Wrench for an implant

• US 6,330,845 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Technology Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Inventors: Meulink, Steven L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, James G.
• Application Number:
  US09/572,347
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 814/62, 811/801, 606/104, 623/22.12
• US Class Current: 81/462
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/367 Proximal or metaphyseal parts of shafts trochanteric devices connected to said proximal parts A61F2/30739
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/3676 Distal or diaphyseal parts of shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4603 for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4637 for connecting or disconnecting two parts of a prosthesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4657 Measuring instruments used for implanting artificial joints for surgical instruments A61B90/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30332 Conically- or frustoconically-shaped protrusion and recess
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30433 using additional screws, bolts, dowels, rivets or washers e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30507 using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30558 Force-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30708 Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices, Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30774 internally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3079 Stepped or enlarged apertures, e.g. having discrete diameter changes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30828 parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30886 externally-threaded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3625 Necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/365 Connections of heads to necks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3674 Connections of proximal parts to distal parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/3694 with longitudinal bores
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4638 : Tools for performing screwing, e.g. nut or screwdrivers, or particular adaptations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4667 : for measuring torque
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 : Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 : made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 : using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0074 : Torque-limiting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0084 : Means for distinguishing between left-sided and right-sided devices; Sets comprising both left-sided and right-sided prosthetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0078 : Reaction arms

Abstract

A wrench assembly used to restrain an implant while applying a torque to a portion of the implant. The wrench assembly conveniently restrains the implant relative to the torque whether the implant is implanted or not. In the case where the implant is first implanted, the wrench assembly guards against displacing the implant or splitting the bone. The wrench assembly includes a handle and a socket shaft depending from the handle in torque transmitting relation. A socket is coupled to the socket shaft in torque transmitting relation. The socket has an implant engaging portion for engaging the implant in torque transmitting relation. The socket further has a through hole aligned with the portion of the implant. A driving shaft passes through the through hole in the socket and engages the portion of the implant such that with the handle torsionaly fixed, the implant is torsionaly fixed by way of the handle, socket shaft, socket and implant connections. The driving shaft is movable relative to the socket to impart an opposing torque on the portion of the implant.

Claims

1. A wrench assembly for restraining an implant while applying a torque to the implant, the assembly comprising:

a handle;

a socket shaft depending from the handle in torque transmitting relation;

a socket coupled to the socket shaft in torque transmitting relation, the socket having an implant engaging portion for engaging the implant in torque transmitting relation, the socket further having a through hole aligned with a portion of the implant; and

a driving shaft passing through the through hole in the socket and engaging the portion of the implant such that with the handle torsionaly fixed, the implant is torsionaly fixed by way of the handle, socket shaft, socket and implant connections, and the driving shaft is movable relative to the socket to impart an opposing torque on the portion of the implant.

2. The wrench assembly of claim 1 further comprising a driving shaft stabilizer attached to one of the handle and the socket shaft, the driving shaft stabilizer being spaced from the socket and having a through hole aligned with the through hole in the socket, the driving shaft passing through both the hole in the stabilizer and the hole in the socket.

3. The wrench assembly of claim 2 wherein the driving shaft stabilizer includes a plurality of through holes in an angular array relative to the socket shaft, the socket being selectively attachable to the socket shaft in alternate positions, there being a distinct alternate position corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes in the driving shaft stabilizer in which each of the corresponding through holes in the driving shaft stabilizer is alternately aligned with the through hole in the socket.

4. The wrench assembly of claim 3 wherein the socket is coupled to the socket shaft with a square male/female coupling so that there are four distinct alternate positions of the socket relative to the shaft.

5. The wrench assembly of claim 4 wherein the male/female coupling includes a ball detent to positively retain the socket on the socket shaft.

6. The wrench assembly of claim 1 further comprising a torque wrench in driving connection with the driving shaft, the torque wrench having a handle and a torque indicator.

7. The wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the socket is made of a material softer than the portion of the implant that the socket engages.

8. The wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the socket is made of a polymer.

9. The wrench assembly of claim 1 wherein the driving shaft is in engagement with a threaded member coupled to the implant.

10. The wrench assembly of claim 9 wherein the driving shaft is in engagement with a retaining nut threadably engaged with the implant.

11. A wrench assembly for restraining a multicomponent hip implant while applying a torque to a fastener connecting the multiple components together, the hip implant including a distal stem component and a proximal body component, the proximal body component having a tapered neck portion, the assembly comprising:

a handle;

a socket shaft depending from the handle in torque transmitting relation, the socket shaft and handle being approximately perpendicular to one another;

a socket coupled to the socket shaft in torque transmitting relation, the socket having a portion for engaging the neck taper portion of the implant in torque transmitting relation, the socket further having a through hole aligned with the fastener; and

a driving shaft passing through the through hole in the socket and engaging the fastener such that with the handle torsionaly fixed, the implant is torsionaly fixed by way of the handle, socket shaft, socket and implant connections, and the driving shaft is movable relative to the socket to impart an opposing torque on the fastener.

12. The wrench assembly of claim 11 further comprising a driving shaft stabilizer attached to one of the handle and the socket shaft, the driving shaft stabilizer being spaced from the socket and having a plurality of through holes arranged in an angular array relative to the socket shaft, the socket being selectively attachable to the socket shaft in alternate positions, there being a distinct alternate position corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes in the driving shaft stabilizer in which each of the corresponding through holes in the driving shaft stabilizer is alternately aligned with the through hole in the socket, the driving shaft passing through the aligned holes.

13. The wrench assembly of claim 11 wherein the neck taper engaging portion of the socket includes a notch shaped to receive the neck taper.

14. The wrench assembly of claim 11 wherein the socket is made out of a polymer.

15. A method for restraining an implant while applying a torque to the implant, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a wrench assembly comprising a handle, a socket shaft depending from the handle in torque transmitting relation, a socket coupled to the socket shaft in torque transmitting relation, the socket having an implant engaging portion for engaging the implant in torque transmitting relation, the socket further having a through hole;

engaging the socket with the implant;

inserting the driving shaft through the through hole;

engaging the driving shaft with a portion of the implant; and

applying opposing torque to the handle and driving shaft.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

providing the wrench assembly with a driving shaft stabilizer attached to one of the handle and the socket shaft, the driving shaft stabilizer being spaced from the socket and having a plurality of through holes arranged in an angular array relative to the socket shaft, the socket being attachable to the socket shaft in alternate positions, there being a distinct alternate position corresponding to each of the plurality of through holes in the driving shaft stabilizer in which each of the corresponding through holes in the driving shaft stabilizer is alternately aligned with the through hole in the socket;

aligning the through hole in the socket with the portion of the implant;

attaching the socket to the socket shaft so that the handle is pointing in a desirable direction;

selecting the hole in the stabilizer that is aligned with the hole in the socket; and

inserting the driving shaft through the aligned holes to engage the portion of the implant.