Spinal fixation system
AssigneeNuVasive, Inc.
InventorsPrakhar Goel, Scott Lish, Fernando Olea, Conrad Tyler Hammann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This application describes surgical instruments and implants, including a rod reduction instrument, for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. Extension guides are provided that attach to bone anchors implanted within the spine. The extension guides have a guide channel that align with a rod channel in the anchor to help direct the rod to the anchor. The rod reducer may be passed through the interior of the guide assemblies with a distal end arranged in a first position allowing the distal end to pass through the guide. Once through the guide the distal end may be expanded to provide dual contact on the rod at each end of the bone anchor rod channel.
Claims20
A minimally invasive method of reducing a rod into a bone anchor, comprising:
- introducing the rod into a guide channel of a guide assembly, the guide assembly being coupled to the bone anchor;
- coupling a proximal end of the guide assembly to a connector of a reducer, the reducer including:
- the connector;
- a reduction shaft comprising an upper shaft with exterior threading, a lower shaft coupled to the upper shaft, and a pair of reduction legs at or near a distal end of the lower shaft, the pair of reduction legs being movable between a contracted position and an expanded position,
- wherein in the contracted position, the pair of reduction legs have an effective diameter that approximates a diameter of the reduction shaft, and in the expanded position, the pair of reduction legs extends beyond a distal end of a central shaft;
- the central shaft positioned at least partly within a hollow bore of the reduction shaft, the central shaft comprising a rotation grip fixedly attached at or near a proximal end thereof;
- and
- a reduction grip positioned proximal to the connector, wherein the exterior threading of the upper shaft mates with an interior threading of the reduction grip;
- advancing the reduction shaft in a distal direction through the guide assembly while the pair of reduction legs is in the contracted position;
- fixing a position of the guide assembly and the bone anchor relative to the connector;
- advancing the pair of reduction legs in the distal direction to the expanded position;
- rotating the reduction grip, causing the reduction shaft to translate distally relative to the guide assembly and the rod, and drawing the rod and the bone anchor together.
A minimally invasive method of implanting a spinal fixation construct, comprising:
- implanting a bone anchor into a bone of a subject;
- coupling a guide assembly having a guide channel therein, to the bone anchor;
- introducing a fixation rod into the guide channel,
- coupling a proximal end of the guide assembly to a connector of a reducer, the reducer including:
- the connector;
- a reduction shaft comprising an upper shaft with exterior threading, a lower shaft coupled to the upper shaft, and a pair of reduction legs at or near a distal end of the lower shaft, the pair of reduction legs being movable between a contracted position and an expanded position,
- wherein in the contracted position, the pair of reduction legs have an effective diameter that approximates a diameter of the reduction shaft, and in the expanded position, the pair of reduction legs extends beyond a distal end of a central shaft;
- the central shaft positioned at least partly within a hollow bore of the reduction shaft, the central shaft comprising a rotation grip fixedly attached at or near a proximal end thereof;
- and
- a reduction grip positioned proximal to the connector, wherein the exterior threading of the upper shaft mates with an interior threading of the reduction grip;
- advancing the reduction shaft in a distal direction through the guide assembly while the pair of reduction legs is in the contracted position;
- fixing a position of the guide assembly and the bone anchor relative to the connector;
- advancing the pair of reduction legs in the distal direction to the expanded position;
- and
- rotating the reduction grip, causing the reduction shaft to translate distally relative to the guide assembly and the rod, and drawing the rod and the bone anchor together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.