# US 10,369,015 B2 · Implant inserter having a laterally-extending dovetail engagement feature

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- Number: US 10,369,015 B2
- Document ID: US10369015B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/364,280
- Filed: 2012-02-01
- Published: 2012-06-14
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-23
- Assignees: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
- Applicants: Thomas Gamache; Michael D. Sorrenti
- Inventors: Thomas Gamache; Michael D. Sorrenti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369015B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61B 17/1631: {Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts (A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/808: {Instruments for holding or positioning bone plates, or for adjusting screw-to-plate locking mechanisms}
- A61B 17/8875: {Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches}
- 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)}
- A61F 2/447: {substantially parallelepipedal, e.g. having a rectangular or trapezoidal cross-section}
- A61B 17/1757: {for the spine}
- A61B 17/80: Cortical plates {, i.e. bone plates; Instruments for holding or positioning cortical plates, or for compressing bones attached to cortical plates}
- A61B 2017/00309: {Cut-outs or slits}
- A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine}
- A61F 2002/30387: {Dovetail connection}
- A61F 2002/30507: {using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw}
- A61F 2002/30578: {having apertures, e.g. for receiving fixation screws}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30782: {inclined obliquely}
- A61F 2002/30823: {having the shape of a reverse dovetail}
- A61F 2002/30904: {serrated profile, i.e. saw-toothed}
- A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument}
- A61F 2002/4629: {connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection}
- A61F 2002/4635: {using minimally invasive surgery}
- A61F 2002/4687: {Mechanical guides for implantation instruments}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A spinal implant inserter having a) an outer sleeve having a bore, and b) a forked inner shaft having a proximal rod and a pair of distal tynes extending therefrom, each distal tyne comprising an engagement feature having a laterally-extending dovetail feature. An assembly comprising the implant inserter and an implant having a pair of mating dovetail features.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flexible bone screw driver comprising:
a) a proximal handle,
b) an intermediate shaft,
c) a flexible distal end portion comprising a plurality of interlocking segments portion defining a periphery and a distal tip adapted to engage a screw head, and
d) a flexible pre-bent sleeve that is configured to be placed radially over and around the plurality of interlocking segments to provide a loaded configuration,
wherein the plurality of interlocking segments portion is substantially straight in its unloaded configuration,
whereby the pre-bent sleeve pre-determines the trajectory of the tip in the loaded configuration,
wherein the sleeve substantially contacts at least one-half of the periphery of the plurality of interlocking segments portion,
wherein the sleeve is adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis during torque transmission when the distal tip is received in a proximal head of an implanted bone screw,
wherein a distal end of the sleeve is proximal to the distal tip of the flexible distal end portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The driver of claim 1 wherein the pre-bent sleeve comprises a longitudinal slit.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

An assembly comprising:
a) a fusion cage comprising a front wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a back wall, and top and bottom surfaces adapted for gripping opposed vertebral endplates, wherein the front wall comprises at least one threaded throughhole,
b) a bone screw received in the threaded throughhole, the bone screw having a threaded shaft and a proximal head,
c) the driver of claim 1,
wherein the distal tip of the inserter is received in the proximal head of the bone screw, wherein the first bone screw extends through the top surface of the cage.