Spinal fixation tool attachment structure

• US 20060069391A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuvasive Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Roger P. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Roger P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,050,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/62
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7001 Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae A61B17/7058 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7002 Longitudinal elements, e.g. rods
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7008 with parts of, or attached to, the longitudinal elements, bearing against an outside of the screw or hook heads, e.g. nuts on threaded rods A61B17/7007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/701 Longitudinal elements with a non-circular, e.g. rectangular, cross-section A61B17/7005, A61B17/7007 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7011 Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/702 having a core or insert, and a sleeve, whereby a screw or hook can move along the core or in the sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7035 Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7038 to a different extent in different directions, e.g. within one plane only
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7076 for driving, positioning or assembling spinal clamps or bone anchors specially adapted for spinal fixation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7082 for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws driving other bone screws A61B17/8875
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7085 for insertion of a longitudinal element down one or more hollow screw or hook extensions, i.e. at least a part of the element within an extension has a component of movement parallel to the extension's axis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7086 Rod reducers, i.e. devices providing a mechanical advantage to allow a user to force a rod into or onto an anchor head other than by means of a rod-to-bone anchor locking element; rod removers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7088 wherein the rod is moved transverse to the axis of the bone anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7089 wherein insertion is along an arcuate path
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7091 for applying, tightening or removing longitudinal element-to-bone anchor locking elements, e.g. caps, set screws, nuts or wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter

Abstract

A tool set for implanting bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a rod into the bone screws includes end guide tools having flexible back wall flaps that receive opposite ends of the rod and intermediate guide tools that hold the rod in intermediate locations between the end guide tools. Both the end and intermediate guide tools include an attachment structure for operably connecting the guide tool to a bone screw. The attachment structure includes an undercut and/or recess so as to resist splaying and separation of the guide tool from an attached bone screw.

Claims

1. In the combination of a bone attachment structure having a receiver and a tool having receiver attachment structure at a lower end thereof that is operably mateable with the receiver;

the improvement comprising;

a) the receiver having a top, a bottom, and an undercut first surface projecting downwardly toward the bottom;

b) the tool lower end having a projection with a second surface for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating with the first surface; and

c) the first and second surfaces being sized, shaped and positioned to provide for anti-splay arrangement of the tool with respect to the receiver when the second surface is aligned with the undercut first surface of the receiver.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces are planar.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces are curved.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces are sized, shaped and positioned to provide for mating by alignment and sliding movement of the tool relative to the receiver and disassembly by reversing the sliding movement of the tool relative to the receiver, such that the tool has a slide on and slide off relationship with the receiver.

5. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the receiver has a curved surface such that the tool has a twist on and twist off relationship with the receiver.

6. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces are sized, shaped and positioned to provide for mating by splaying the tool about the receiver for attachment of the tool to the receiver and disassembly by sliding movement of the tool relative to the receiver, such that the tool has a snap on and slide off relationship with the receiver.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the receiver has a curved surface such that the tool has a snap on and twist off relationship with the receiver.

8. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces are sized, shaped and positioned to provide for mating by splaying the tool about the receiver followed by sliding the first and second surfaces into engagement and disassembly by sliding movement of the tool relative to the receiver, followed by splaying of the tool, such that the tool has a snap on and pry off relationship with the receiver.

9. In the combination of a bone attachment structure having a receiver and a guide tool having receiver attachment structure at a lower end thereof that is operably mateable with the receiver, the improvement comprising:

a) the receiver having an aperture and a recess communicating with the aperture; and

b) the guide tool lower end having an inner projection, the projection having mating structure receivable in the recess for operably resisting radial splaying and separation of the tool from the receiver when joined together.

10. In the combination of a bone screw having a head and a manipulation tool having attachment structure at a lower end thereof that is operably mateable with the bone screw head;

the improvement comprising;

a) the bone screw head having a top, a bottom, and a circumferentially extending undercut first surface facing downwardly toward said bottom;

b) the manipulation tool lower end having a projection with a circumferentially extending second surface; and

c) the first and second surfaces being sized, shaped and positioned to provide for operable mating overlapping alignment of the manipulation tool relative to the bone screw head.

11. The improvement of claim 10 wherein:

a) the undercut first surface includes a recess and the projection includes extending second surface mating structure that overlaps with the undercut surface in the recess so as to operably resist splaying and separation of the manipulation tool from the receiver when joined together.

12. In a medical implant having a head, the improvement wherein the head has an outer surface defining an aperture communicating with an undercut disposed in the head, the undercut adapted to receive a manipulation tool structure.