Vertebrae fastener placement guide

• US 7,060,068 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: SDGI Holdings Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tromanhauser, Scott G., Lange, Eric C., Berry, Bret M., Ray, Eddie F. III
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROY DEAN
• Application Number:
  US10/748,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 606/61, 606/96, 606/104
• US Class Current: 606/86.00A
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1615 Drill bits, i.e. rotating tools extending from a handpiece to contact the worked material
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1655 for tapping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1757 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8891 at its periphery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0046 with a releasable handle; with handle and operating part separable for prosthetic joint-implanting tools A61F2/4603
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth

Abstract

A screw placement guide includes a first member having a first guide adapted to contact a first vertebral bone portion and a second member having a second guide adapted to contact a second vertebral bone portion. A clamping mechanism provided on one of the members clamps the first guide and the second guide to the vertebral bone portions. The first guide and the second guide are aligned in order to indicate how a fastener will be aligned when fastened between adjacent vertebrae. A driver engages clamping mechanism to clamp the two members together.

Claims

1. An apparatus for guiding a fastener that fastens a first vertebral bone portion with a second vertebral bone portion, comprising:

a first member having a first guide adapted to contact the first vertebral bone portion, wherein said first guide has a semi-cylindrical shape;

a second member having a second guide aligned with said first guide and adapted to contact the second vertebral bone portion; and

a clamping mechanism provided between said first and second members to clamp said first guide to said first bone portion and said second guide to said second bone portion, wherein said first guide and said second guide are aligned to indicate fastener alignment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second members includes a handle receiving member and a handle removably coupled to said handle receiving member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism to lock relative position between said first and second members.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first guide is adapted to receive a guide tube.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle provided on one of said first and second members.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle provided on said first member and a locking mechanism provided on said first member.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide tube coupled to said second guide.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, farther comprising a trocar provided in said guide tube.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an awl provided in said guide tube for cutting bone.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a drill bit provided in said guide tube.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said drill bit includes depth indicators provided thereon.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a screw driver provided in said guide tube.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said screw driver has a self-retaining screw head.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said screw driver has a hexagonal head.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tap provided in said guide tube.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism clamps the first vertebral bone portion and the second vertebral bone portion together.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism accommodates varying anatomy.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first guide is arcuate.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second guide defines an axis along which the fastener is positioned and said first guide is offset from said axis.

20. An apparatus for guiding a fastener that fastens a first vertebral bone portion with a second vertebral bone portion, comprising:

a first member having a first guide adapted to contact the first vertebral bone portion,

a second member having a second guide aligned with said first guide and adapted to contact the second vertebral bone portion; and

a clamping mechanism provided between said first and second members to clamp said first guide to said first bone portion and said second guide to said second bone portion, wherein said first guide and said second guide are aligned to indicate fastener alignment, wherein first member includes an elongated support arm supporting said first guide at one end thereof and said second member includes an elongated support arm supporting said second guide at one end thereof, said first and second support arms extending parallel to another.

21. An apparatus for guiding a fastener that fastens a first vertebral bone portion with a second vertebral bone portion, comprising:

a first member having first guide adapted to contact the first vertebral bone portion;

a second member having a second guide aligned with the first guide and adapted to contact the second vertebral bone portion;

a clamping mechanism provided between said first and second members to clamp said first guide to said first bone portion and said second guide to said second bone portion, wherein;

said first guide and said second guide are aligned to indicate fastener alignment; and

said second guide defines an axis along which the fastener is positioned and said first guide is offset from said axis.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein one of said first and second members includes a handle receiving member and a handle removably coupled to said handle receiving member.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a locking mechanism to lock relative position between said first and second members.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first guide is adapted to receive a guide tube.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a handle provided on one of said first and second members.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a handle provided on said first member and a locking mechanism provided on said first member.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said first guide has a semi-cylindrical shape.