Surgical Instrument and Method for the Distraction or Compression of Bones

• US 20110313477A1
• 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, Boisvert, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,206,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/86.A
• 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 surgical instrument for the distraction or compression of bones or bone portions comprises a pair of elongate cross members pivotally coupled for relative movement having at one end a respective pair of handles and at the other end a respective pair of jaws. The jaws are generally parallel to each other and define a first plane within which the jaws are relatively movable, the space on both sides of the plane defining a work space between the jaws. The instrument further comprises a fulcrum supported by at least one of the cross members projecting into the work space and having an axis spaced from the jaws.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for the distraction or compression of bones or bone portions, comprising:

a pair of elongate cross members pivotally coupled for relative movement having at one end a respective pair of handles and at the other end a respective pair of jaws, said jaws being generally parallel to each other and defining a first plane within which said jaws are relatively movable, the space on both sides of said plane and between said jaws defining a work space; and

a fulcrum supported by at least one of said cross members projecting into said work space and having an axis spaced from said jaws.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said cross members are coupled by a mechanism that allows movement of said jaws toward each other.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 2, wherein said mechanism couples said jaws to said handles to cause said jaws to move toward each other when said handles are moved toward each other.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 3 wherein said mechanism comprises a linkage between said handles and said jaws.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further including a ratchet mechanism operably connected between said handles to hold said cross members and thereby said jaws in fixed relative positions.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4, further including a rubber pad on each surface of said jaws facing each other.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein said fulcrum is adjustably movable in a second plane spaced from said jaws.

8. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said second plane is generally parallel to said first plane.

9. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said fulcrum is supported for sliding movement within said second plane.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein said fulcrum defines a width within said second plane, said width lying in a generally the same direction as the direction between the jaws.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 10, wherein said width of said fulcrum is adjustable.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 11, wherein said fulcrum includes one of a plurality of elongate bars each having different widths.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12, wherein said fulcrum support includes an adapter to permit selective connections of one of said bars thereto.

14. A method of selectively compressing or distracting bones or bone portions during surgery comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical instrument having a pair of jaws operably movable relative to each other in a first plane, the space on both sides of said plane and between said jaws defining a work space, the instrument including a fulcrum projecting into said work space and having an axis spaced from said jaws; and

operating said jaws with said instrument selectively being in a first position or a second position, said fulcrum in said first instrument position being in a first orientation to cause compression, said second instrument position being the inverse of said first instrument position, said fulcrum in said second position being in a second orientation to cause distraction.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said jaws are moved in the same direction with the surgical instrument being in the first position and the second position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said jaws are moved toward each other.

17. A method of selectively compressing or distracting vertebral bodies in a patient during percutaneous surgery, comprising the steps of:

providing a surgical instrument having a pair of jaws operably movable relative to each other in a first plane, the space on both sides of said plane and between said jaws defining a work space, the instrument including a fulcrum projecting into said work space and having an axis spaced from said jaws;

coupling a pair of elongate extensions to one each of respective vertebral bodies of the spine, said extensions each having a length to project outwardly of the exterior surface of said patient;

inserting said fulcrum between and in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of said extensions with said jaws disposed exteriorly of said extensions; and

operably moving said jaws relatively toward each other to contact said extensions and pivot said extensions about said fulcrum to cause one of compression and distraction of said vertebral bodies.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said surgical instrument is positioned in a first position to cause compression and is inverted to a second position to cause distraction.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said fulcrum is placed more exteriorly from the exterior surface of the patient than the first plane of said jaws to cause compression of the vertebral bodies.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said fulcrum is placed less exteriorly from the exterior surface of the patient than the first plane of said jaws to cause distraction of the vertebral bodies.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said fulcrum is adjustably movable in a second plane spaced from and substantially parallel to first plane of said jaws.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said fulcrum adjustability is practiced by sliding said fulcrum on an instrument support, said fulcrum sliding in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane of said jaws.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said fulcrum defines a width within said second plane, said width lying in a direction generally the same as the direction between said jaws, said width being adjustable.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said fulcrum width adjustably is practiced by selectively interchanging a plurality of bars each having different widths into an adapter supported by said instrument.