US 12,167,874 B2
Surgical tether apparatus and methods of use
Todd Alamin, Woodside, CA (US); Louis Fielding, San Carlos, CA (US); Colin Cahill, Portola Valley, CA (US); and Manish Kothari, San Carlos, CA (US)
Assigned to Empirical Spine, Inc., Woodside, CA (US)
Filed by Emirical Spine, Inc., Woodside, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/428,996.
Application 18/428,996 is a continuation of application No. 17/519,640, filed on Nov. 5, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/519,640 is a continuation of application No. 16/401,921, filed on May 2, 2019, abandoned.
Application 16/401,921 is a continuation of application No. 15/400,745, filed on Jan. 6, 2017, granted, now 10,314,623, issued on Jun. 11, 2019.
Application 15/400,745 is a continuation of application No. 15/053,688, filed on Feb. 25, 2016, abandoned.
Application 15/053,688 is a continuation of application No. 14/796,874, filed on Jul. 10, 2015, abandoned.
Application 14/796,874 is a continuation of application No. 14/024,456, filed on Sep. 11, 2013, granted, now 9,107,706, issued on Aug. 18, 2015.
Application 14/024,456 is a continuation of application No. 12/721,198, filed on Mar. 10, 2010, granted, now 8,562,653, issued on Oct. 22, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/158,892, filed on Mar. 10, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2024/0238014 A1, Jul. 18, 2024
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7067 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7053 (2013.01); A61B 17/7055 (2013.01); A61B 17/7062 (2013.01); A61B 17/7064 (2013.01); A61B 2017/564 (2013.01); A61B 17/7097 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A spinal treatment system comprising:
a prosthesis adapted to be coupled with a spinal segment in a spine, wherein the prosthesis comprises a plurality of pedicle screws and a spinal stabilization rod coupled thereto, the plurality of pedicle screws configured to be threadably engaged with a pair of vertebrae to be fused in a spinal segment of the spine; and
a constraint device comprising an essentially non-compliant upper tether portion, an essentially non-compliant lower tether portion and an elastically distensible compliance member coupled therebetween,
the constraint device being configured to be disposed around a superior surface of a superior spinous process superior to the fused region and also around an inferior surface of an inferior spinous process that is part of superior region of the fused region, with the upper tether portion coupled with the superior spinous process and the lower tether portion operatively coupled with the inferior vertebrae of the spinal segment, to restrict flexion of the spinal segment supradjacent to the fused region, and
wherein length or tension in the constraint device is adjustable to provide a force resistant to flexion of the spine superior to the pair of vertebrae to be fused, wherein the prosthesis and the constraint device are not directly coupled to one another.