Granted Patent B2

US 12,678,202 · App. 18/765,999 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Inventors: Behrooz Akbarnia (La Jolla, CA); Burt Yaszay (San Diego, CA); Brandon Moore (Leesburg, VA); Stuart Weikel (Leesburg, VA); Clint Boyd (Leesburg, VA)

Assignee: K2M, Inc.

A61B17/7053A61B17/8869

Abstract

Claims (35)

1 . A method for securing a spinal rod to a bony element, comprising:

looping a flexible member around the bony element;

positioning the spinal rod in a first passage of a housing of unitary construction;

passing a portion of the flexible member through a second passage of the housing in a first direction, the flexible member being separable from the housing;

tensioning the flexible member about the bony element; and

advancing a securement member along an axis in a second direction transverse to the first direction to secure at least one of the spinal rod within the first passage via a third passage and the flexible member within the second passage via a fourth passage to the housing,

wherein the third passage and the fourth passage are substantially parallel.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising trimming an excess portion of the flexible member.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein tensioning the flexible member includes engaging a tensioning instrument to the flexible member and to the housing.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein tensioning the flexible member about the bony element occurs prior to advancing the securement member.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the third passage and the securement member are threaded.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the securement member is a set screw.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first passage is configured to extend circumferentially around the spinal rod received therein except at an open region.

9 . A spinal fixation method, comprising:

passing a first portion of a flexible member around a portion of a vertebra;

inserting first and second ends of the flexible member into a first passage of an implant housing;

positioning a spinal rod in a second passage of the implant housing via a third passage extending transverse to the second passage;

tensioning the flexible member with a tensioning instrument coupled to the flexible member and the implant housing; and

locking the flexible member within the first passage by threading a securement member in a fourth passage extending transverse to the first passage.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising trimming an excess portion of the flexible member.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein tensioning the flexible member about the vertebra occurs prior to advancing the securement member.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the second passage extends along a first direction and the fourth passage extends along a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the fourth passage and the securement member are threaded.

14 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the securement member is a set screw.

15 . A spinal fixation method, comprising:

passing at least one of a first end and a second end of a flexible member around a portion of a vertebra;

inserting the first and second ends of the flexible member in a first passage of an implant housing;

positioning a spinal rod in a second passage of the implant housing;

tensioning the flexible member with a tensioning instrument coupled to the flexible member and the implant housing; and

locking the spinal rod within the second passage by threading a securement member in a third passage extending transverse to the first passage.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising trimming an excess portion of the flexible member.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein tensioning the flexible member about the portion of the vertebra occurs prior to advancing the securement member.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the second passage extends along a first direction and the third passage extends along a second direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the third passage and the securement member are threaded.

Assignments (4)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (153)