INSTALLATION SYSTEMS FOR SPINAL STABILIZATION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20080275456A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc. (Zimvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Darst Rice, Mark W., Vonwiller, Stephan
• Granted Patent: US 8,016,832 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/246
• 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 17/7031 made wholly or partly of flexible material
• 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 17/7082 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 17/7091 for applying, tightening or removing longitudinal element-to-bone anchor locking elements, e.g. caps, set screws, nuts or wedges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system includes a vertebral anchor having a top portion. The top portion has a perimeter and a first engaging element. The first engaging element has a first longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to a second longitudinal axis of the top portion. The perimeter extends around the second longitudinal axis. The system also includes a driving tool that has a second engaging element that is configured to cooperate with the first engaging element to substantially restrict rotation of the driving tool relative to the top portion about the second longitudinal axis. The first engaging element is configured to slidably receive the second engaging element in a direction along the first longitudinal axis, and the second engaging element is configured to extend substantially within the perimeter of the top portion.

Claims

1. A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system comprising:

a vertebral anchor adapted to receive a connecting element and having a threaded shaft adapted to be screwed into a vertebrae, the vertebral anchor including a top portion, having a perimeter and a first engaging element, said first engaging element having a first longitudinal axis generally parallel to a second longitudinal axis of said top portion, said perimeter extending around said second longitudinal axis; and

a driving tool including a second engaging element configured to cooperate with said first engaging element to transfer rotation of said driving tool about said second longitudinal axis to said vertebral anchor;

wherein;

said first engaging element is configured to slidably receive said second engaging element in a direction along said first longitudinal axis, and

said second engaging element is configured to be confined substantially within said perimeter of said top portion.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said first engaging element is further configured as a female element.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said female element further comprises a generally trapezoidal shape.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said second engaging element is further configured as a male element.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said male element further comprises a generally trapezoidal shape.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an outwardly extending member on said second engaging element; and

a recess configured to receive at least a portion of said outwardly extending member on said first engaging element to thereby axially retain said second engaging element therein.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said outwardly extending member is further configured as an outwardly biasing member.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said driving tool further comprises a slot adapted to guide a connecting element of the spinal stabilization system toward said top portion of said vertebral anchor.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a securing member configured to secure the connecting element of the spinal stabilization system against said top portion of said vertebral anchor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said driving tool further comprises a guide wire, said securing member being releasably coupled to said guide wire and being further configured to be coupled to said top portion of said vertebral anchor.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said second engaging element is fully confined within said perimeter of said top portion.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein said second engaging element further comprises a tapered end adapted to facilitate engagement thereof with said first engaging element.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said top portion further comprises a generally U-shaped channel configured to receive the connecting element of the spinal stabilization system therein.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a longitudinal cannula in the driving tool generally aligned with the second longitudinal axis and in communication with the top portion of the vertebral anchor when the driving tool is engaged therewith.

15. A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system including a connecting element to restrict relative movement of two adjacent vertebrae, the system comprising:

a pedicle screw having a threaded shaft adapted to be screwed into one of the vertebrae, the pedicle screw including a top portion having a channel adapted to receive the connecting element therein, a perimeter, and a pair of first engaging elements, each of said first engaging elements having a first longitudinal axis generally parallel to a second longitudinal axis of said top portion, said perimeter extending around said second longitudinal axis; and

a driving tool including a slot and a pair of second engaging elements, said second engaging elements configured to cooperate with said pair of first engaging elements to transfer rotation of said driving tool about said second longitudinal axis to said pedicle screw, said slot configured to guide the connecting element toward said top portion;

wherein;

each of said first engaging elements is configured to slidably receive one of said second engaging elements in a direction along said first longitudinal axis, and

each of said second engaging elements is configured to be confined substantially within said perimeter of said top portion.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said first engaging element is further configured as a trapezoidal-shaped female element.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said second engaging element is further configured as a trapezoidal-shaped male element.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

an outwardly extending biasing member on said second engaging element; and

a recess configured to receive at least a portion of said outwardly extending biasing member on said first engaging element to thereby axially retain said second engaging element therein.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said driving tool further comprises a slot adapted to guide the connecting element of the spinal stabilization system toward said top portion of said pedicle screw.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a securing member configured to secure the connecting element of the spinal stabilization system against said top portion of said pedicle screw.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said driving tool further comprises a guide wire, said securing member being releasably coupled to said guide wire and being further configured to be coupled to said top portion of said pedicle screw.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein said top portion further comprises a generally U-shaped channel configured to receive the connecting element of the spinal stabilization system therein.

23. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a longitudinal cannula in the driving tool generally aligned with the second longitudinal axis and in communication with the top portion of the pedicle screw when the driving tool is engaged therewith.

24. A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system comprising:

a vertebral anchor adapted to receive a connecting element and having a threaded shaft adapted to be screwed into a vertebrae, the vertebral anchor including a top portion, having a perimeter and a first engaging element, said first engaging element having a first longitudinal axis generally parallel to a second longitudinal axis of said top portion, said perimeter extending around said second longitudinal axis;

a driving tool including a second engaging element configured to cooperate with said first engaging element to transfer rotation of said driving tool about said second longitudinal axis to said vertebral anchor;

said first engaging element being configured to slidably receive said second engaging element in a direction along said first longitudinal axis; and

at least one projection extending laterally from said second engaging element to assist in secure engagement of the driving tool and the vertebral anchor during rotation about the second longitudinal axis.

25. A method of implanting a vertebral anchor of a spinal stabilization system into a vertebrae, the vertebral anchor having a top portion, the method comprising:

slidably engaging a first engaging element of the top portion with a second engaging element of a driving tool in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the top portion and such that the second engaging element remains substantially within a perimeter of the top portion, the perimeter extending around the longitudinal axis of the top portion;

substantially restricting rotation of the driving tool relative to the top portion and about the longitudinal axis of the top portion; and

rotating the driving tool to thereby cause rotation of the vertebral anchor into the vertebrae.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

guiding a connecting element of the spinal stabilization system along a slot of the driving tool and toward the top portion.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

rotating an actuator of the driving tool to couple a securing member against respective surfaces of the connecting element and the top portion.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

accessing the top portion of the vertebral anchor through a cannula in the driving tool; and

installing a securing member on the top portion of the vertebral anchor.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

inserting a connecting element through a slot in the driving tool; and

passing the connecting element from the slot and into the top portion of the vertebral anchor.