# US 12,178,721 B1 · Bone joint inserter device and methods of use thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,721 B1 - Document ID: US12178721B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/716,361 - Filed: 2022-04-08 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-12 - Assignees: SeaSpine, Inc. - Applicants: SeaSpine, Inc. - Inventors: Nicholas Alexander Russell; Robert Alan Hart; Gregory Michael Mundis, Jr.; Erik Christian Anders Olsson; Seth Kevin Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178721B1 ## CPC - A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses} - 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) ## Abstract A bone joint inserter device for accessing and manipulating a facet joint is provided. The bone joint inserter device improves surgical control in bone anchor location, placement, and insertion into target bone, while the inserter device also improves efficiency in engaging the target bone joint. The surgical instrument provides improved control of cutting device location and orientation, including directional control for precise bone anchor component insertion. Methods to use the bone joint inserter device in surgical procedures are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising a bone joint inserter device comprising: (a) a proximal section comprising an inserter head, wherein said inserter head comprises: (i) a face, wherein said face is configured to engage a bone surface; (ii) at least one prong, wherein said at least one prong is configured to engage a bone joint by sliding the at least one prong into the bone joint until the face engages the corresponding bone surface or other material near the bone joint; (iii) a first channel comprising a first entry port and a first exit port, wherein said first entry port is at least as wide as said first exit port, and wherein said first channel is oriented at an acute angle relative to a center line of said inserter head; and (iv) a second channel comprising a second entry port and a second exit port, wherein said second entry port is at least as wide as said second exit port, and wherein said second channel is oriented at an acute angle relative to the center line of said inserter head; wherein said first channel and said second channel are laterally oriented at opposite angles relative to the center line of said inserter head; (b) a distal section comprising a notch operably receiving and positively orienting a drill, a cutting tool, a stylet, or a tamp; (c) a shaft disposed between said proximal section and said distal section; and (d) a lumen extending along a central axis of the inserter device from said distal section through said shaft and through said proximal section. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 1, wherein said proximal section is fixedly interconnected to said shaft, and said shaft is fixedly interconnected to said distal section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 1, wherein said face comprises a contact surface shape comprising flat, angled, curved, concave, convex, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one prong comprises an end shape comprising pointed, tapered, beveled, chiseled, blunt, rounded, or square. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 1, wherein the notch operably orients a compatible device substantially parallel to the central axis of said inserter device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 1, wherein said distal section comprises a lumen entry port shape comprising round, rectangular, square or elliptical. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 1, wherein a width of said first entry port is wider than said first exit port, and a width of said second entry port is wider than said second exit port. ### Claim 8 A system comprising a bone joint inserter device comprising: (a) a proximal section comprising an inserter head, wherein said inserter head comprises: (i) a superior portion comprising a face, wherein said face is configured to engage a bone surface; (ii) an inferior portion comprising at least one prong, wherein said at least one prong is configured to engage a bone joint by sliding the at least one prong into the bone joint until the face engages the corresponding bone surface or other material near the bone joint; (iii) a first channel comprising a first entry port and a first exit port, wherein said first entry port is at least as wide as said first exit port, and wherein said first channel is oriented at an acute angle relative to a center line of said inserter head; and (iv) a second channel comprising a second entry port and a second exit port, wherein said second entry port is at least as wide as said second exit port, and wherein said second channel is oriented at an acute angle relative to the center line of said inserter head; wherein said first channel and said second channel are laterally oriented at opposite angles relative to the center line of said inserter head; (b) a distal section comprising a notch operably receiving and positively orienting a drill, a cutting tool, a stylet, or a tamp; (c) a shaft disposed between said proximal section and said distal section; and (d) a lumen extending along a central axis of the inserter device from said distal section through said shaft and through said proximal section. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 8, wherein said proximal section is fixedly interconnected to said shaft, and said shaft is fixedly interconnected to said distal section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 8, wherein said face comprises a contact surface shape comprising flat, angled, curved, concave, convex, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 8, wherein said at least one prong comprises an end shape comprising pointed, tapered, beveled, chiseled, blunt, rounded, or square. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 8, wherein the notch operably orients a compatible device substantially parallel to the central axis of said inserter device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 8, wherein said distal section comprises a lumen entry port shape comprising round, rectangular, square, or elliptical. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 8, wherein a width of said first entry port is wider than said first exit port, and a width of said second entry port is wider than said second exit port. ### Claim 15 A system comprising a bone joint inserter device comprising: (a) a proximal section comprising an inserter head, wherein said inserter head comprises: (i) a superior portion comprising a face, wherein said face is configured to engage a bone surface; (ii) an inferior portion comprising at least one prong, wherein said at least one prong is configured to engage a bone joint by sliding the at least one prong into the bone joint until the face engages the corresponding bone surface or other material near the bone joint; (iii) a first channel comprising a first entry port and a first exit port, wherein said first entry port is at least as wide as said first exit port, and wherein said first channel is oriented at an acute angle relative to a center line of said inserter head; (iv) a second channel comprising a second entry port and a second exit port, wherein said second entry port is at least as wide as said second exit port, and wherein said second channel is oriented at an acute angle relative to the center line of said inserter head; and (v) a center channel comprising a central entry port and a central exit port, wherein said central entry port is at least as wide as said central exit port, and wherein said center channel is disposed between said first channel and said second channel; wherein said first channel and said second channel are laterally oriented at opposite angles relative to the center line of said inserter head; (b) a distal section comprising a notch operably receiving and positively orienting a drill, a cutting tool, a stylet, or a tamp; (c) a shaft disposed between said proximal section and said distal section; and (d) a lumen extending along a central axis of the inserter device from said distal section through said shaft and through said proximal section. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 15, wherein said proximal section is fixedly interconnected to said shaft, and said shaft is fixedly interconnected to said distal section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 15, wherein said face comprises a contact surface shape comprising flat, angled, curved, concave, convex, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 15, wherein said at least one prong comprises an end shape comprising pointed, tapered, beveled, chiseled, blunt, rounded, or square. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 15, wherein a width of said first entry port is wider than said first exit port, and a width of said second entry port is wider than said second exit port. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) A system comprising a bone joint inserter device according to claim 15, wherein said first entry port comprises two holes arranged in a vertically stacked configuration, and said second entry port comprises two holes arranged in a vertically stacked configuration.