Bone fusion system, device and method including a measuring mechanism
First Claim
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1. A bone fusion system for inserting a bone fusion device into a desired location, the system comprising:
- an insertion instrument comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a coupling mechanism having a control shaft and a plurality of fingers configured to move between a closed position wherein the fingers are close together to a spread position wherein the fingers are farther apart based on manipulation of the control shaft;
a bone fusion device having a body and one or more extendable tabs, wherein the body of the bone fusion device is detachably coupled to the first end of the insertion instrument by the coupling mechanism; and
a measuring tool detachably coupled to the second end of the insertion instrument, the measuring tool comprising an indicating mechanism that indicates a variable tab extension value, wherein the indicating mechanism comprises an indicating screw, a screw gear coupled to the indicating screw, a ring threaded onto the indicating screw and an offset gear operably coupled to a screw gear such that rotation of the offset gear causes rotation of the indicating screw via the screw gear thereby causing the ring to move up or down the indicating screw.
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Abstract
A bone fusion method, system and device for insertion between bones that are to be fused together and/or in place of one or more of the bones, such as, for example, the vertebrae of a spinal column. The bone fusion device comprises one or more extendable tabs having a central rib. The bone fusion device includes one or more support channels configured to receive an insertion instrument that is then secured to the bone fusion device via a coupling mechanism. As a result, the coupled device is able to be securely positioned between vertebrae using the insertion instrument with minimal risk of slippage.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A bone fusion system for inserting a bone fusion device into a desired location, the system comprising:
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an insertion instrument comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a coupling mechanism having a control shaft and a plurality of fingers configured to move between a closed position wherein the fingers are close together to a spread position wherein the fingers are farther apart based on manipulation of the control shaft; a bone fusion device having a body and one or more extendable tabs, wherein the body of the bone fusion device is detachably coupled to the first end of the insertion instrument by the coupling mechanism; and a measuring tool detachably coupled to the second end of the insertion instrument, the measuring tool comprising an indicating mechanism that indicates a variable tab extension value, wherein the indicating mechanism comprises an indicating screw, a screw gear coupled to the indicating screw, a ring threaded onto the indicating screw and an offset gear operably coupled to a screw gear such that rotation of the offset gear causes rotation of the indicating screw via the screw gear thereby causing the ring to move up or down the indicating screw. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operation of a bone fusion system, the method comprising:
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providing an insertion instrument comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a coupling mechanism having a control shaft and a plurality of fingers configured to move between a closed position wherein the fingers are close together to a spread position wherein the fingers are farther apart based on manipulation of the control shaft; detachably coupling a bone fusion device to the first end of the insertion instrument using the coupling mechanism, wherein the bone fusion device comprises a body and one or more extendable tabs; detachably coupling a measuring tool to the second end of the insertion instrument, the measuring tool comprising an indicating mechanism that indicates a variable tab extension value, wherein the indicating mechanism comprises an indicating screw, a screw gear coupled to the indicating screw, a ring threaded onto the indicating screw and an offset gear operably coupled to a screw gear; and rotating the offset gear thereby causing rotation of the indicating screw via the screw gear which causes the ring to move up or down the indicating screw. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A measuring tool for use in the bone fusion device insertion system, the measuring tool comprising:
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a housing including a gear chamber and a screw chamber; a screw that extends through the screw chamber and is rotatably coupled within the housing such that the screw is able to rotate about a screw axis within the screw chamber; an indicator ring threaded onto the screw within the screw chamber such that rotation of the screw causes the ring to move up or down the screw a distance along the screw axis; a screw gear positioned within the gear chamber and coupled to an end of the screw and centered around the screw axis such that rotation of the screw gear causes rotation of the screw; and an offset gear positioned within the gear chamber offset from the screw axis and operably coupled with the screw gear such that rotation of the gear wheel causes the screw gear to correspondingly rotate, wherein a number of rotations of the screw gear in a direction is proportional to the distance moved by the ring caused by the rotation of the screw gear. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An engaging tool for use in the bone fusion device insertion system, the engaging tool comprising:
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a handle having a base; an elongated member having a first end with a contoured tip and a second end opposite the first end and coupled to the base of the handle; and an interface gear having a set of teeth and coupled to the base of the handle such that the set of teeth are centered around the elongated member, wherein the first end of the elongated member extends away from the base of the handle beyond the interface gear. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification