Implant inserter having a laterally-extending dovetail engagement feature

• US 10,369,015 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2012
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Gamache, Thomas, Sorrenti, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Olivia C
• Application Number:
  US13/364,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20120150301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,743 Days
• Field of Search: 606 99, 811776
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1631 Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/80 Cortical plates , i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/808 Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00309 Cut-outs or slits
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0256 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30578 having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30782 inclined obliquely
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30823 having the shape of a reverse dovetail
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4627 with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4635 using minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4687 : Mechanical guides for implantation instruments

Abstract

A spinal implant inserter having a) an outer sleeve having a bore, and b) a forked inner shaft having a proximal rod and a pair of distal tynes extending therefrom, each distal tyne comprising an engagement feature having a laterally-extending dovetail feature. An assembly comprising the implant inserter and an implant having a pair of mating dovetail features.

Claims

1. A flexible bone screw driver comprising:

a) a proximal handle,

b) an intermediate shaft,

c) a flexible distal end portion comprising a plurality of interlocking segments portion defining a periphery and a distal tip adapted to engage a screw head, and

d) a flexible pre-bent sleeve that is configured to be placed radially over and around the plurality of interlocking segments to provide a loaded configuration,

wherein the plurality of interlocking segments portion is substantially straight in its unloaded configuration,

whereby the pre-bent sleeve pre-determines the trajectory of the tip in the loaded configuration,

wherein the sleeve substantially contacts at least one-half of the periphery of the plurality of interlocking segments portion,

wherein the sleeve is adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis during torque transmission when the distal tip is received in a proximal head of an implanted bone screw,

wherein a distal end of the sleeve is proximal to the distal tip of the flexible distal end portion.

2. The driver of claim 1 wherein the pre-bent sleeve comprises a longitudinal slit.

3. An assembly comprising:

a) a fusion cage comprising a front wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a back wall, and top and bottom surfaces adapted for gripping opposed vertebral endplates, wherein the front wall comprises at least one threaded throughhole,

b) a bone screw received in the threaded throughhole, the bone screw having a threaded shaft and a proximal head,

c) the driver of claim 1,

wherein the distal tip of the inserter is received in the proximal head of the bone screw, wherein the first bone screw extends through the top surface of the cage.