Tool system for dynamic spinal implants
OwnerRoger P. Jacksoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool set for implanting bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws includes a pair of independently mountable and manipulatable elongate guide tools that form a unitary tool guide when desired. Each guide tool includes attachment structure for independent operable connection of the guide tool to an arm of the bone screw. The bone screw/guide tool attachment includes an undercut and/or recess so as to resist separation of the guide tool member from an attached bone screw. Further tools include a removable stabilizer, a cooperating bone screw driver with an attached stabilizer, a closure starter/reduction tool, a closure driver and a counter torque tool.
Claims21
A medical implant holding tool for use with a bone screw that includes a receiver with a pair of opposed sides, each side having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof and a lower first surface projecting downwardly toward a bottom thereof, said holding tool comprising:
- (a) first and second elongated parts defining an elongated channel extending along a length thereof when in mating engagement with the bone attachment receiver;
- (b) each elongated part having implant engaging structure at a lower end thereof for operably mating with one of the opposed sides of the receiver in vertical sliding relationship thereto, the implant engaging structure including a longitudinally oriented raised structure for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating engagement to block horizontal translation between the receiver and the elongated part;
- and
- (c) the first and second elongated parts being independently manipulatable with respect to one another and having variable spatial relationships therebetween during at least a portion of the use thereof.
A medical implant holding tool for use with a bone screw that includes a receiver with a pair of opposed sides, each side having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof, said holding tool comprising:
- (a) first and second elongated parts defining an elongated channel extending along a length thereof when in mating engagement with the bone attachment receiver;
- and
- (b) each elongated part having implant engaging structure at a lower end thereof for operably mating with one of the opposed sides of the receiver in vertical sliding relationship thereto, the implant engaging structure including a longitudinally oriented element for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating engagement to block horizontal translation between the receiver and the elongated part.
In a medical implant holding tool having structure at a lower end thereof that is operably mateable with opposed sides of a bone attachment receiver, each side having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof, the improvement wherein:
- (a) the holding tool has an elongated channel extending along a length thereof defined by first and second elongated parts, each elongated part having receiver engaging structure for attachment to the bone attachment receiver, the receiver engaging structure including a longitudinally oriented element for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating engagement to block horizontal translation between the receiver and the elongated part;
- and
- (b) the first and second parts being independently manipulatable with respect to one another and having variable spatial relationships therebetween during use thereof.
In a combination of a bone attachment structure having a receiver and a medical implant holding tool having receiver attachment structure at a lower end thereof operably mateable with the receiver, the improvement wherein:
- a) the receiver has two arms, each arm having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof;
- b) the tool has an elongated channel along a length thereof formed by a pair of discrete, independently movable elongated parts;
- and
- (c) each elongated part has a longitudinally oriented structure for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating with the opening of a respective arm of the receiver to block horizontal translation between the receiver arm and the elongated part.
In a combination of bone attachment structure having a receiver and a medical implant holding tool having a receiver attachment structure at a lower end thereof operably mateable with the receiver, the improvement comprising:
- (a) the receiver having two arms, each arm having an outwardly opening, vertically oriented slot formed therein and extending to a top surface of the arm;
- and
- (b) the tool including a pair of discrete, independently moveable elongated members, each elongated member having a longitudinally oriented structure for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots of one of the receiver arms for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating with the opening of a respective receiver arm to block horizontal translation between the receiver arm and the elongated member.
In a combination of bone attachment structure having a receiver and a medical implant holding tool having a receiver attachment structure at a lower end thereof operably mateable with the receiver, the improvement comprising:
- (a) the receiver having two arms, each arm including an outwardly opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof;
- and
- (b) the tool including a pair of elongated members, each elongated member having a longitudinally oriented structure for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots of one of the receiver arms for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating with the opening of a respective receiver arm to block horizontal translation between the receiver arm and the elongated member.
A structure for providing a juncture between a bone screw receiver and a holding tool and comprising:
- (a) a vertically oriented slot formed on a side of the receiver;
- the slot opening radially outward and vertically open to the top of the receiver side;
- and
- (b) the tool having a lower end with a vertically aligned projection sized and shaped to be slidingly received with vertical motion into the slot so as to prevent horizontal movement between the tool and the receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.