US 2015/0148853 A1 · SURGICAL CONSTRUCTS AND RELATED METHODS OF INSTALLATION

Abstract

A method of assembling a surgical construct includes installing a fastener within a bone of a patient. A connector rod is positioned on the fastener and an interference or press fit is created between the fastener and the rod, with very little effort required on the surgeon's part. No additional steps are necessary or desirable; the surgeon can simply position the rod over the fastener, and very quickly and accurately couple the two one to another. A securing device can be used to couple the fastener and the rod, and a different device can be used to uncouple the fastener from the rod. The securing device engages the fastener and the rod, and pushes the rod over the fastener as the surgeon activates the gripping mechanism.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device for performing an action selected from the group consisting of coupling a surgical construct to a pedicle screw and uncoupling a surgical construct from a pedicle screw, the device comprising:

a body comprising a handle at a proximal end thereof;
a rod running through the body;
a trigger connected to the rod through a linkage;
and
a construct-engaging tip adapted to secure against distal movement a component of a surgical construct selected from the group consisting of a pedicle screw and a body adapted to be coupled to a pedicle screw;
wherein actuating the trigger causes the rod to move within the body toward the construct-engaging tip such that a distal end of the rod protrudes from the body a distance sufficient to apply a force to a first component of the surgical construct while the construct-engaging tip applies a directionally opposite force to a second component of the surgical construct.

3 more elements

A method for coupling a surgical construct to a pedicle screw, the method comprising:

inserting a screw ball into a first coupler segment of a body of a surgical construct;
inserting a generally cylindrical head of a first pedicle screw into the screw ball within the first coupler segment of the body to create an assembled screw ball-first pedicle screw assembly;
using a body-engaging tip of a locker device to engage underneath the first coupler segment of the body;
and
actuating the locker device to drive the assembled screw ball-first pedicle screw assembly down in the first coupler segment of the body, thereby creating an interference fit between the first coupler segment of the body and the screw ball-first pedicle screw assembly.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surgical constructs and related methods of installation

Life of this patent

Surgical constructs and related methods of installation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20