Spinal Rod Approximator

• US 20110034962A1
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Rybicki, Christopher Ryan, Dunbar, William L. JR., Burgess, Ian Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,101,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7035 Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7086 Rod reducers, i.e. devices providing a mechanical advantage to allow a user to force a rod into or onto an anchor head other than by means of a rod-to-bone anchor locking element; rod removers
• 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: Y10S 606/916 Tool for installing or removing orthopedic fastener

Abstract

Spinal rod approximator for seating a stabilizing rod in a rod-receiving portion of a spinal implant and inserting closure mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, a spinal rod approximator is provided including a body with gripping branches, inserter shaft, threaded collar, and outer sleeve.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A tool for seating a spinal rod in a rod-receiving portion of a spinal implant, the tool comprising:

a body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a first and second flexible branch for gripping a spinal implant, the flexible branches being spaced-apart a distance to form a first recess, the first recess opening at an end of the distal end portion and extending proximally from the end;

an inserter shaft slidably received within the body, the inserter shaft having a distal end adapted to hold a closure mechanism for the implant;

a threaded collar, adapted to couple the body and the inserter shaft, wherein the inserter shaft forces a spinal rod into the rod-receiving portion of the implant; and

an outer sleeve mounted about the distal end portion of the body and movable between a first position and a second position in which the outer sleeve surrounds the branches to inhibit separation of the first and second flexible branches.

23. The tool of claim 22, wherein the first recess is substantially U-shaped.

24. The tool of claim 22, the outer sleeve is rotatably and slidably mounted about the distal end portion of the body.

25. The tool of claim 22, wherein the outer sleeve includes a pair of spaced-apart arms at a distal end of the outer sleeve.

26. The tool of claim 25, wherein the arms of the outer sleeve define a second recess, the second recess aligning with the first recess of the distal end portion of the body when the outer sleeve is in the second position to accommodate a spinal rod within the first recess and the second recess.

27. The tool of claim 22, wherein the inserter shaft has a proximal end, a distal end, and a transition zone located between the distal and proximal end, the transition zone having a diameter larger than the proximal end portion.

28. The tool of claim 22, wherein the flexible branches are biased to a closed position.

29. A tool for seating a spinal rod in a rod-receiving portion of a spinal implant, the tool comprising:

a body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion including a first and second flexible branch for gripping a spinal implant, the flexible branches being spaced-apart a distance to form a first recess, the first recess opening at an end of the distal end portion and extending proximally from the end;

an inserter shaft slidably received within the body, the inserter shaft having a distal end adapted to hold a closure mechanism for the implant;

a threaded collar, adapted to couple the body and the inserter shaft, wherein the inserter shaft forces a spinal rod into the rod-receiving portion of the implant; and

an outer sleeve mounted about the distal end portion of the body and movable between a first position and a second position in which the outer sleeve surrounds the branches to inhibit separation of the first and second flexible branches, the outer sleeve including a pair of spaced-apart arms at a distal end of the outer sleeve, the arms of the outer sleeve defining a second recess, the second recess aligning with the first recess of the distal end portion of the body when the outer sleeve is in the second position to accommodate a spinal rod within the first recess and the second recess.

30. The tool of claim 29, wherein the first recess is substantially U-shaped.

31. The tool of claim 30, wherein the second recess is substantially U-shaped.

32. The tool of claim 29, wherein the flexible branches are biased to a closed position.

33. A spinal instrument comprising:

a body having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a first branch and a second branch for gripping a spinal implant, the branches being spaced-apart a distance to form a first recess, the first recess opening at an end of the distal end and extending proximally from the end;

an inserter shaft slidably received within the body, the inserter shaft having a distal end adapted to hold a closure mechanism for the implant; and

an outer sleeve mounted about the distal end of the body and movable between a first position and a second position in which the outer sleeve surrounds the branches to inhibit separation of the first and second flexible branches, the outer sleeve including a pair of spaced-apart arms at a distal end of the outer sleeve, the arms of the outer sleeve defining a second recess, the second recess aligning with the first recess of the distal end portion of the body when the outer sleeve is in the second position to accommodate a spinal rod within the first recess and the second recess.

34. The spinal instrument of claim 33, wherein the first branch includes a free distal end and a proximal end flexibly connected to the body and the second branch includes a free distal end and a proximal end flexibly connected to the body.

35. The spinal instrument of claim 34, wherein the first and second branches are biased to a position in which the first branch is parallel to the second position.

36. The spinal instrument of claim 33, wherein the first recess is substantially U-shaped.

37. The spinal instrument of claim 36, wherein the second recess is substantially U-shaped.