Rod persuader

An apparatus for urging an orthopedic rod into a recess of an orthopedic device, comprising:

• a body having a first end and a second end, said second end being releasably attachable to the orthopedic device;
• a pusher member slidingly coupled to said body;
• and
• a trigger coupling said pusher member to said body, wherein actuation of said trigger translates said pusher member toward said second end into contact with the orthopedic rod and further urges the orthopedic rod into the recess of the orthopedic device;
• a ratchet for controlling the translation of said pusher member in steps, wherein said ratchet locks at each step to prevent the pusher member from translating away from the orthopedic rod.

An apparatus for securing a spinal rod to a pedicle screw, comprising:

• a generally longitudinal body defining a channel on a top side, said body being capable to releasably grip the pedicle screw;
• a generally longitudinal pusher member adjacent to said body and defining a channel on a bottom side, said channel of said body and said channel of said slide forming a cannula being capable of receiving a fastener for securing the spinal rod to the pedicle screw and a driver for tightening the fastener;
• a trigger slidingly coupling said pusher member to said body, wherein actuation of said trigger translates said slide toward and into contact with the spinal rod and further urges the spinal rod into a recess of the pedicle screw;
• a ratchet for controlling the translation of said pusher member in steps;
• a grip extending angularly from an end of said body;
• a handle extending from said trigger, said handle being movable toward said grip to actuate said trigger and thereby, translate said pusher member toward the spinal rod;
• and
• an elastic member operatively associated with said handle and said grip to hold said handle in a normally open position, wherein said elastic member locks said ratchet at each step

A method for securing an orthopedic rod to an orthopedic device using a rod persuader including a body having a grip extending therefrom, a pusher member, and a trigger coupling said pusher member to said body and having a handle extending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

• holding the rod persuader in a single hand at the grip and handle;
• engaging the orthopedic device via a pair of fingers extending from the body;
• displacing the handle toward the grip to actuate the trigger and thereby translating the pusher member toward the engaged orthopedic device;
• contacting the rod with the pusher member while the handle is displaced;
• displacing the handle further to advance the rod into the seat of the orthopedic device;
• securing the rod to the orthopedic device;
• and
• releasing the rod persuader from the orthopedic device.

A method for securing an orthopedic rod to an orthopedic device using a rod persuader including a body having a grip extending therefrom, a pusher member, a trigger coupling the pusher member to the body and having a handle extending therefrom, a ratchet, and an elastic member attaching the handle to the grip, said method comprising:

• holding the rod persuader in a single hand at the grip and handle;
• engaging the orthopedic device via a pair of fingers extending from the body;
• displacing the handle to actuate the trigger and advance the ratchet one step, and thereby translate the pusher member toward the engaged orthopedic device;
• and
• locking the ratchet in position at the one step;
• repeating said displacing step and said locking step until the pusher member contacts the orthopedic rod and the orthopedic rod is translated into the seat of the orthopedic device;
• and
• securing the orthopedic rod to the orthopedic device.