System and method for inserting an intervertebral cage into a spine

• US 11,801,061 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2019
• Issued: 10/31/2023
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Retrospine Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Retrospine Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Seex, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramana, Anu
• Application Number:
  US16/285,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20190321055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0206 with antagonistic arms as supports for retractor elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1604 Chisels; Rongeurs; Punches; Stamps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1659 Surgical rasps, files, planes, or scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1671 for the spine
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7074 Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7092 for checking pedicle hole has correct depth or has an intact wall pedicle drill depth limiters A61B17/1626
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00464 for use with different instruments with hole for different instruments A61B2017/22072
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/44 for the spine, e.g. vertebrae, spinal discs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4455 for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages intervertebral discs A61F2/442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/447 substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4611 of spinal prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/4684 Trial or dummy prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30383 made by laterally inserting a protrusion, e.g. a rib into a complementarily-shaped groove
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30387 Dovetail connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30471 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30593 hollow
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30604 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30904 serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/448 comprising multiple adjacent spinal implants within the same intervertebral space or within the same vertebra, e.g. comprising two adjacent spinal implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/4629 : connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a surgical insertion tool that may have a handle having a longitudinal axis, an extended arm that may be fixed to the handle and have at least two bends to avoid bony features during insertion of an instrument, and an attachment feature configured to attach the instrument to the insertion tool such that the longitudinal axis of the handle intersects the instrument.

Claims

1. An intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly comprising:

a handle having a longitudinal axis;

an intervertebral cage attached to the insertion tool such that a longitudinal axis of the intervertebral cage is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the handle;

an extended arm fixed to the handle and having a first segment extending away from the longitudinal axis of the handle, and a second segment connected to the first segment, wherein the second segment extends towards the longitudinal axis of the handle, to avoid bony features during insertion of the intervertebral cage, and wherein the extended arm terminates at an attachment feature, and wherein the extended arm has a first bend that intersects the longitudinal axis of the handle and a second bend that joins the first segment and the second segment of the extended arm;

the attachment feature configured to attach the intervertebral cage to the insertion tool such that the longitudinal axis of the intervertebral cage is substantially coaxial with the handle and a portion of the attachment feature intersects the longitudinal axis of the handle.

2. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment feature includes a mating plate that is shaped to substantially match a contour of an interior surface of the intervertebral cage.

3. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 1, wherein

the intervertebral cage includes a gate, and an exterior surface of the gate of the intervertebral cage having an attachment receiving feature configured to be coupled to the insertion tool.

4. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the intervertebral cage includes a frame and a gate, and the gate includes a protrusion that is secured within a locking feature fixed to the frame when the gate is in a closed position with respect to the frame.

5. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the intervertebral cage includes a frame and a gate, and wherein the gate includes a key that mates with a key-hole of the frame.

6. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the intervertebral cage includes a frame, and an interior surface of the frame of the intervertebral cage includes an attachment receiving feature configured to be coupled the insertion tool.

7. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly claim 1, wherein the intervertebral cage includes a frame and a gate, and wherein the gate includes a key that mates with a key-hole of the frame.

8. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the intervertebral cage is substantially parallel with, but spaced apart from, the longitudinal axis of the handle.

9. An intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly comprising:

a handle having a longitudinal axis;

an intervertebral cage attached to the insertion tool such that a longitudinal axis of the intervertebral cage is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the handle;

an extended arm having a first portion fixed to the handle, the first portion extending away from the longitudinal axis of the handle, and the extended arm having a second portion connected to the first portion, wherein the second portion extends towards the longitudinal axis of the handle, to avoid bony features during insertion of the intervertebral cage, and wherein the extended arm terminates at an attachment feature, and wherein the extended arm has a first bend that intersects the longitudinal axis of the handle and a second bend that joins the first portion and the second portion of the extended arm;

the attachment feature configured to attach the intervertebral cage to the insertion tool such that the longitudinal axis of the handle intersects a portion of the intervertebral cage.

10. The intervertebral cage insertion tool assembly of claim 9, wherein the longitudinal axis of the intervertebral cage is substantially parallel with, but spaced apart from, the longitudinal axis of the handle.