# US 11,998,243 B2 · Spinal implant system and method

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- Number: US 11,998,243 B2
- Document ID: US11998243B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/919,335
- Filed: 2020-07-02
- Published: 2020-10-22
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2017-02-24
- Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
- Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic Inc.
- Inventors: Dustin Bobbitt; Rex W. Armstrong; David A. Mire; William Alan Rezach
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11998243B2

## CPC

- A61B 17/7032: {Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass}
- A61B 17/7001: {Screws or hooks combined with longitudinal elements which do not contact vertebrae (A61B17/7058 takes precedence)}
- A61B 17/7037: {wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped}
- A61B 17/7038: {to a different extent in different directions, e.g. within one plane only}
- A61B 17/7049: {Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/705: {for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements}
- A61B 17/8605: {Heads, i.e. proximal ends projecting from bone}
- A61B 17/8685: {comprising multiple separate parts}
- A61B 2090/037: {with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A bone fastener comprises a head including a first receiver that defines an implant cavity and a second receiver that defines an implant cavity. The first receiver is connected to the second receiver. A shaft is aligned with the first receiver and configured to engage tissue. A part is disposed within the implant cavity of the second receiver and movable relative thereto in a selected plane of a body. Systems, surgical instruments, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bone fastener comprising:
a head including a first arm, a second arm and a third arm, the third arm extending at an acute angle relative to the first arm, an inner surface of the first arm and an inner surface of the second arm defining a first rod slot, an outer surface of the second arm and an inner surface of the third arm defining a second rod slot, the third arm having a length substantially equal to a length of the first arm, wherein the first arm, the second arm and the third arm are permanently fixed relative to one another;
a shaft attached with the head and configured to engage tissue;
a part movably disposed within the first rod slot such that the part engages the shaft;
a first extender coupled to the first arm; and
a second extender coupled to the second arm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the shaft is attached with the head in a multi-axial configuration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the shaft is attached with the head in a fixed angle configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the first rod slot is permanently fixed relative to the second rod slot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the second rod slot extends parallel relative to the first rod slot in a first plane and at the acute angle relative to the first rod slot in a second plane that extends perpendicular to the first plane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second arms extend parallel to one another.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the first extender is removably connected to the first arm and the second extender is removably connected to the second arm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the first extender is frangibly connected to the first arm and the second extender is frangibly connected to the second arm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the first extender is connected to the first arm at a first reduced diameter portion and the second extender is connected to the second arm at a second reduced diameter portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of the second arm extends parallel to the first arm and a portion of the second arm extends parallel to the third arm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the first extender is continuous with the inner surface of the first arm and an inner surface of the second extender is continuous with the inner surface of the second arm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The bone fastener recited in claim 11, wherein an outer surface of the second extender is continuous with an outer surface of the second arm.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, wherein the part comprises a distal end that engages the shaft and an opposite proximal end disposed within the first rod slot, the proximal end comprising a concave proximal end surface.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The bone fastener recited in claim 1, further comprising a third extender extending from the third arm.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The bone fastener recited in claim 14, wherein an inner surface of the first extender is continuous with the inner surface of the first arm, an inner surface of the second extender being continuous with the inner surface of the second arm, an outer surface of the second extender being continuous with an outer surface of the second arm and an inner surface of the third extender being continuous with the inner surface of the third arm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The bone fastener recited in claim 15, wherein the inner surfaces each include a concave portion positioned between planar portions.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The bone fastener recited in claim 14, wherein the first extender is removably connected to the first arm, the second extender being removably connected to the second arm and the third extender being removably coupled to the third arm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The bone fastener recited in claim 14, wherein the first extender is connected to the first arm at a first reduced diameter portion, the second extender being connected to the second arm at a second reduced diameter portion and the third extender being connected to the third arm at a third reduced diameter portion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The bone fastener recited in claim 14, wherein:
the second and third arms extend parallel to one another; and
the first extender is coaxial with the first arm, the second extender is coaxial with the second arm and the third extender is coaxial with the third arm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The bone fastener recited in claim 14, wherein the second arm is positioned between the first arm and the third arm, the second extender having a width greater than a width of the first extender and a width of the third extender.

### Claim 21 (depends on 14)

The bone fastener recited in claim 14, wherein the second arm is positioned between the first arm and the third arm, the second arm having a width greater than a width of the first arm and a width of the third arm.

### Claim 22

A bone fastener comprising:
a head including a first arm, a second arm and a third arm, the first and second arms extending parallel to one another, the third arm extending at an acute angle relative to the first arm, the third arm having a length equal to a length of the first arm, an inner surface of the first arm and an inner surface of the second arm defining a first rod slot, an outer surface of the second arm and an inner surface of the third arm defining a second rod slot, the first rod slot being permanently fixed relative to the second rod slot, the first rod slot extending parallel to the second rod slot, wherein the first arm, the second arm and the third arm are permanently fixed relative to one another;
a crown movably disposed within the first rod slot;
a shaft engaging the crown, the shaft being attached with the head in a multi-axial configuration;
a first extender removably coupled to the first arm such that the first extender extends parallel to the first arm and an inner surface of the first extender is continuous with the inner surface of the first arm; and
a second extender removably coupled to the second arm such that the second extender extends parallel to the second arm, an inner surface of the second extender being continuous with the inner surface of the second arm and an outer surface of the second extender being continuous with an outer surface of the second arm.

### Claim 23

A bone fastener comprising:
a head including a first arm, a second arm and a third arm, the first and second arms extending parallel to one another, the third arm extending at an acute angle relative to the first arm, the third arm having a length equal to a length of the first arm, an inner surface of the first arm and an inner surface of the second arm defining a first rod slot, an outer surface of the second arm and an inner surface of the third arm defining a second rod slot, the first rod slot being permanently fixed relative to the second rod slot, the first rod slot extending parallel to the second rod slot, wherein the first arm, the second arm and the third arm are permanently fixed relative to one another;
a crown movably disposed within the first rod slot;
a shaft directly engaging the crown, the shaft being attached with the head in a multi-axial configuration;
a first extender removably coupled to the first arm such that the first extender extends parallel to the first arm and an inner surface of the first extender is continuous with the inner surface of the first arm;
a second extender removably coupled to the second arm such that the second extender extends parallel to the second arm, an inner surface of the second extender being continuous with the inner surface of the second arm and an outer surface of the second extender being continuous with an outer surface of the second arm; and
a third extender removably coupled to the third arm such that the third extender extends parallel to the third arm and an inner surface of the third extender is continuous with the inner surface of the third arm.