Laminar fixation device and method

1. A laminar fixation system for retaining a spine rod relative to a vertebra of the spine, the laminar fixation system comprising:

a laminar fixation implant defining a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a first end, and a second end, the first end having a channel forming an upper extension and a lower extension and configured to receive a spine rod, a first locking mechanism disposed in the upper extension and configured to retain the laminar fixation implant onto a spine rod, a passage extending from the second end to the first end and configured to receive laminar fixation tape, a second locking mechanism extending from the top to the passage, the second locking mechanism configured to fix laminar fixation tape relative to the laminar fixation implant; and

a laminar fixation implant installation tool comprising:

a body,

a retention mechanism for holding the laminar fixation implant during installation,

an actuator for manipulating the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant,

a sub-assembly for tensioning laminar fixation tape received in the passage of the laminar fixation implant, the sub-assembly comprising:

a threaded rod coupled to the body,

a sleeve threadably coupled to the threaded rod,

a carriage movably relative to the sleeve,

a clamp disposed on the carriage and configured to releasably retain the laminar fixation tape, and

wherein initial rotation of the sleeve in a first direction actuates the clamp to retain the laminar fixation tape, and wherein continued rotation of the sleeve in the first direction increases the tension in the laminar fixation tape.

2. The laminar fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator of the laminar fixation installation tool comprises a threaded shaft with a configured end for manipulating the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant.

3. The laminar fixation system of claim 2 , wherein the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant comprises a threaded bore extending from the top to the passage, a ball movably disposed in the threaded bore, and a set screw threadedly received in the threaded shaft axially above the movable ball, the configured end of the actuator of the laminar fixation installation tool received in the set screw, whereby rotation of the threaded shaft of the actuator axially advances the set screw in the threaded bore towards and against the ball to axially move the ball against laminar fixation tape disposed in the passage.

4. The laminar fixation system of claim 1 , wherein:

the laminar fixation implant has a first external channel on the first lateral side, and a second external channel on the second lateral side; and

the retention mechanism of the laminar fixation installation tool includes a first tang configured to releasably attach to the first external channel of the laminar fixation implant, and a second tang configured to releasably attach to the second external channel of the laminar fixation implant.

5. The laminar fixation system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second external channels of the laminar fixation implant channels are J-shaped.

6. The laminar fixation system of claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant comprises a threaded hole extending from a top surface of the upper extension to a lower surface of the upper extension, and a set screw disposed in the threaded hole.

7. The laminar fixation system of claim 1 , further comprising a shelf coupled to the sleeve and configured for translating movement along the axis of the threaded rod caused by rotation of the sleeve, wherein the clamp comprises a clamping arm having a first portion pivotally coupled to the carriage and a second portion in contact with the shelf.

8. The laminarfixation system of claim 7 , wherein the sub-assembly comprises a hex driver, whereby rotation of the hex driver in the first rotational direction moves the carriage along the threaded rod to provide tensioning of the laminar fixation tape.

9. A method of retaining a spine rod relative to a vertebra comprising:

providing a laminar fixation system having:

a laminar fixation implant defining a top, a bottom, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a first end, and a second end, the first end having a channel forming an upper extension and a lower extension and configured to receive a spine rod, a first locking mechanism disposed in the upper extension and configured to retain the laminar fixation implant onto a spine rod, a passage extending from the second end to the first end and configured to receive laminar fixation tape, a second locking mechanism extending from the top to the passage, the second locking mechanism configured to fix laminar fixation tape relative to the laminar fixation implant; and

a laminar fixation implant installation tool comprising:

a body,

a retention mechanism for holding the laminar fixation implant during installation,

an actuator for manipulating the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant,

a sub-assembly for tensioning laminar fixation tape received in the passage of the laminar fixation implant, the sub-assembly comprising:

a threaded rod coupled to the body,

a sleeve threadably coupled to the threaded rod,

a carriage movably relative to the sleeve,

a clamp disposed on the carriage and configured to releasably retain the laminar fixation tape, and

wherein initial rotation of the sleeve in a first direction actuates the clamp to retain the laminar fixation tape, and wherein continued rotation of the sleeve in the first direction increases the tension in the laminar fixation tape;

providing laminar fixation tape;

clamping the laminar fixation implant onto a spine rod using the first locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant;

threading the laminar fixation tape through the passage of the laminar fixation implant;

threading the laminar fixation tape into the tensioning sub-assembly;

looping the laminar fixation tape around a lamina of a vertebra;

tensioning the laminar fixation tape using the tensioning sub-assembly; and fixing the laminar fixation tape relative to the laminarfixation implant via the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the actuator of the laminar fixation installation tool comprises a threaded shaft with a configured end for manipulating the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant comprises a threaded bore extending from the top to the passage, a ball movably disposed in the threaded bore, and a set screw threadedly received in the threaded shaft axially above the movable ball, the configured end of the actuator of the laminar fixation installation tool received in the set screw, whereby rotation of the threaded shaft of the actuator axially advances the set screw in the threaded bore towards and against the ball to axially move the ball against laminar fixation tape disposed in the passage.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

the laminar fixation implant has a first external channel on the first lateral side, and a second external channel on the second lateral side; and

the retention mechanism of the laminar fixation installation tool includes a first tang configured to releasably attach to the first external channel of the laminar fixation implant, and a second tang configured to releasably attach to the second external channel of the laminar fixation implant.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first and second external channels of the laminar fixation implant channels are J-shaped.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first locking mechanism of the laminar fixation implant comprises a threaded hole extending from a top surface of the upper extension to a lower surface of the upper extension, and a set screw disposed in the threaded hole.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the tensioning sub-assembly comprises: a drive mechanism associated with the carriage and configured to move the carriage through manual actuation.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the drive mechanism of the sub-assembly comprises a hex driver, whereby rotation of the hex driver in the first rotational direction moves the carriage along the threaded rod to provide tensioning of the laminar fixation tape.