# US 11,439,380 B2 · Surgical instrument connectors and related methods

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- Number: US 11,439,380 B2
- Document ID: US11439380B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/362,497
- Filed: 2019-03-22
- Published: 2019-07-18
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-09-04
- Assignees: Medos International Sarl
- Applicants: Medos International Sarl
- Inventors: Daniel Thommen; Eric Buehlmann; Joern Richter; Peter Senn; Veronique Christine Zollmann; Thomas Gamache; Roman Lomeli; Nicholas Pavento; J. Riley Hawkins; Jae Stelzer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11439380B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/3421: {Cannulas}
- A61B 17/7049: {Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence)}
- 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)}
- A61B 17/708: {with tubular extensions coaxially mounted on the bone anchors}
- A61B 17/88: {Osteosynthesis instruments;} Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal {or external} fixation devices {(A61B17/7074 takes precedence)}
- A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
- A61B 90/57: Accessory clamps
- A61C 8/0096: {Implants for use in orthodontic treatment}
- A61B 17/17: Guides {or aligning means} for drills {, mills, pins or wires}
- A61B 17/1717: {for applying intramedullary nails or pins}
- A61B 17/6466: {with pin-clamps movable along a solid connecting rod}
- A61B 17/8861: {Apparatus for manipulating flexible wires or straps (devices for inserting Kirschner wires A61B17/1697)}
- A61B 90/30: Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
- A61B 2017/00314: {Separate linked members}
- A61B 2017/00389: {Button or wheel for performing multiple functions, e.g. rotation of shaft and end effector}
- A61B 2017/00407: {Ratchet means}
- A61B 2017/00477: {Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2017/00858: {high friction or non-slip}
- A61B 2017/00946: {malleable}
- A61B 2017/00951: {adhesive}
- A61B 2017/0256: {for the spine}
- A61B 2090/3983: {Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery}
- A61B 2090/508: {with releasable brake mechanisms}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)

## Abstract

Connectors for connecting or linking one instrument or object to one or more other instruments or objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a connector can include a first arm with a first attachment feature for attaching to a first object, such as a surgical access device, and a second arm with a second attachment feature for attaching to a second object, such as a support. The connector can have an unlocked state, in which the position and orientation of the access device can be adjusted relative to the support, and a locked state in which movement of the access device relative to the support is prevented or limited. Locking the connector can also be effective to clamp or otherwise attach the connector to the access device and the support, or said attachment can be independent of the locking of the connector.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connector comprising:
a monolithic rigid arm defining an inner passage extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the arm;
an actuation shaft slidably received within the inner passage;
an attachment feature connected to the distal end of the arm, the attachment feature configured to engage an object therein; and
a handle axially centered with respect to an axis of the connector and configured such that rotation of the handle about the axis translates the actuation shaft within the inner passage.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising:
an engagement feature located at a distal end of the actuation shaft, the engagement feature configured to have an open position and a closed position, wherein
in the open position the engagement feature is configured to receive the attachment feature, and in the closed position the engagement feature is configured to hold the attachment feature in contact with the distal end of the rigid arm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising:
a second attachment feature having a first receiving recess, a second receiving recess, and a locking element, wherein
the first receiving recess is configured to receive the rigid arm such that the second attachment feature can translate along the rigid arm, and
the locking element is configured to selectively lock the second attachment feature with respect to the rigid arm.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the inner passage of the rigid arm is coaxially aligned with an inner passage of the handle such that a proximal portion of the actuation shaft is received within the inner passage of the handle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The connector of claim 4, wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction draws the actuation shaft proximally into the handle to lock the attachment feature to the rigid arm.

### Claim 6

A connector comprising:
a first rigid arm having a first inner passage extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the first rigid arm;
a second rigid arm having a second inner passage extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the second rigid arm;
a first actuation shaft and a second actuation shaft slidably received in the respective first and second inner passages;
a first attachment feature and a second attachment feature coupled to the respective distal ends of the first and second rigid arms;
an actuation assembly having a proximal end and a distal end defining a connector axis, the actuation assembly operatively connected to the first and second actuation shafts; and
a handle located at the proximal end of the actuation assembly, wherein
the handle is configured such that rotation of the handle about the connector axis places the first and second attachment features in a locked position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein the first and second rigid arms are selectively rotatable relative to the connector axis and relative to each other.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The connector of claim 7, wherein rotation of the handle in a first direction restricts rotation of the first and second arms relative to the connector axis and relative to each other.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The connector of claim 7, wherein the proximal ends of the first and second rigid arms are coaxially aligned with the connector axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein the distal ends of the first and second rigid arms are configured to be securely received within the respective first and second attachment features.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The connector of claim 10, wherein the distal ends of the first and second rigid arms include a distal flange defining a circumferential groove, wherein
the first attachment feature is configured to engage with the circumferential groove of the first arm to secure the first arm within the first attachment feature, and
the second attachment feature is configured to engage with the circumferential groove of the second arm to secure the second arm within the second attachment feature.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The connector of claim 10, wherein the distal ends of the first and second actuation shafts are configured to engage with a portion of the respective first and second attachment features such that the first and second actuation shafts are coupled to the respective first and second attachment features.

### Claim 13 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein the actuation assembly is configured to convert rotational motion of the handle to translate the first and second actuation shafts radially with respect to the connector axis along the respective first and second inner passage.

### Claim 14 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein the actuation assembly further comprises a control shaft extending along the connector axis and operatively connected to the first and second actuation shafts such that movement of the control shaft along the connector axis results in translation of the first and second actuation shafts.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The connector of claim 14, wherein the handle is configured to rotatably receive a proximal end of the control shaft, such that rotation of the handle in a first direction causes the control shaft to move proximally with respect to the handle, and rotation of the handle in a second direction causes the control shaft to move distally with respect to the handle.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second attachment features comprises a jaw clamp, the jaw clamp configured to move between an open position and a closed position with translation of the first or second actuation shaft.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, wherein the attachment feature applies a pre-load or provisional friction fit to the object engaged therein.

### Claim 18 (depends on 6)

The connector of claim 6, wherein at least one of the first and second attachment features applies a pre-load or provisional friction fit to an object received therein.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The connector of claim 1, further comprising:
a second rigid arm defining an inner passage extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the arm; and
a second actuation shaft slidably received within the inner shaft o the second rigid arm;
wherein rotation of the handle about the axis translates the second actuation shaft within the inner passage of the second rigid arm.

### Claim 20

A connector comprising:
a first rigid arm defining an inner passage extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the arm;
an actuation shaft slidably received within the inner passage;
an attachment feature connected to the distal end of the arm, the attachment feature configured to engage an object therein;
a second rigid arm; and
a handle axially centered with respect to an axis of the connector and configured such that rotation of the handle about the axis translates the actuation shaft within the inner passage of the first rigid arm and locks the relative position between the first rigid arm and the second rigid arm.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The connector of claim 20, wherein rotation of the handle about the axis locks the position of the first rigid arm and the position of the second rigid arm.