Rod inserter and insertion tube
AssigneeStryker Spine
InventorsJoshua Stein, Charles L. Bush, JR.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spinal rod insertion instrument includes a hollow, monolithic body having a proximal end and a distal end. The body defines a passageway that extends along a first axis between the proximal and distal ends. The distal end includes first and second arms defining a slot therebetween. The first and second arms are configured to releasably retain a spinal rod therebetween. Also provided is a method of securing a spinal rod to a coupling element attached with a pedicle screw.
Claims21
(canceled)
A spinal rod insertion instrument comprising:
- a hollow, monolithic body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body defining a passageway that extends along a first axis between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end including first and second arms defining a slot therebetween,
- wherein the first and second arms are configured to releasably retain a spinal rod therebetween.
A spinal rod insertion instrument comprising:
- a hollow, monolithic body having a proximal end and a distal end, the body being substantially cylindrical and defining a passageway that extends along a first axis between the proximal and distal ends, the distal end including first and second arms defining a slot therebetween, the first and second arms being configured to releasably retain a spinal rod therebetween,
- wherein the slot defines a retaining aperture extending along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis to releasably secure the spinal rod in a fixed position with respect to the instrument, the retaining aperture defining a diameter when the instrument is in a resting state,
- wherein each arm includes a protrusion disposed distally of the retaining aperture, the protrusions facing each other, the protrusions being separated by a first dimension perpendicular to the first axis when the instrument is in the resting state, the diameter being larger than the first dimension, and
- wherein the passageway of the body has a distal portion and a proximal portion, the distal portion having an inner diameter larger than an inner diameter of the proximal portion.
A method of securing a spinal rod to a coupling element attached with a pedicle screw, the method comprising:
- releasably retaining a spinal rod within a slot defined between first and second arms at a distal end of an insertion instrument, the insertion instrument including a hollow, monolithic body defining a passageway that extends along a first axis between a proximal end and the distal end;
- and
- contacting the insertion instrument with a coupling element of a screw assembly including a pedicle screw to align the spinal rod within a channel of the coupling element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.