Instrument for use in surgery

An instrument for use in surgery, the instrument being connectable to a bone anchor insertion device that comprises a drive shaft configured to engage a bone anchor, the drive shaft defining a coaxial channel for receiving a needle therethrough, the instrument comprising:

• a handle portion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner to transmit torque to the drive shaft;
• a needle holder configured to hold a needle and movable translationally in an axial direction relative to the handle portion;
• an actuator rotatable but axially fixed relative to the handle portion;
• and
• a transmission member connectable to the needle holder and rotatable and movable translationally in the axial direction relative to the handle portion to convert rotational movement of the actuator into translational movement of the needle holder relative to the handle portion for translationally advancing and retracting a needle held by the needle holder relative to the handle portion;
• wherein the transmission member comprises a first portion that is rotatable together with the actuator relative to the handle portion, and a second portion configured to hold the needle holder at a fixed rotational orientation relative to the handle portion when the actuator is rotated relative to the handle portion.

A method of implanting a bone anchor into bone with a surgical instrument comprising a bone anchor insertion device that comprises a drive shaft configured to engage the bone anchor, the drive shaft defining a coaxial channel for receiving a needle therethrough, and an instrument comprising a handle portion configured to be coupled to the drive shaft in a rotationally fixed manner to transmit torque to the drive shaft, a needle holder configured to hold a needle and movable translationally in an axial direction relative to the handle portion, an actuator rotatable relative to the handle portion, and a transmission member connectable to the needle holder and movable translationally in the axial direction relative to the actuator and comprising a first advancement surface engageable with a second advancement surface of the handle portion to convert rotational movement of the actuator into translational movement of the needle holder relative to the handle portion for translationally advancing and retracting a needle held by the needle holder relative to the handle portion, the method comprising:

• advancing a bone anchor to the bone while the bone anchor is engaged by the bone anchor insertion device and the bone anchor insertion device is connected to the instrument and when a needle is held by the needle holder and extends distally past a tip of the bone anchor;
• rotating the actuator while holding a rotational orientation of the handle portion to advance the needle into the bone while maintaining an axial position of the bone anchor;
• rotating the handle portion while holding a rotational orientation of the actuator to advance the bone anchor over the needle into the bone while maintaining an axial position of the needle;
• and
• detaching the bone anchor insertion device and the needle from the bone anchor.