Implant inserter having a laterally-extending dovetail engagement feature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10369015-B2
Application number	US-201213364280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 1, 2012
Priority date	Sep 23, 2010
Publication date	Aug 6, 2019
Grant date	Aug 6, 2019

Abstract

A spinal implant inserter having a) an outer sleeve having a bore, and b) a forked inner shaft having a proximal rod and a pair of distal tynes extending therefrom, each distal tyne comprising an engagement feature having a laterally-extending dovetail feature. An assembly comprising the implant inserter and an implant having a pair of mating dovetail features.

First claim

We claim:

1. A flexible bone screw driver comprising:
a) a proximal handle,
b) an intermediate shaft,
c) a flexible distal end portion comprising a plurality of interlocking segments portion defining a periphery and a distal tip adapted to engage a screw head, and
d) a flexible pre-bent sleeve that is configured to be placed radially over and around the plurality of interlocking segments to provide a loaded configuration,
wherein the plurality of interlocking segments portion is substantially straight in its unloaded configuration,
whereby the pre-bent sleeve pre-determines the trajectory of the tip in the loaded configuration,
wherein the sleeve substantially contacts at least one-half of the periphery of the plurality of interlocking segments portion,
wherein the sleeve is adapted to rotate about its longitudinal axis during torque transmission when the distal tip is received in a proximal head of an implanted bone screw,
wherein a distal end of the sleeve is proximal to the distal tip of the flexible distal end portion.

2. The driver of claim 1 wherein the pre-bent sleeve comprises a longitudinal slit.

3. An assembly comprising:
a) a fusion cage comprising a front wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a back wall, and top and bottom surfaces adapted for gripping opposed vertebral endplates, wherein the front wall comprises at least one threaded throughhole,
b) a bone screw received in the threaded throughhole, the bone screw having a threaded shaft and a proximal head,
c) the driver of claim 1 ,
wherein the distal tip of the inserter is received in the proximal head of the bone screw, wherein the first bone screw extends through the top surface of the cage.

Assignees

• Gamache Thomas
• Sorrenti Michael D
• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Gamache Thomas
• Sorrenti Michael D

Classifications

• A61F2002/4635

  using minimally invasive surgery · CPC title

• A61F2002/30507

  using a threaded locking member, e.g. a locking screw or a set screw · CPC title

• A61F2/4455

  for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00309

  Cut-outs or slits · CPC title

• A61F2002/30593

  hollow · CPC title