Spinal fixation tool set and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tool set for implanting a rod in a patient, the tool set comprising:
- a) first and second end guide tools, each guide tool further comprising;
i) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, the channel and channel opening sized and shaped for side loading and receiving of an end of the rod;
ii) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body; and
iii) a rigid holding structure disposed opposite the lateral opening near the bottom of the body and projecting laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding structure sized and shaped to closely receive and abut against the end of the rod.
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Abstract
A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Each end guide tool includes a laterally extending, rigid, rod holding structure located near a bottom surface thereof. Intermediate guide tools having pass-through slots are utilized to guide the rod to the bone screws at intermediate locations.
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Citations
38 Claims
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1. A tool set for implanting a rod in a patient, the tool set comprising:
a) first and second end guide tools, each guide tool further comprising;
i) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, the channel and channel opening sized and shaped for side loading and receiving of an end of the rod;
ii) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body; and
iii) a rigid holding structure disposed opposite the lateral opening near the bottom of the body and projecting laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding structure sized and shaped to closely receive and abut against the end of the rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An end guide tool for use with a spinal implant and an associated rod, the guide tool comprising:
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a) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, the channel and channel opening sized and shaped for side loading and receiving of an end of the rod;
b) opposed spinal implant engaging structure near a bottom of the body; and
c) a rigid holding structure disposed opposite the lateral opening near the bottom of the body and projecting laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding structure sized and shaped to closely receive and abut against the end of the rod. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A vertebral support rod implantation kit adapted for use with a plurality of vertebrae, the kit comprising:
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a) a plurality of polyaxial bone screws, each bone screw being adapted for implantation in one of the vertebrae, each of the bone screws having an attachment structure;
b) an elongate rod having first and second ends, the rod sized and shaped to extend between a pair of end bone screws of the plurality of bone screws;
c) a plurality of closure tops, each closure top sized and shape to mate with a respective bone screw and retain the elongate rod within a cavity defined by the respective bone screw;
d) a pair of end guide tools, each end guide tool having i) an elongate body having a longitudinal axis, an outer surface and a channel with a lateral opening extending through the outer surface and along the longitudinal axis an entire length of the guide tool, the channel and channel opening sized and shaped for side loading and receiving of an end of the rod;
ii) opposed closure top engaging structure near a bottom of the body; and
iii) a rigid holding structure disposed opposite the lateral opening near the bottom of the body and projecting laterally outwardly from the elongate body outer surface, the holding structure sized and shaped to closely receive and abut against the end of the rod. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of fastening a longitudinal member of a spinal fixation apparatus to a bone implant comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a guide tool having a body with a laterally opening channel and an opposed rigid rod holding structure communicating with the channel, the laterally opening channel extending from a top end of the body to a bottom end thereof so as to provide side access to the interior of the body along an entire length thereof, at least a lower portion of the channel opening sized to receive the rod;
b) attaching the guide tool to the bone implant;
c) inserting the rod into the channel opening and subsequently into contact with the rigid rod holding structure;
d) thereafter using the laterally opening channel to guide the rod to the bone implant;
e) inserting a fastener into the channel opening; and
f) connecting the fastener to the implant to securely attach the rod to the implant.
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33. A spinal fixation assembly method comprising:
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a) attaching a bone screw head of a spinal implant screw to a mating attachment structure disposed at an end of an elongate guide tool, the guide tool defining a channel and having a second attachment structure disposed near another end thereof;
b) inserting an elongate driver into the guide tool, the driver having a handle and an attached rotatable fastener;
c) rotating the fastener in a first direction to mate the driver with the guide tool at the second attachment structure and translate the driver into engagement with the spinal implant screw;
d) inserting the attached driver, guide tool and spinal implant into an incision and into contact with a vertebra; and
e) turning the handle and thereby rotating the driver and the spinal implant screw, so as to drive the spinal implant screw into the vertebra. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A guide tool for implanting a spinal rod in a bone screw wherein;
a) said tool is sized and shaped to be connected to the bone screw;
said tool having an elongate channel extending the entire length of said tool;
said channel opening radially outward along the entire length of said tool, so as to form a pass-through passageway from a top to a bottom of said tool.
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38. A spinal implant guide tool for use in implanting a rod in an open headed bone screw including;
a) an elongate body including an attachment structure at a bone screw engaging end adapted for removably attaching the tool to the bone screw;
said body having a side opening channel along the entire length of said tool;
said channel having a top to bottom pass through passageway extending the entire length of said tool and adapted to allow both side loading of the rod and end loading of a closure into the tool opposite said bone screw engaging end and through said channel to said bone screw engaging end.
Specification