Percutaneous instrument assembly

• US 20080125788A1
• Filed: 09/26/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: EBI LLC (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Ferreira, Rui J., Cohen, Dan S., Buchert, Oliver, Bender, Nicholas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/104
• 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 17/7032 Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass
• 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 17/708 with tubular extensions coaxially mounted on the bone anchors
• 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

Abstract

A percutaneous tower for the orthopedic procedures. The tower can include an outer elongated member, an inner elongated member received within the outer elongated member, a release actuator operable to move the inner elongated member relative to the outer elongated member between first and second positions, and a fastener engagement member coupled to a distal portion of the tower and operable to engage a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the first position, and to disengage the bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the second position.

Claims

1. A percutaneous tower for the orthopedic procedures comprising:

an outer elongated member;

an inner elongated member received within the outer elongated member;

a release actuator operable to move the inner elongated member relative to the outer elongated member between first and second positions; and

a fastener engagement member coupled to a distal portion of the tower and operable to engage a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the first position, and to disengage the bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the second position.

2. The tower of claim 1, wherein the fastener engagement member comprises a pair of opposing elements coupled to the distal portion of the inner elongated member and biased to protrude away from the inner elongated member when the inner elongated member is in the second position.

3. The tower of claim 2, wherein each element includes a protrusion for engaging a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the first position.

4. The tower of claim 1, further defining first and second channels having first and second longitudinal axes, the second longitudinal axis being substantially parallel and transversely offset relative to the first longitudinal axis.

5. The tower of claim 4, wherein the first channel communicates with the second channel at least at a proximal portion of the tower.

6. The tower of claim 5, further comprising a channel divider coupled to a proximal portion of the first elongated member and operable to selectively at least partially restrict communication between the first and second channels.

7. The tower of claim 6, wherein the channel divider comprises two arms pivotable from a first position in which the arms do not restrict communication between the first and second channels to a second position in which the arms at least partially restrict communication between the first and second channels.

8. The tower of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the second channel is defined in a proximal angled portion of the outer elongated member.

9. The tower of claim 4, further comprising first and second opposing elongated slots, each elongated slot communicating at least with the first channel.

10. The tower of claim 9, wherein the first and second elongated slots have different lengths and are structured for instrument side entry.

11. The tower of claim 1, further comprising a locking element coupled to the tower and operable to selectively lock the release actuator.

12. A percutaneous tower for the orthopedic procedures comprising:

an outer elongated member;

an inner elongated member received within the outer elongated member; and

a release actuator operable to move the inner elongated member relative to the outer elongated member between first and second positions, the inner elongated member at least partially retracted relative to the outer elongated member in first position, the inner elongated member at least partially extended relative to the outer elongated member in the second position, the release actuator communicating with a proximal portion of a first channel of the tower; and

a locking element coupled to the tower and operable to lock the release the release actuator in the first position.

13. The tower of claim 12, wherein the locking element is an external ring.

14. The tower of claim 12, wherein the locking element is a tool insertable into the proximal portion of the tower.

15. The tower of claim 12, further comprising a fastener engagement member coupled to a distal portion of the inner elongated member and a distal portion of the outer elongated member and operable to engage a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the first position, and to disengage the bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the second position.

16. The tower of claim 15, wherein the fastener engagement member comprises a pair of opposing elements coupled to the distal portion of the inner elongated member and biased to protrude away from the inner elongated member when the inner elongated member is in the second position.

17. The tower of claim 16, wherein each element includes a protrusion for engaging a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the first position.

18. The tower of claim 12, wherein the release actuator comprises a pair of release members pivotably coupled to proximal portions of the outer and inner elongated members.

19. The percutaneous tower of claim 18, wherein each of the release members defines a tool-engaging inner groove.

20. A percutaneous tower for the orthopedic procedures comprising:

an outer elongated member;

an inner elongated member received within the outer elongated member;

a pair of release members operable to move the inner elongated member relative to the outer elongated member between first and second positions; and

a pair of opposing elements coupled to a distal portion of the inner elongated member, the elements biased to protrude away from the inner elongated member when the inner elongated member is in the second position, each element including a protrusion directed into the tower when the inner elongated member is in the first position.

21. The tower of claim 20, wherein the inner elongated member is at least partially retracted relative to the outer elongated member in first position, and the inner elongated member at least partially extended relative to the outer elongated member in the second position.

22. The tower of claim 21, wherein the tower defines first and second longitudinal channels having parallel first and second longitudinal axes respectively, the second longitudinal channel defined in an angled proximal portion of the outer elongated member.

23. The tower of claim 22, further comprising a channel divider movably coupled to the angled proximal portion for selectively restricting at least partially communication between the first and second channels.

24. The tower of claim 20, further comprising a locking element coupled to the tower and operable to selectively lock the release elements.

25. A percutaneous tower for the orthopedic procedures comprising:

an outer elongated member;

an inner elongated member received within the outer elongated member;

means for moving the inner elongated member relative to the outer elongated member between first and second positions; and

means for engaging a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the first position.

26. The tower of claim 25, further comprising means for disengaging a bone fastener when the inner elongated member is in the second position.

27. The tower of claim 25, further comprising means for locking the inner elongated member in the first position.