Spinal fixation tool set and method

• US 20090318972A1
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roger P. Jackson
• Original Assignee: Roger P. Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Roger P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7002 Longitudinal elements, e.g. rods
• 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 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• 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

Abstract

A spinal implant tool set 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. A multi-function installation tool and a bone screw driver each mate and cooperate with the guide tools. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the bone screws and the rod in the patient.

Claims

1. A spinal rod implantation tool assembly comprising:

a) an elongate guide tool having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, and an end configured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw;

b) an elongate installation tool having a sleeve with a rod pushing end, the installation tool attachable to the elongate guide tool in one of a first bone screw implantation orientation and a second rod pushing orientation, the first orientation with the sleeve being in a fixed, stationary position with respect to the guide tool and substantially surrounding the guide tool, the second rod pushing orientation wherein the rod pushing end is selectively advanced toward and away the elongate guide tool end; and

c) a translation nut attached to the sleeve, the translation nut coaxial and freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve, the nut configured for rotatable attachment to the guide tool with rotation of the nut translating the rod pushing end with respect to the guide tool.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the guide tool is an intermediate guide tool having first and second legs defining a longitudinal pass-through slot and wherein in the first orientation, the sleeve substantially surrounds the first and second legs and is in sliding engagement with the first and second legs.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a driver having a handle, a guide tool attachment portion and a stem, the stem having an end configured for rotatable engagement with a spinal implant, the driver in coaxial relationship with both the guide tool and the installation tool when the stem is disposed within the guide tool and the guide tool is attached to the installation tool, the attachment portion configured for rigid and releaseable attachment to the guide tool.

4. A spinal rod implantation tool assembly comprising:

a) an elongate guide tool having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, and an end configured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw;

b) an elongate installation tool having a translation nut and attached sleeve, the translation nut being coaxial and freely rotatable with respect to the sleeve, the nut configured for rotatable attachment to the guide tool, the sleeve partially extending around the guide tool and coaxial therewith when the nut and guide tool are attached; and

c) a driver having a handle, a guide tool attachment portion and a stem, the stem having an end configured for rotatable engagement with a spinal implant, the driver in coaxial relationship with both the guide tool and the installation tool when the stem is disposed within the guide tool and the guide tool is attached to the installation tool, the attachment portion being configured for rigid attachment to the guide tool.

5. A tool assembly for implanting a rod in a patient, the tool assembly comprising a tool having:

a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis of the tool along an entire length of the tool, at least a portion of the channel opening sized and shaped for receiving the rod;

b) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body; and

c) said elongate body including a flexible holding tang disposed opposite the lateral opening and pressable laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding tang sized and shaped to closely receive and resiliently contact a surface of the rod to minimize movement of the rod along a length of the rod.

6. A spinal screw implantation tool assembly comprising:

a) an elongate tool having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the tool, and an end configured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw;

b) an elongate installation apparatus having a sleeve and a tool attachment structure, the attachment structure being coaxial with respect to the sleeve and configured for rotatable attachment to the tool, the sleeve partially extending around the tool and coaxial therewith when the attachment structure and tool are attached; and

c) a driver having a handle, a tool attachment portion and a stem, the stem having an end configured for rotatable engagement with a spinal implant, the driver in coaxial relationship with both the tool and the installation apparatus when the stem is disposed within the tool and the tool is attached to the installation apparatus, the attachment portion being configured for secure attachment to the tool.

7. A vertebral support rod implantation kit adapted for use with a plurality of vertebrae, the kit comprising:

a) a plurality of polyaxial bone screws, each bone screw being adapted for implantation in one of the vertebrae, each of the bone screws having an attachment structure;

b) an elongate rod having first and second ends, the rod sized and shaped to extend between a pair of end bone screws of the plurality of bone screws;

c) a plurality of closure tops, each closure top sized and shape to mate with a respective bone screw and retain the elongate rod within a cavity defined by the respective bone screw; and

d) a pair of tools, each tool having

i) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis along an entire length of the tool, at least a portion of the channel opening sized and shaped for receiving the rod;

ii) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body; and

iii) said elongate body including a flexible holding tang disposed opposite the lateral opening and pressable laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding tang sized and shaped to resiliently contact the rod to minimize movement of the rod along a length of the rod.

8. A spinal rod implantation tool assembly comprising:

a) an elongate tool having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface, a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the tool, and an end configured for releaseable attachment to a spinal implant bone screw;

b) an elongate installation apparatus having a sleeve with a rod pushing end, the installation apparatus attachable to the elongate tool in one of a first bone screw implantation orientation and a second rod pushing orientation, the first orientation with the sleeve being in a fixed, stationary position with respect to the tool and substantially surrounding the tool, the second rod pushing orientation wherein the rod pushing end is selectively advanced toward and away the tool end; and

c) a translation attachment structure attached to the sleeve, coaxial and rotatable with respect to the sleeve, the attachment structure configured for rotatable attachment to the tool with rotation of the structure translating the rod pushing end with respect to the tool.

9. A tool set for implanting a rod in a patient, the tool set comprising at least one tool having:

a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis of the tool along an entire length of the tool, at least a portion of the channel opening sized and shaped for receiving the rod;

b) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body;

c) a flexible holding structure disposed opposite the lateral opening and pressable laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding structure sized and shaped to the rod; and

wherein

d) the flexible holding structure includes a back wall disposed opposite the lateral opening, the back wall having slits with a back wall flap portion disposed between the slits, the back wall flap portion partially defining the channel and pushable to a location lateral with respect to a remainder of the back wall, the channel adapted to receive the rod therein and the back wall flap portion adapted for lateral flexing to accommodate the rod.