Inserter for a spinal implant

• US 20080306488A1
• Filed: 06/04/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Exactech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exactech, Inc.
• Inventors: Altarac, Moti, Hayes, Stanley Kyle, Haskins, Tyler Jay
• Granted Patent: US 8,114,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/99
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4465 having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3054 about a connection axis or implantation axis for selecting any one of a plurality of radial orientations between two modular parts, e.g. Morse taper connections, at discrete positions, angular positions or continuous positions
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4622 having the shape of a forceps or a clamp
• 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 2002/4628 with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 606/914 Toolkit for installing or removing spinal positioner or stabilizer

Abstract

An inserter for implanting an intervertebral spacer into a spinal disc space is disclosed. The inserter comprises a jaw assembly connected to a shaft assembly that is connected to a handle assembly. The user operates the handle assembly to open and close the jaw assembly to thereby connect to and release from the intervertebral spacer. Furthermore, the handle assembly is operable to lock and unlock rotation of the jaw assembly while still connected thereto to permit angulation of the jaw assembly relative to the shaft assembly without losing hold of the intervertebral spacer.

Claims

1. An inserter for implanting a spinal implant, comprising:

a jaw assembly configured to connect to the spinal implant;

a shaft assembly connected to the jaw assembly;

the jaw assembly configured to angulate with respect to the shaft assembly; and

a handle assembly connected to the shaft assembly such that the handle assembly is operable by a user to;

(1) close and open the jaw assembly to thereby respectively connect the spinal implant to the jaw assembly and release the spinal implant from the jaw assembly; and

(2) lock and unlock movement of the jaw assembly to permit angulation of the jaw assembly and thereby permit angulation of a connected spinal implant when angulation is unlocked;

such angulation being relative to the shaft assembly while the spinal implant remains connected to the jaw assembly.

2. The inserter of claim 1 wherein the jaw assembly includes spinal implant engaging features at the distal end.

3. The inserter of claim 1 wherein the proximal end of the jaw assembly includes shaft engaging features and the distal end of the shaft assembly includes jaw assembly engaging features;

and

the inserter is configured such that angulation of the jaw assembly is locked by engaging the jaw assembly engaging features of the shaft assembly to the shaft engaging features of the jaw assembly; and

the inserter is configured such that angulation of the jaw assembly is unlocked by disengaging the jaw assembly engaging features of the shaft assembly from the shaft engaging features of the jaw assembly.

4. The inserter of claim 3 wherein the shaft assembly is configured to move relative to the jaw assembly;

and movement of the shaft assembly closer to the jaw assembly engages the jaw assembly engaging features of the shaft assembly to the shaft engaging features of the jaw assembly and movement of the shaft assembly apart from the jaw assembly disengages the jaw assembly engaging features of the shaft assembly from the shaft engaging features of the jaw assembly.

5. The inserter of claim 4 wherein the handle assembly is configured to effect movement of the shaft assembly relative to the jaw assembly.

6. The inserter of claim 3 wherein the shaft engaging features are teeth and the jaw assembly engaging features are teeth.

7. The inserter of claim 1 wherein the inserter is configured to implant a spinal implant selected from the group consisting of an interspinous process spacer, an intervertebral body spacer, a rod, a screw, a bone anchor, and a connector.

8. An inserter for implanting a spinal implant, comprising:

a jaw configured to releasably connect to the spinal implant;

a shaft connected to the jaw such that the jaw is movable with respect to the shaft; and

a handle connected to the shaft;

wherein the inserter is configured such that the angle of the spinal implant with respect to the shaft can be repeatedly changed and locked in position while the spinal implant is connected to the inserter.

9. The inserter of claim 8 wherein the inserter is operable to lock and unlock the attached spinal implant to permit angulation without disconnecting the inserter from the spinal implant.

10. The inserter of claim 8 wherein the inserter is operable to connect and release a spinal implant.

11. An inserter for implanting a spinal implant, comprising:

a jaw assembly configured to connect to the spinal implant;

the jaw assembly including;

a jaw having a first jaw piece and a second jaw piece;

a jaw link connected to the first and second jaw pieces such that the first and second jaw pieces are movable with respect to the jaw link;

a shaft assembly connected to the jaw assembly;

the shaft assembly including;

an inner shaft connected to the jaw assembly;

an outer shaft having a central bore and located over the inner shaft; and

an angulation lock connected to the distal end of outer shaft; and

a handle assembly connected to the shaft assembly;

the handle assembly including;

a handle connected to the inner shaft;

the handle being operable to close and open the jaw to attach and release the spinal implant to and from the jaw;

a knob connected to the outer shaft and movable with respect to the handle to engage and disengage the angulation lock to and from the jaw assembly so as to disable and enable angulation of the jaw assembly and attached spinal implant with respect to the shaft assembly.

12. The inserter of claim 11 wherein the handle is operable to close and open the jaw by moving the inner shaft proximally and distally with respect to the jaw.

13. The inserter of claim 11 further including:

a middle shaft having a bore;

the middle shaft being located over the inner shaft and inside the outer shaft; and

a pusher configured to engage the jaw link and connected to the distal end of the middle shaft;

wherein the inserter is configured such that distal motion of the pusher by action of the handle engages the pusher to the jaw link to lock the jaw link relative to the shaft assembly.

14. The inserter of claim 11 wherein the jaw link includes angulation lock engaging features and the angulation lock includes jaw link engaging features and the inserter is configured such that distal motion of the outer shaft relative to the jaw link engages the jaw link engaging features of the angulation lock to the angulation lock engaging features of the jaw link to lock the angulation of the jaw assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

15. The inserter of claim 14 wherein the inserter is configured such that proximal motion of the outer shaft relative to the jaw link disengages the jaw link engaging features of the angulation lock from the angulation lock engaging features of the jaw link to unlock the angulation of the jaw assembly relative to the shaft assembly.

16. The inserter of claim 14 wherein the angulation lock engaging features are teeth and the jaw link engaging features are complementary teeth.

17. A method for implanting a spinal implant in a patient comprising:

creating an incision in a patient;

providing a spinal implant;

providing an inserter having a handle at a proximal end and a distal end configured to releasably connect to the spinal implant such that the spinal implant is capable of angulation with respect to the inserter;

connecting the spinal implant to the inserter at the distal end of the inserter;

locking the spinal implant relative to the inserter such that the spinal implant is not capable of angulation with respect to the inserter;

inserting the spinal implant into a location inside the patient;

unlocking the spinal implant relative to the inserter such that the spinal implant is capable of angulation with respect to the inserter with the spinal implant remaining connected to the inserter;

angulating the spinal implant relative to the inserter while the implant is connected to the inserter;

disconnecting the spinal implant from the inserter; and

removing the inserter from the patient.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of moving the implant to a second location inside the patient.

19. The method of claim 17 further including the steps of:

locking the spinal implant relative to the inserter such that the spinal implant is not capable of angulation with respect to the inserter after angulating the spinal implant relative to the inserter; and

moving the inserter with the spinal implant connected to a second location inside the patient.