ARTICULATING ROD INSERTER

• US 20170360486A1
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spinal Elements, Inc.
• Inventors: Semingson, Taylor, Blain, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,925,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/708 with tubular extensions coaxially mounted on the bone anchors
• 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 2017/564 Methods for bone or joint treatment

Abstract

An articulating rod inserter is configured for use in delivering a fixation rod to an orthopedic fixation system through a cannula or tower. The articulating rod inserter is releasably coupled to a rod and can move the rod from a generally aligned configuration, wherein the longitudinal axes of the rod and rod inserter are generally aligned, to an angled configuration, wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rod inserter. The rod is inserted into the patient through a first tower and then articulated to a second tower such that the rod extends between two or more fixation devices.

Claims

1. A method of delivering a rod onto a fixation system, the method comprising:

providing a rod inserter comprising;

a first member comprising an elongate tube with a passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end;

a second member comprising an elongate shaft configured to move along the passage of the first member;

a rod holder configured to rotate from an aligned configuration wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod holder is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the rod inserter, to an angled configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod holder is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rod inserter;

a mechanism for changing the rod holder between a clamping configuration and a release configuration; and

a rod releasably coupled to the rod holder;

inserting the rod longitudinally through an access channel of a first anchoring device; and

activating an actuator on the rod inserter to transition the rod holder from the aligned configuration to the angled configuration, such that a trailing end of the rod is near the first anchoring device and a leading end of the rod is near a second anchoring device;

accessing the mechanism through the second member to actuate the mechanism from toward a proximal end of the rod inserter.

2. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein actuating the mechanism releases the rod from the rod holder.

3. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, further comprising securing the rod to the first or second anchoring device.

4. The method of delivering a rod of claim 3, wherein securing the rod to the first or second anchoring device comprises fastening a threaded cap onto the first or second anchoring device.

5. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein the first and second anchoring devices are pedicle screws with heads adapted to receive the rod.

6. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, further comprising activating the actuator to transition the rod holder from the angled configuration to the aligned configuration, wherein the rod holder automatically detaches from the rod.

7. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein the second member comprises a longitudinal channel for accessing the mechanism.

8. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein actuating the mechanism comprising using a drive tool.

9. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein the rod holder comprises a leading end pivotally coupled to the distal end of the first member and a trailing end coupled to the second member.

10. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein the second member is connected to the rod holder by one or more linkages.

11. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, wherein activating the actuator comprises rotating a handle.

12. The method of delivering a rod of claim 11, wherein the rotating handle comprises threads that engage complementary threads on the second member to move the second member longitudinally.

13. The method of delivering a rod of claim 1, further comprising an indicator corresponding to the orientation of the rod holder relative to the second member.

14. A method of delivering a rod onto a fixation system, the method comprising:

providing a rod inserter comprising a rod holder configured to rotate from an aligned configuration wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod holder is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the rod inserter, to an angled configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod holder is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rod inserter, and further providing a rod releasably coupled to the rod holder;

inserting the rod longitudinally through an access channel of a first anchoring device; and

activating an actuator on the rod inserter to transition the rod holder from the aligned configuration to the angled configuration, such that a trailing end of the rod is near the first anchoring device and a leading end of the rod is near a second anchoring device;

accessing a mechanism through a longitudinal channel to actuate the mechanism to release the rod from the rod holder.

15. The method of delivering a rod of claim 14, further comprising activating the actuator to transition the rod holder from the angled configuration to the aligned configuration, wherein the rod holder automatically detaches from the rod.

16. The method of delivering a rod of claim 14, wherein the mechanism is actuated from toward a proximal end of the rod inserter.

17. The method of delivering a rod of claim 14, further comprising securing the rod to the first or second anchoring device.

18. The method of delivering a rod of claim 17, wherein securing the rod to the first or second anchoring device comprises fastening a threaded cap onto the first or second anchoring device.

19. The method of delivering a rod of claim 14, wherein the first and second anchoring devices are pedicle screws with heads adapted to receive the rod.