# US 9,750,546 B2 · Articulating rod inserter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,546 B2 - Document ID: US9750546B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/822,780 - Filed: 2015-08-10 - Published: 2016-02-11 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-11 - Assignees: Spinal Elements, Inc. - Applicants: Spinal Elements, Inc. - Inventors: Taylor Semingson; Jason Blain - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750546B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/7085: {for insertion of a longitudinal element down one or more hollow screw or hook extensions, i.e. at least a part of the element within an extension has a component of movement parallel to the extension's axis} - A61B 17/708: {with tubular extensions coaxially mounted on the bone anchors} - A61B 17/7082: {for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws} - A61B 17/7083: {Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements} - A61B 2017/564: {Methods for bone or joint treatment} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract An articulating rod inserter is configured for use in delivering a fixation rod to an orthopedic fixation system through a cannula or tower. The articulating rod inserter is releasably coupled to a rod and can move the rod from a generally aligned configuration, wherein the longitudinal axes of the rod and rod inserter are generally aligned, to an angled configuration, wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the rod inserter. The rod is inserted into the patient through a first tower and then articulated to a second tower such that the rod extends between two or more fixation devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rod inserter for delivering a spinal fixation rod through an access channel, the rod inserter comprising: a first member comprising an elongate tube with a proximal end and a distal end, with a passage extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a second member comprising an elongate shaft configured to move along the passage of the first member; a third member comprising a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the second member; a rod holder comprising a leading end coupled to the distal end of the first member and a trailing end coupled to the second end of the third member, the rod holder configured to transition from an aligned configuration, wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod holder is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the second member, to an angled configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod holder is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the second member, the rod holder configured to releasably couple with a rod; an actuator toward the proximal end of the first member configured to translate the second member, wherein translation of the second member transitions the rod holder between the aligned configuration and the angled configuration; and a mechanism for changing the rod holder between a clamping configuration and a release configuration; wherein the second member comprises a longitudinal channel for accessing the mechanism from toward the proximal end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rod inserter of claim 1, further comprising a drive tool for actuating the mechanism through the longitudinal channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The rod inserter of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a rotating handle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The rod inserter of claim 3, wherein the rotating handle comprises threads that engage complementary threads on the second member to move the second member longitudinally. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rod inserter of claim 1, further comprising an indicator corresponding to the orientation of the rod holder relative to the second member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rod inserter of claim 1, further comprising an alignment feature configured to cooperate with an access tower, the alignment feature configured to prevent rotation of the rod inserter about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 A rod inserter comprising: an elongate tube comprising a passage extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a shaft disposed in the passage, the shaft comprising a longitudinal axis and configured to move along the longitudinal axis; a rod holder toward the distal end configured to rotate from an aligned configuration wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod holder is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, to an angled configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod holder is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the rod holder configured to releasably couple with a rod; an actuator toward the proximal end configured to transition the rod holder between the aligned configuration and angled configuration; and a mechanism for changing the rod holder between a clamping configuration and a release configuration; wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal channel for accessing the mechanism from toward the proximal end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The rod inserter of claim 7, wherein the rod holder comprises a leading end pivotally coupled to the distal end of the rod inserter and a trailing end coupled to the shaft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The rod inserter of claim 7, wherein the shaft is connected to the rod holder by one or more linkages. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The rod inserter of claim 7, further comprising a drive tool for actuating the mechanism through the longitudinal channel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The rod inserter of claim 7, wherein the actuator is a rotating handle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The rod inserter of claim 11, wherein the rotating handle comprises threads that engage complementary threads on the shaft to move the shaft longitudinally. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The rod inserter of claim 7, further comprising an indicator corresponding to the orientation of the rod holder relative to the shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The rod inserter of claim 7, further comprising an alignment feature configured to cooperate with an access tower, the alignment feature configured to prevent rotation of the rod inserter about its longitudinal axis. ### Claim 15 A rod inserter comprising: a tube comprising a passage extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end; a shaft disposed in the passage and configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the tube; a rod holder toward the distal end configured to rotate from an aligned configuration wherein a longitudinal axis of the rod holder is generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the tube, to an angled configuration wherein the longitudinal axis of the rod holder is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the tube, the rod holder comprising two opposing arms configured to clamp onto a rod; an actuator toward the proximal end configured to transition the rod holder between the aligned configuration and angled configuration; and a mechanism for actuating the two opposing arms, wherein in a first configuration the mechanism causes the two opposing arms to clamp together onto the rod and in a second configuration the mechanism allows the two opposing arms to move apart and release the rod; wherein the mechanism is actuated from toward the proximal end, wherein the shaft comprises a longitudinal channel for accessing the mechanism. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The rod inserter of claim 15, further comprising a drive tool for actuating the mechanism through the longitudinal channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The rod inserter of claim 15, wherein the rod holder comprises a leading end pivotally coupled to the distal end of the tube and a trailing end coupled to the shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The rod inserter of claim 15, wherein the shaft is connected to the rod holder by one or more linkages. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The rod inserter of claim 15, wherein the actuator is a rotating handle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The rod inserter of claim 19, wherein the rotating handle comprises threads that engage complementary threads on the shaft to move the shaft longitudinally. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The rod inserter of claim 15, further comprising an indicator corresponding to the orientation of the rod holder relative to the shaft. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The rod inserter of claim 15, further comprising an alignment feature configured to cooperate with an access tower, the alignment feature configured to prevent rotation of the rod inserter about its longitudinal axis.