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US 12,697,157 B2Granted
Retaining driver system
AssigneeNexus Spine, LLC
InventorDaniel Manwill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for providing and using improved retaining drivers and screws. An undercut feature of the bone screw allows a corresponding selectively protruding retaining feature of the driver engage the undercut feature to retain the bone screw on the driver until selectively released.
Claims16
A retaining driver for bone screws, the retaining driver comprising:
- a shaft comprising:
- a proximal end of the shaft;
- and
- a distal end of the shaft;
- an elongate channel extending within the shaft from the distal end of the shaft toward the proximal end of the shaft;
- a retaining tip on the distal end of the shaft, wherein the retaining tip comprises:
- a geometric profile adapted to permit transference of rotational torque to a corresponding geometric profile of a bone screw;
- a window formed on a side of the retaining tip and forming a passage communicating with the elongate channel;
- and
- a retaining element disposed within the passage and sized to be able to protrude from the window but not to pass entirely through the window;
- an elongate actuator at least partially and movingly disposed within the elongate channel, the elongate actuator comprising a distal shape that is configured to displace the retaining element axially outward in the passage to protrude through the window when the elongate actuator is advanced distally in the elongate channel and which permits the retaining element to move axially inward in the passage when the elongate actuator is displaced proximally within the elongate channel;
- an interface affixed to the proximal end of the shaft to permit affixation of the interface to a handle to facilitate holding of the retaining driver by a practitioner and application of rotational torque thereto;
- a trigger functionally secured to a proximal end of the elongate actuator and disposed on the shaft, such that actuation of the trigger causes the elongate actuator to move so as to cause the retaining element to move axially outward or to be released to selectively permit inward axial movement of the retaining element;
- and
- an articulating joint on the shaft facilitating transference of rotational torque at the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft even when the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft are not coaxial.
12 more elements
A retaining driver system comprising:
- a bone screw comprising:
- a threaded shaft comprising:
- a proximal end of the threaded shaft;
- and
- a distal tip of the threaded shaft;
- a screw head extending proximally from the proximal end of the threaded shaft;
- a drive feature extending distally into the screw head from a drive feature opening, the drive feature comprising:
- a geometric profile of the bone screw adapted to receive transference of rotational torque when driving the bone screw into bone or when removing the bone screw from bone;
- and
- an undercut feature disposed within the drive feature distally from the drive feature opening, such that a diameter of the drive feature distal to the drive feature opening is greater than a diameter of the drive feature opening directly proximate to the undercut feature;
- a retaining driver comprising:
- a shaft comprising:
- a proximal end of the shaft;
- and
- a distal end of the shaft;
- an elongate channel extending within the shaft from the distal end of the shaft toward the proximal end of the shaft;
- a retaining tip on the distal end of the shaft, wherein the retaining tip comprises:
- a geometric profile of the retaining tip adapted to permit transference of rotational torque to the geometric profile of the bone screw;
- a window formed on a side of the retaining tip so as to be aligned with the undercut feature of the bone screw when the retaining tip is fully inserted into the drive feature of the bone screw, the window forming a passage communicating with the elongate channel;
- and
- a retaining element disposed within the passage and sized to be able to protrude from the window but not to pass entirely through the window;
- an elongate actuator at least partially and movingly disposed within the elongate channel, the elongate actuator comprising a distal shape that displaces the retaining element axially outward in the passage to protrude through the window when the elongate actuator is advanced distally in the elongate channel and which permits the retaining element to move axially inward in the passage when the elongate actuator is displaced proximally within the elongate channel;
- an interface affixed to the proximal end of the shaft to permit affixation of the interface to a handle to facilitate holding of the retaining driver by a practitioner and application of rotational torque thereto;
- a trigger functionally coupled to a proximal end of the elongate actuator and disposed on the shaft, such that actuation of the trigger causes the elongate actuator to move so as to cause the retaining element to move axially outward or to be released to permit inward axial movement of the retaining element;
- and
- an articulating joint on the shaft facilitating transference of rotational torque at the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft even when the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft are not coaxial.
23 more elements
A retaining driver system comprising:
- a bone screw comprising:
- a threaded shaft comprising:
- a proximal end of the threaded shaft;
- and
- a distal tip of the threaded shaft;
- a screw head extending proximally from the proximal end of the threaded shaft;
- a hexalobe drive feature extending distally into the screw head from a drive feature opening, the hexalobe drive feature comprising:
- a hexalobe profile of the bone screw adapted to receive transference of rotational torque when driving the bone screw into a bone or when removing the bone screw from the bone;
- and
- an undercut feature disposed within the hexalobe drive feature distally from the drive feature opening, such that a diameter of the drive feature distal to the drive feature opening is greater than a diameter of the drive feature opening directly proximate to the undercut feature;
- a retaining driver comprising:
- a shaft comprising:
- a proximal end of the shaft;
- and
- a distal end of the shaft;
- an elongate channel extending within the shaft from the distal end of the shaft toward the proximal end of the shaft;
- a retaining tip on the distal end of the shaft, wherein the retaining tip comprises:
- a hexalobe profile of the retaining tip adapted to permit transference of rotational torque to the hexalobe drive feature of the bone screw;
- a window disposed on a side of the retaining tip so as to be aligned with the undercut feature of the bone screw when the retaining tip is fully inserted into the drive feature of the bone screw, the window forming a passage communicating with the elongate channel;
- and
- a retaining element disposed within the passage and sized to be able to protrude from the window but not to pass entirely through the window;
- an elongate actuator at least partially and movingly disposed within the elongate channel, the elongate actuator comprising a distal shape that displaces the retaining element axially outward in the passage to protrude through the window when the elongate actuator is advanced distally in the elongate channel and which permits the retaining element to move axially inward in the passage when the elongate actuator is displaced proximally within the elongate channel;
- and
- an articulating joint on the shaft facilitating transference of rotational torque at the proximal end of the shaft to the distal end of the shaft even when the proximal end of the shaft and the distal end of the shaft are not coaxial.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.