System for Percutaneously Fixing a Connecting Rod to a Spine

• US 20110313460A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spine Wave Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spine Wave Incorporated
• Inventors: McLean, Scott, Seyer, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,142,437 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 17/7004 with a cross-section which varies along its length A61B17/7019 takes precedence
• 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 17/7034 characterised by a lateral opening
• 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 17/7037 wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped
• 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 17/7077 for moving bone anchors attached to vertebrae, thereby displacing the vertebrae
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7079 Tools requiring anchors to be already mounted on an implanted longitudinal or transverse element, e.g. where said element guides the anchor motion
• 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 17/7083 Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements
• 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 17/7086 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 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches

Abstract

A system for percutaneously fixing a connecting rod to vertebrae comprises first and second bone screws, each with a corresponding hollow bone screw extension mounted thereto, and a connecting rod of length sized for simultaneous receipt in the yokes of the bone screws. A rod introducer is provided for inserting the connecting rod into slots of the screw extensions and into the yokes of the bone screws. A rod persuader may also be provided that is attachable to at least one of the screw extensions, the rod persuader being operable to engage the connecting rod and urge the rod into the slot of the yoke of the corresponding bone screws. A rod detector may also be provided for insertion one of the screw extensions, the rod detector having an indicator sensing the presence of a rod in the slot of the yoke of at least one of the bone screws.

Claims