# US 10,245,078 B2 · Bone anchor receiver with symmetrical horizontally extending upper tool engaging grooves

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,245,078 B2
- Document ID: US10245078B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/885,443
- Filed: 2018-01-31
- Published: 2018-06-07
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2005-05-27
- Applicants: Roger P. Jackson
- Inventors: Roger P. Jackson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245078B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/7037: {wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped}
- A61B 17/70: Spinal positioners or stabilisers, e.g. stabilisers comprising fluid filler in an implant
- A61B 17/7001: {Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae (A61B17/7058 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/7002: {Longitudinal elements, e.g. rods}
- A61B 17/7032: {Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass}
- A61B 17/7035: {Screws or hooks, wherein a rod-clamping part and a bone-anchoring part can pivot relative to each other}
- A61B 17/704: {the longitudinal element passing through a ball-joint in the screw head}
- 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}
- A61B 17/7091: {for applying, tightening or removing longitudinal element-to-bone anchor locking elements, e.g. caps, set screws, nuts or wedges}
- A61B 17/8605: {Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- F16B 35/005: {Set screws; Locking means therefor}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)

## Abstract

A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a threaded shank body having an upper portion, a receiver member or head, a retaining and articulating structure, and a pressure insert disposed between the shank upper portion and a rod. The receiver has a U-shaped cradle defining a channel for receiving a spinal fixation rod and a receiver cavity. The retaining and articulating structure attaches to the shank and rotates with the shank in the cavity during positioning. The pressure insert presses upon the shank upper portion and not the retaining and articulating structure.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A receiver of a bone anchor, the receiver being configured to accept a rod that is locked in the receiver via a closure top, the receiver comprising:
a receiver body having a longitudinal axis, a base, and a pair of upright arms extending upwardly from the base to define an open channel for receiving the rod, the open channel having a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and opening through front and back outer faces of the receiver body, the upright arms having opposed interior surfaces mateable with the closure top to securely lock the rod within the open channel and top surfaces defining a top of the receiver body, the receiver body having side outer faces opposite the interior surfaces of each upright arm and extending downward across the base to a bottom of the receiver body; and
at least one horizontally-elongated upper tool engaging groove formed into the side outer face of each upright arm, each upper tool engaging groove being spaced an equal distance below the top surfaces and having downwardly-facing surfaces extending to at least one of the front outer face and the back outer face of the receiver body, the upper tool engaging grooves being symmetrically configured about the open channel,
wherein the front and back outer faces of the receiver body include first substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces adjacent and extending below the open channel, the first substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces being perpendicular to the open channel transverse axis and parallel to the receiver longitudinal axis, and
wherein each of the side outer faces of the receiver body include a second substantially planar outwardly-facing surface below the at least one upper tool engaging groove, the second substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces being parallel to both the open channel transverse axis and the receiver longitudinal axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces are parallel with respect to each other.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces are configured to engage a tool.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the first substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces are symmetrically configured in size and shape with respect to each other about the receiver body longitudinal axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the second substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces are formed in at least a portion of each side outer face of the receiver body, each second substantially planar outwardly-facing surface being spaced the same distance below the receiver top side surfaces.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the second substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces further comprise the inner surfaces of lateral recesses formed into at least a portion of each side outer face of the receiver body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The receiver of claim 6, wherein the lateral recesses further comprise tool grip surfaces for positive engagement by a holding tool.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the second substantially planar outwardly-facing surfaces are parallel with respect to each other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the second substantially planar outwardly facing surfaces are symmetrically configured in size and shape with respect to each other about the receiver body longitudinal axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the upper tool engaging grooves are radiused to extend at least partially around a periphery of each upright arm of the pair of upright arms.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the side outer faces of the receiver body further comprise cylindrically-curved surfaces.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the upper tool engaging grooves are located entirely above the rod when the rod is locked in the open channel by the closure top.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the upper tool engaging grooves extend to both the front and back outer faces of the receiver body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the upper tool engaging grooves intersect the open channel.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the downwardly facing surfaces of the upper tool engaging grooves further comprise an undercut or dovetail feature to inhibit splaying of a tool off of the receiver body.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one upper tool engaging groove further comprises a pair of symmetrically spaced apart grooves having the same size and shape with respect to each other on the receiver body.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The receiver of claim 1, wherein the receiver body includes an internal non-threaded recess with a generally downwardly-facing surface configured to overlappingly receive a generally upwardly-facing surface on an insert.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The receiver of claim 17, wherein the internal non-threaded recess is radiused.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

A bone anchor assembly comprising the receiver of claim 1 and further comprising a bone anchor extending downward from the receiver body or configured to extend downward from the receiver body.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 19, wherein the bone anchor is a shank having a shank body with a helically wound bone implantable thread.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 20, wherein the shank further includes a shank head pivotally received within the receiver body.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 21, further comprising an insert configured to engage the shank head, and wherein the receiver body includes an internal non-threaded recess spaced above a lower opening in the receiver body and configured to receive the insert.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 22, wherein the internal non-threaded recess is radiused.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 22, wherein the shank head-engaging insert also engages the rod.

### Claim 25 (depends on 19)

A system comprising the bone anchor assembly of claim 19 and further comprising a holding tool including an attachment structure sized and shaped to be received in the upper tool engaging grooves when the holding tool is coupled with the receiver body of the bone anchor assembly.

### Claim 26 (depends on 19)

A system comprising the bone anchor assembly of claim 19 and further comprising at least one of the rod or the closure top.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein the closure top includes an external splay resisting thread form that threadably engages a threaded discontinuous advancement structure defined on the opposed interior surfaces of the pair of upright arms.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein the closure top is positioned inwardly in the receiver body with respect to the upper tool engaging grooves to engage the rod.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The system of claim 26, wherein the closure top is one of a threaded interchangeable single-piece closure and a two-piece closure.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The system of claim 29, wherein the two-piece closure includes a threaded central set screw with an internal drive and a solid closed off bottom to engage and lock the rod.

### Claim 31 (depends on 19)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 19, further comprising a retainer configured to hold the bone anchor within the receiver body.

### Claim 32 (depends on 19)

The bone anchor assembly of claim 19, wherein the retainer is pivotal with respect to the receiver body.