Insertion instrument with articulating wrist

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10265194-B2
Application number	US-201514676046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Apr 23, 2019
Grant date	Apr 23, 2019

Abstract

A surgical instrument suitable for preparing an intervertebral disc space includes an outer sleeve, an instrument head, an inner shaft, a handle, a universal joint, a coupling member, and a drive mechanism. The outer sleeve includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis. The instrument head defines a longitudinal axis and is disposed at the distal end of the outer shaft. The inner shaft is slidably disposed within the outer sleeve and includes a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve. The drive mechanism is coupled between the outer sleeve and the inner shaft and actuates the outer sleeve axially relative to the inner shaft, thereby setting an angle of the longitudinal axis of the instrument head in relation to the longitudinal axis of the inner shaft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument comprising:
an outer sleeve including an elongate cylindrical section, a proximal end, a distal end, and a first longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
an inner shaft rotatably and translatably disposed within the elongate cylindrical section of the outer sleeve;
a universal joint pivotally coupled to the inner shaft distal of the elongate cylindrical section when the inner shaft is disposed within the outer sleeve;
a retainer including a cylindrical portion configured to rotatably support the universal joint;
a coupler consisting of a semi-cylindrical body with a proximal end pivotally coupled to the outer sleeve and a distal end pivotally coupled to the retainer, wherein in a first position the semi-cylindrical body of the coupler forms a substantially cylindrical structure in combination with a distal portion of the outer sleeve and a proximate portion of the retainer; and
a drive feature supported by the universal joint and including a second longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis extending coaxially with the first longitudinal axis in a first position and transverse to the first longitudinal axis in a second position, wherein the drive feature includes one of a hexagonal head, a screw driver, and a drill bit.

2. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the coupler, the outer sleeve, and the retainer collectively define a cylinder.

3. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , wherein the universal joint includes an annular groove and the retainer includes an aperture, the surgical instrument further comprising a hinge member disposed within the aperture and the annular groove.

4. The surgical instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a handle assembly including a first activation member coupled to the inner shaft and a second activation member coupled to the outer sleeve.

5. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the handle assembly includes a handle member, the first activation member rotatable in relation to the handle member and the second activation member, the second activation member rotatable in relation to the handle member and the first activation member.

6. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the outer sleeve includes a first threaded portion and the second activation member includes a second threaded portion threadingly engaged with the first threaded portion.

7. The surgical instrument of claim 4 , wherein the outer sleeve includes a retaining feature extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the first longitudinal axis, a portion of the handle assembly slidably engaging the retaining feature.

8. A surgical instrument comprising:
an outer sleeve including an elongate cylindrical section, a proximal end, a distal end, and a first longitudinal axis extending therebetween;
an inner shaft rotatably and translatably disposed within the elongate cylindrical section of the outer sleeve;
a universal joint pivotally coupled to the inner shaft distal of the elongate cylindrical section when the inner shaft is disposed within the outer sleeve;
a retainer including a cylindrical portion configured to rotatably support the universal joint;
a coupler consisting of a semi-cylindrical body with a proximal end pivotally coupled to the outer sleeve and a distal end pivotally coupled to the retainer, wherein in a first position the semi-cylindrical body of the coupler forms a substantially cylindrical structure in combination with a distal portion of the outer sleeve and a proximate portion of the retainer; and
an implant rotatably coupled to the retainer, the universal joint engaged with the implant.

9. A surgical instrument suitable for preparing an intervertebral disc space, comprising:
an outer sleeve forming a cylinder including a proximal end, a distal end and a first longitudinal axis, wherein the distal end includes a first semi-cylindrical extension extending distally beyond a first pivot point;
an instrument head defining a second longitudinal axis and disposed proximate the distal end of the outer sleeve and at least partially disposed within a retainer, the retainer including a cylindrical distal end and a second semi-cylindrical extension extending proximally beyond a second pivot point;
an inner shaft slidably disposed within the outer sleeve, the inner shaft including a proximal end, a distal end and a third longitudinal axis coaxially aligned with the first longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve;
a handle assembly coupled to the proximal end of the inner shaft;
a universal joint including one end coupled to the distal end of the inner shaft and another end coupled to the instrument head;
a coupling member including a semi-cylindrical body with a proximal end pivotably coupled to the first pivot point and a distal end pivotably coupled to the second pivot point, wherein in a first position a distally-facing surface of the first semi-cylindrical extension of the outer sleeve abuts a proximally-facing surface of the second semi-cylindrical extension of the retainer, and the semi-cylindrical body of the coupling member forms a substantially cylindrical structure in combination with the first semi-cylindrical extension of the outer sleeve and the second semi-cylindrical extension of the retainer; and
a drive mechanism coupled between the outer sleeve and the inner shaft, wherein the drive mechanism actuates the outer sleeve axially relative to the inner shaft and thereby sets an angle of the second longitudinal axis of the instrument head in relation to the third longitudinal axis of the inner shaft.

10. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the instrument head includes one of a hexagonal head, a screw driver, and a drill bit.

11. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the universal joint includes an annular groove and the retainer includes an aperture, the surgical instrument further comprising a hinge member disposed within the aperture and the annular groove.

12. The surgical instrument of claim 9 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a first drive mechanism coupled to the inner shaft and a second drive mechanism coupled to the outer sleeve.

13. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a handle member portion of the handle assembly, the first drive mechanism rotatable in relation to the handle member portion and the second drive mechanism, the second drive mechanism rotatable in relation to the handle member portion and the first drive mechanism.

14. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the outer sleeve includes a first threaded portion and the second drive mechanism includes a second threaded portion threadingly engaged with the first threaded portion.

15. The surgical instrument of claim 12 , wherein the outer sleeve includes a retaining feature extending from a proximal end to a distal end along the first longitudinal axis, a portion of the handle assembly slidably engaging the retaining feature.

Assignees

• Zimmer Biomet Spine Inc

Inventors

• Ziemek Terry
• Hunt Patrick

Classifications

• A61F2002/30635

  Cardan or gimbal joints · CPC title

• A61F2002/4627

  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 · CPC title

• A61F2002/4635

  using minimally invasive surgery · CPC title

• A61B17/1631

  Special drive shafts, e.g. flexible shafts (A61B17/1642, A61B17/164 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61F2/442

  Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455) · CPC title