

advancing a portion of the flexible implant member out of the conduit while moving the distal end of the installation tool to the position proximate the vertebral body of the second vertebra.

8. A method of installing a vertebral stabilization system, the method comprising:

inserting an installation tool through an incision toward a vertebral body of a first vertebra such that a distal end of the installation tool is positioned proximate the vertebral body of the first vertebra, the installation tool including an anchoring mechanism proximate the distal end of the installation tool;

securing a flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the first vertebra with a first anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the first vertebra;

moving the distal end of the installation tool to a position proximate a vertebral body of a second vertebra without removing the installation tool from the incision; and

securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral body of the second vertebra with a second anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the second vertebra; and

cutting away an excess portion of the flexible implant member after securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral bodies of the first and second vertebrae.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of:

withdrawing the excess portion of the flexible implant member while withdrawing the installation tool from the incision.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the excess portion of the flexible implant member is positioned in a conduit of the installation tool while the installation tool is withdrawn from the incision.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the flexible implant member is inserted through the incision through a conduit of the installation tool.

12. A method of installing a vertebral stabilization system, the method comprising:

inserting an installation tool through an incision toward a vertebral body of a first vertebra such that a distal end of the installation tool is positioned proximate the vertebral body of the first vertebra, the installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending from the handle portion to the distal end of the installation tool, the shaft including a conduit for directing a flexible implant member and an anchoring mechanism proximate the distal end of the installation tool;

securing a first portion of a flexible implant member extending from the conduit at the distal end of the installation tool to the vertebral body of the first vertebra with a first anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the first vertebra;

advancing a second portion of the flexible implant member out of the conduit while moving the distal end of the installation tool to a position proximate a vertebral body of a second vertebra without removing the installation tool from the incision;

tensioning the second portion of the flexible implant member between the vertebral bodies of the first and second vertebrae; and

securing a third portion of a flexible implant member extending from the conduit at the distal end of the installation tool to the vertebral body of the second vertebra with a second anchor expelled from the anchoring mechanism into the vertebral body of the second vertebra.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the flexible implant member is directed away from a longitudinal axis of the shaft of the installation tool while the second portion of the flexible implant member is advanced out of the conduit.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein a distal portion of the conduit curves away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the installation tool proximate the distal end of the installation tool to direct the flexible implant member away from the longitudinal axis of the shaft of the installation tool.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of:

cutting away an excess portion of the flexible implant member after securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral bodies of the first and second vertebrae.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the installation tool includes a cutter actuated with a handle of the handle portion of the installation tool for cutting away the excess portion of the flexible implant member.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first and second anchors are positioned in a cartridge of the anchoring mechanism proximate the distal end of the installation tool prior to inserting the installation tool through the incision.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first and second anchors are staples.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising the step of:

actuating a first handle of the handle portion of the installation tool to advance the second portion of the flexible implant member out of the conduit.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the step of:

actuating a second handle of the handle portion of the installation tool to expel the first anchor from the anchoring mechanism.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising the step of:

actuating the second handle of the handle portion of the installation tool to expel the second anchor from the anchoring mechanism.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising the step of:

actuating a third handle of the handle portion of the installation tool to cut away an excess portion of the flexible implant member after securing the flexible implant member to the vertebral bodies of the first and second vertebrae.