Minimally invasive instruments and methods for inserting implants
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Accused Products
Abstract
Instruments and methods for inserting one or more implants to a surgical site in a patient in a surgical procedure, including minimally invasive surgical procedures are provided. The implant is mountable to the instrument in a reduced profile orientation and after insertion is manipulated with the insertion instrument to the desired orientation.
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Citations
72 Claims
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1-23. -23. (canceled)
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24. A system, comprising
an implant positionable adjacent a surgical space associated with a spinal column of a patient, wherein said implant is an elongated spinal rod forming a curve along a length that extends between a first end and an opposite second end of said spinal rod, said length being sized for said spinal rod to be engaged simultaneously to at least two vertebrae; -
at least two anchors engageable to respective ones of the at least two vertebrae and to the spinal rod; a retractor positionable to form a pathway from a location outside the patient to the surgical space; and an insertion instrument including an implant holder at a distal end thereof releasably engageable to said spinal rod, wherein said implant holder includes a first position wherein said spinal rod has a reduced profile orientation relative to said retractor for inserting said spinal rod along said pathway to the surgical space and a second position wherein said spinal rod has an increased profile relative to said retractor for orienting said spinal rod along said surgical space and between said at least two anchors when said at least two anchors are engaged to the at least two vertebrae.
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25. A system, comprising
an elongated spinal rod having a first end and a second end and a central axis extending therebetween, wherein said spinal rod having a length extending along said central axis and between said first end and an opposite second end that is sized for said spinal rod to be engaged simultaneously to at least two vertebrae; -
a control system; a connector system having a proximal end portion adjacent said control system, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween; and an implant holder adjacent said distal end portion of said connector system releasably engageable with said spinal rod at a location on said spinal rod, wherein said implant holder is movable between a reduced profile orientation wherein said central axis of said spinal rod extends generally along said longitudinal axis of said connector system and an increased profile orientation wherein said central axis of said spinal rod extends generally transverse to said longitudinal axis of said implant, wherein in said reduced profile orientation said first end of said spinal rod is positioned proximally of said location on said spinal rod engaged by said implant holder. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28-37. -37. (canceled)
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38. A system, comprising
an elongated spinal rod; - and
an insertion instrument comprising an articulatable implant holder adjacent a distal end thereof releasably clampable about said spinal rod, wherein said implant holder is movable from a first position wherein said spinal rod has a reduced profile orientation relative to said insertion instrument for insertion of said spinal rod to a surgical space in a patient to a second position wherein said spinal rod has an enlarged profile relative to said insertion instrument for positioning said spinal rod at the surgical space. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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39. (canceled)
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48-65. -65. (canceled)
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66. A method for positioning a spinal rod along a spinal column of a patient, comprising:
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accessing the spinal column through a minimally invasive access path through skin and tissue of the patient; securing the spinal rod on an insertion instrument with a longitudinal axis of the spinal rod extending generally in the direction of the path through the skin and tissue; positioning the spinal rod through the path with the insertion instrument to a location adjacent the spinal column; and remotely manipulating the spinal rod with the insertion instrument to a desired orientation along the spinal column, wherein in the desired orientation the spinal rod extends at the location in substantially perpendicular relation to the path through the skin and tissue. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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Specification