Apparatus and Method for Detecting a Connecting Rod During Percutaneous Surgery
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a connecting rod during percutaneous spinal surgery, comprising:
- an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an opening therethrough and defining a first side and an opposing second side;
an elongate strip extending longitudinally within said tubular member and having a proximal end defining a flag projecting outwardly from the proximal end of said tubular member and a distal end axially offset from the flag and defining an elastically flexible rod detection tip projecting outwardly beyond the distal end of said tubular member;
a pivot supporting said strip within said tubular member for pivoting movement of said strip relative to the longitudinal axis of said tubular member; and
a biasing member biasing said elongate strip in a first position wherein said flag at the proximal end is adjacent said first side of said tubular member and said detection tip at the distal end is adjacent the opposite second side, said strip being pivotal about said pivot upon application of a force against said detection tip in a direction generally transverse to the axis of the tubular member sufficient to overcome said bias to elastically flex said detection tip and to pivotally shift said flag to a second position adjacent said second side.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting the presence of a connecting rod during percutaneous spinal surgery comprises a tubular member and an elongate strip extending therethrough. The strip has a flag at the proximal end and an elastically flexible rod detection tip projecting outwardly from the distal end for contacting a connecting rod. The strip is supported in the tubular member for pivoting movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the member. A biasing member biases the strip to a first position in which the flag is adjacent a first side of the tubular member and the detection tip at the distal end is adjacent an opposite second side. Upon application of a force to elastically flex the detection tip, in which the force is sufficient to overcome the bias, the flag is shifted to a second position adjacent the second side of the tubular member.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting the presence of a connecting rod during percutaneous spinal surgery, comprising:
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an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an opening therethrough and defining a first side and an opposing second side; an elongate strip extending longitudinally within said tubular member and having a proximal end defining a flag projecting outwardly from the proximal end of said tubular member and a distal end axially offset from the flag and defining an elastically flexible rod detection tip projecting outwardly beyond the distal end of said tubular member; a pivot supporting said strip within said tubular member for pivoting movement of said strip relative to the longitudinal axis of said tubular member; and a biasing member biasing said elongate strip in a first position wherein said flag at the proximal end is adjacent said first side of said tubular member and said detection tip at the distal end is adjacent the opposite second side, said strip being pivotal about said pivot upon application of a force against said detection tip in a direction generally transverse to the axis of the tubular member sufficient to overcome said bias to elastically flex said detection tip and to pivotally shift said flag to a second position adjacent said second side. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of detecting the presence of a connecting rod in a bone anchor during percutaneous spinal surgery, the bone anchor having a slot for passage of said connecting rod therethrough, comprising the steps of:
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providing a rod detector including at one end an elastically flexibly moveable detector tip and at an opposite end a flag coupled thereto, said flag being responsive to the movement of said detection tip to shift from a first position to a second position; placing said detection tip into said slot in a manner to flexibly obstruct the passage of said connecting rod; introducing said connecting rod into said slot to flexibly move said detection tip allowing said connecting rod to pass through said slot thereby shifting said flag from said first position to said second position; and observing the shifting of said flag from said first position to said second position indicating the presence of said rod through said slot. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A rod detector for indicating the presence of a rod within the slot of a yoke of a bone screw assembly engaged to a vertebra of a patient, comprising:
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an elongate tubular member having a proximal end and a distal end and an opening therethrough and defining a first side and an opposing second side, said tubular member configured to be supported on the bone screw assembly; an indicator sensing the presence of a rod in the slot of the yoke and providing a visual indication at the proximal end of said tubular member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification