Apparatus and devices for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10456176-B2
Application number	US-201514829040-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 18, 2015
Priority date	Dec 8, 2011
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Apparatus and devices for adding an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. In one arrangement the additional spinal construct extends an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an inline rod connector in a minimally invasive or preferably, percutaneous procedure. In another arrangement, the ipsilateral extension of an existing spinal construct uses an offset rod connector for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion having an opening therethrough defining an axis, said first portion having a rod receiving opening to receive said existing spinal rod, said existing spinal rod having a longitudinal axis, said rod receiving opening having a first configuration capable of receiving said existing spinal rod in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis and a second different configuration capable of locking the existing spinal rod to said first portion, said first portion including a rotatable rod engagement member configured to be spaced from said existing spinal rod in a first orientation and in engagement with an undersurface of said existing spinal rod upon rotation to a second orientation;
a second portion having an opening, said axis of the opening of the first portion extending through said opening of said second portion, said rod engagement member being rotatable relative to said second portion; and
a locking element supported by said second portion, said locking element having a first end accessible through said opening of said second portion and an opposite engagement end that upon movement of said locking element along said axis of the opening of the first portion extends into said rod receiving opening to thereby change said rod receiving opening from said first unlocked configuration to said second locked configuration, wherein said existing spinal rod is engaged between said engagement end of said locking element and said rod engagement member to thereby fixedly secure said first portion to said spinal existing rod.

2. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said locking element is threaded and is threadably attached to threads fixed on said first portion.

3. The rod connector of claim 2 , wherein said opening extends through said first portion and is interiorly threaded, and wherein said locking element is exteriorly threaded and is received in said interiorly threaded opening of said first portion.

4. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said first portion includes a pair of spaced rotatable rod engagement members that includes said rotatable rod engagement member, said pair of rotatable rod engagement members being disposed for engagement with said existing spinal rod, each of said rod engagement members extending transversely relative to said axis of the opening of the first portion with distal free ends of respective rod engagement members projecting across said axis of the opening of the first portion in overlapping relation.

5. The rod connector of claim 4 , wherein a rod engagement member of said pair of rod engagement members extends on either side of said axis of the opening of the first portion.

6. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said second portion is rotatable relative to said first portion about said axis of the opening of the first portion.

7. The rod connector of claim 6 , wherein said locking element is received in the opening of said first portion and the opening of said second portion.

8. The rod connector of claim 6 , wherein said second portion articulates with respect to said first portion.

9. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion having a first opening extending therethrough defining an axis, said first portion having a rod receiving opening configured to receive said existing spinal rod, said first opening being in communication with said rod receiving opening, said first portion being configured to attach to said existing spinal rod and comprising a pair of spaced hooks each including a projecting rod engagement member that are configured to engage said existing spinal rod upon rotation of said engagement members about said axis relative to said existing spinal rod;
a second portion attached to said first portion, said second portion having a second opening in communication with said first opening, said second portion having an additional rod receiving opening configured for supporting an additional spinal rod, said additional rod receiving opening being in communication with said second opening;
a locking member supported for movement in said first opening, said locking member comprising a first end having a surface for engagement with said existing spinal rod and a second opposite end accessible through said second opening, said locking member being movable axially within said first opening to cause said surface at said first end of said locking member to engage said existing spinal rod and lock said first portion to said existing spinal rod; and
a fastening element movably supported by said second portion at a location for engaging said additional rod, said fastening element comprising an end configured upon movement relative to said second portion to engage said additional rod and thereby cause said additional rod to be secured to said second portion separately from said locking member locking said first portion to said existing spinal rod.

10. The rod connector of claim 9 , wherein said second opening is disposed in substantial alignment with said first opening, said second portion being configured to support said additional spinal rod above and generally parallel to said existing spinal rod, said fastening element being disposed in said second opening.

11. The rod connector of claim 10 , wherein said second portion of said rod connector comprises a pair of opposed upstanding arms defining a slot therethrough for receipt of said additional spinal rod.

12. The rod connector of claim 11 , wherein said slot is in communication with said second opening, and wherein said fastening element is supported by said upstanding arms of said second portion to lock said first portion and said second portion in a locked position.

13. The rod connector of claim 12 , wherein said upstanding arms define interior threads in communication with said slot and wherein said fastening element is a set screw comprising external threads in engagement with said interior threads on said upstanding arms.

14. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion configured to attach to said existing spinal rod upon rotation of a pair of spaced hooks extending from said first portion and defining therebetween a rod receiving opening for receiving said existing spinal rod in a non-secured position, said hooks each including a projecting rod engagement member projecting in opposite directions toward each other that are configured to engage said existing spinal rod upon rotation of said first portion relative to said existing spinal rod, said first portion having a first opening therethrough communicating with said rod receiving opening, said first opening defining an axis extending between said spaced hooks and about which said first portion is rotatable, said rod engagement members extending transversely relative to said axis with distal free ends of respective rod engagement members projecting across said axis in overlapping relation;
a second portion having a second opening therethrough in communication with the first opening of said first portion, said second opening providing access for fixedly securing said first portion to said spinal existing rod.

15. The rod connector of claim 14 , wherein said second portion is configured for supporting an additional spinal rod.

16. The rod connector of claim 14 , further comprising a fastening element supported by said second portion within

Assignees

• Spine Wave Inc

Inventors

• Mclean Scott
• Adamson Tim E

Classifications

• A61B17/88

  Osteosynthesis instruments;} Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal {or external} fixation devices {(A61B17/7074 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7011

  Longitudinal element being non-straight, e.g. curved, angled or branched (adjustable length longitudinal elements A61B17/7014; A61B17/7019 takes precedence, e.g. coil springs) · CPC title

• A61B17/7091

  for applying, tightening or removing longitudinal element-to-bone anchor locking elements, e.g. caps, set screws, nuts or wedges · CPC title

• A61B17/0218

  for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/705

  for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements · CPC title