INSTRUMENT FOR REDUCTION OF A VERTEBRAL ROD AND METHOD OF USE
First Claim
1. An instrument for moving a vertebral rod into an anchor attached to a vertebral member, the instrument comprising:
- a gripper including opposing first and second jaws disposed about a longitudinal axis, each of the opposing first and second jaws having a distal end to attach to the anchor, and a proximal end;
an elongated shaft extending along the longitudinal axis and operably engaged with the gripper, the elongated shaft including a threaded outer surface;
a reducing element disposed about the first and second jaws of the gripper and configured to engage with the vertebral rod; and
a release device disposed about the elongated shaft, the release device being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the elongated shaft;
wherein when the release device is in the first position, the release device is substantially disengaged from the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft such that the reducing element is slidable along the longitudinal axis relative to the gripper; and
wherein when the release device is in the second position, the release device is threadably engaged with the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft such that a relative movement of the elongated shaft and the reducing element along the longitudinal axis moves the vertebral rod towards the distal ends of the gripper and into the anchor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An instrument and method for reducing a vertebral rod into an anchor attached to a vertebral member. The instrument may include a gripper configured to attach to an anchor, an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposing jaws of the gripper, and a reducing element disposed at least partially outside the first and second jaws of the gripper and configured to engage with the vertebral rod. A release device may also be disposed about the elongated shaft and may be movable relative thereto such that the release device may be selectively engaged with a threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft. The reducing element may therefore be alternatively slidable relative to the gripper or threadably movable relative to the gripper by interaction with the elongated shaft, depending on a position of the release device.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An instrument for moving a vertebral rod into an anchor attached to a vertebral member, the instrument comprising:
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a gripper including opposing first and second jaws disposed about a longitudinal axis, each of the opposing first and second jaws having a distal end to attach to the anchor, and a proximal end; an elongated shaft extending along the longitudinal axis and operably engaged with the gripper, the elongated shaft including a threaded outer surface; a reducing element disposed about the first and second jaws of the gripper and configured to engage with the vertebral rod; and a release device disposed about the elongated shaft, the release device being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the elongated shaft; wherein when the release device is in the first position, the release device is substantially disengaged from the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft such that the reducing element is slidable along the longitudinal axis relative to the gripper; and wherein when the release device is in the second position, the release device is threadably engaged with the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft such that a relative movement of the elongated shaft and the reducing element along the longitudinal axis moves the vertebral rod towards the distal ends of the gripper and into the anchor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of moving a vertebral rod into a bone anchor attached to a vertebral member, the method comprising:
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positioning the vertebral rod within a capturing space formed between a reducing element and an opposing first and second jaws of a gripper that are attached to the bone anchor, the reducing element disposed at least partially about an outer surface of the first and second jaws of the gripper; sliding the reducing element along a longitudinal axis towards the vertebral rod, the longitudinal axis extending between the opposing first and second jaws, by disengaging a release device disposed about a threaded outer surface of an elongated shaft, the elongated shaft being operably engaged with the gripper; engaging the reducing element with the vertebral rod; and reducing the vertebral rod into the bone anchor by engaging the release device with the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft and moving the release device and the elongated shaft relative to one another to move the reducing element along the longitudinal axis towards the bone anchor. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An instrument for moving a vertebral rod into an anchor attached to a vertebral member, the instrument comprising:
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a gripper including opposing first and second jaws disposed about a longitudinal axis, each of the opposing first and second jaws having a distal end to attach to the anchor, and a proximal end; an elongated shaft extending along the longitudinal axis and operably engaged with the gripper, the elongated shaft including a threaded outer surface; a reducing element disposed about the first and second jaws of the gripper and configured to engage with the vertebral rod; and a release device disposed about the elongated shaft, the release device including at least one pin member extending along a pin axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the release device being pivotable between a first position and a second position relative to the elongated shaft; wherein when the release device is in the first position, the pin member is substantially disengaged from the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft such that the reducing element is slidable along the longitudinal axis relative to the gripper; and wherein when the release device is in the second position, the pin member is engaged between a pair of adjacent threads disposed on the threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft such that a relative movement of the elongated shaft and the reducing element along the longitudinal axis moves the vertebral rod towards the distal ends of the gripper and into the anchor.
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Specification