# US 8,540,725 B2 · Instruments, implants and methods for positioning implants into a spinal disc space

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,540,725 B2
- Document ID: US8540725B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/530,776
- Filed: 2012-06-22
- Published: 2012-10-18
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2005-04-15
- Applicants: Roy Lim; Steven D. DeRiddar
- Inventors: Roy Lim; Steven D. DeRiddar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540725B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/4465: {having a circular or kidney shaped cross-section substantially perpendicular to the axis of the spine}
- A61F 2/4611: {of spinal prostheses}
- A61F 2/4603: {for insertion or extraction of endoprosthetic joints or of accessories thereof}
- A61F 2002/30133: {kidney-shaped or bean-shaped}
- A61F 2002/30538: {for adjusting angular orientation}
- A61F 2002/30593: {hollow}
- A61F 2002/30772: {Apertures or holes, e.g. of circular cross section}
- A61F 2002/30787: {inclined obliquely with respect to each other}
- A61F 2002/30843: {Pyramidally-shaped}
- A61F 2002/4627: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about the instrument axis or the implantation direction, e.g. telescopic, along a guiding rod, screwing inside the instrument}
- A61F 2002/4628: {with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping}
- A61F 2230/0015: Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped
- A61F 2250/0006: for adjusting angular orientation
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Instruments, implants and methods are provided for positioning spinal implants in a spinal disc space between adjacent vertebrae. The instruments provide a low profile engagement with the implants and facilitate insertion while minimizing tissue retraction and exposure of the tissue and neural elements to the instrumentation in the approach to the disc space.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An instrument for inserting a spinal implant, comprising:
a proximal handle assembly;
a shaft assembly extending distally from said handle assembly along a longitudinal axis, wherein said shaft assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft, wherein said first shaft and second shaft are substantially parallel to one another forming a passage therebetween and a locking shaft movably received in said passage; and
a grasper assembly at a distal end of said shaft assembly, said grasper assembly including first and second arms, wherein said first and second arms are remotely operable for movement relative to one another between an engaging position to engage the implant therebetween and a release position to disengage the implant from therebetween, said first arm being structured for rotatable receipt in a recessed area of the implant in said release position and said second arm being linearly movable relative to said first arm for positioning in a receptacle of the implant in said engaging position to prevent said first arm from rotating in the receptacle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1, wherein said grasper assembly is structured to hold the implant in an orientation extending generally along the longitudinal axis in the initial position and in an orientation substantially obliquely oriented to the longitudinal axis in the final position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A method for manipulating a spinal implant with the inserter instrument of claim 2, comprising:
positioning a trailing end of the spinal implant adjacent first and second arms at a distal end of the inserter instrument;
engaging the spinal implant to at least one of the first and second arms with the spinal implant generally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the inserter instrument;
pivoting the spinal implant to a final position substantially obliquely oriented to the longitudinal axis by pivoting the first and second arms relative to the distal end of the inserter instrument while maintaining the implant in engagement with the first and second arms of the inserter instrument; and
releasing the implant from between the first and second arms when the spinal implant is in the final position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein positioning the trailing end of the spinal implant includes gripping the trailing end of the implant between the first and second arms of the inserter instrument.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein gripping the trailing end includes pivoting the second arm relative to and towards the first arm to grasp the trailing end of the spinal implant between the first and second arms.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein pivoting the implant to the final position includes simultaneously pivoting the first and second arms about a distal end of a shaft assembly of the inserter instrument.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein engaging the spinal implant includes positioning a distal end of the first arm in a recessed area adjacent a posterior wall of the spinal implant.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein pivoting the spinal implant to the final position includes pivoting the spinal implant about the distal end of the first arm to align a receptacle in a trailing end wall of the spinal implant with the second arm.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein engaging the spinal implant includes linearly advancing a distal end portion of the second arm into the receptacle.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The instrument of claim 1, wherein the first arm includes a spherically shaped distal portion that is rotatably received in a complementary shaped recessed area in the implant.

### Claim 11

A spinal instrumentation system for interbody procedures, comprising:
a spinal implant having a body including a recessed area and a receptacle;
an inserter instrument comprising:
a handle assembly;
a shaft assembly extending distally from said handle assembly along a longitudinal axis; and
a grasper assembly at a distal end of said shaft assembly, said grasper assembly including a first arm position able in said recessed area of said spinal implant and a second arm along said axis linearly movable into said receptacle of said spinal implant when said receptacle is aligned on said longitudinal axis to lock said implant in position in said grasper assembly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said first arm is positionable along an anterior wall portion of said implant and said second arm is positionable along a posterior wall portion of said implant.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein said body includes a recessed area along said trailing end wall portion and said anterior wall portion for receiving said first arm, and said trailing end wall portion further includes a receptacle for receiving said second arm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said body includes a toe between the recessed area and the receptacle configured to lock the implant to the grasper.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said first arm includes a spherically shaped distal portion that is rotatably received in a complementary shaped recessed area in the implant.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said shaft assembly includes an outer shaft with a passage formed therethrough, said shaft assembly further including a locking shaft moveably received in said passage.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein said locking shaft includes a lock screw at a proximal end thereof threadingly engaged with a locking driver of said handle assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein said locking driver is configured to translate the locking shaft distally and proximally such that the locking shaft is translated distally to engage the implant and the proximally to disengage the implant.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the second arm is positioned at the distal end of the locking shaft.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said implant includes an outer surface configured to contact vertebral endplates including pyramidally shaped teeth, grooves, spikes, knurlings, peaks, valleys or combinations thereof.