Intervertebral implant inserters and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11045331-B2
Application number	US-201816103136-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2018
Priority date	Aug 14, 2017
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

Implant inserters and related methods are disclosed herein, e.g., for delivering a fusion cage or other implant to a spinal disc space and for rotating or articulating the implant within the disc space. An exemplary instrument can include an inner member having opposed jaws for grasping the implant and holding the implant during insertion. The inner member can be slidably received within an outer member such that relative axial translation of the inner and outer members is effective to open or close the jaws. The jaws and/or the distal end of the outer member can have a low-profile geometry, which can advantageously facilitate certain surgical procedures. For example, the low-profile geometry can allow for a more medial approach to an intervertebral disc space in which the implant is to be inserted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an outer member having a central longitudinal axis; and
an inner member having a medial jaw and a lateral jaw with the medial jaw configured to be located closer to a patient's spine than the lateral jaw, the inner member being axially translatable within an inner passage of the outer member to move the jaws towards one another to a closed position, thereby grasping an implant,
wherein a distance between a maximum lateral extent of the lateral jaw and a central longitudinal axis of the outer member is greater than a distance between a maximum medial extent of the medial jaw and the central longitudinal axis of the outer member when the jaws are in the closed position.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medial jaw has a length that is less than a length of the lateral jaw when the jaws are in the closed position.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medial jaw has a knuckle width that is less than a knuckle width of the lateral jaw.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the medial jaw is asymmetrical to the lateral jaw.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein a claw opening distance between the medial and lateral jaws is oriented at an oblique angle with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the outer member.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the outer member has a width that is less than a maximum outer width of the medial and lateral jaws when the jaws are in the closed position.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein a maximum medial extent of the medial jaw is less than or equal to a maximum medial extent of the outer member when the jaws are in the closed position.

8. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein a maximum medial extent of the medial jaw is less than or equal to a maximum medial extent of an implant loaded into the instrument when the jaws are in the closed position.

9. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the instrument is configured to grasp an implant between the medial and lateral jaws of the inner member such that the medial jaw does not protrude or overhang the implant in a medial direction.

10. A surgical method, comprising:
coupling an implant to an inserter, the inserter including an outer member and an inner member having a medial jaw and a lateral jaw that extend distally from a distal-most end of the outer member, the distal-most end of the outer member having a width that is less than a maximum outer width of the medial and lateral jaws when the jaws are in a closed position, such that the medial jaw of the inserter does not protrude or overhang the implant on at least a first side thereof;
passing the implant into a disc space between two vertebrae such that the first side faces in a medial direction toward a patient's spinal column; and
releasing the implant from the inserter.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein coupling the implant to the inserter includes passing a portion of the implant into an opening between the medial jaw and the lateral jaw of the inserter and moving the jaws toward one another to clamp the implant.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein moving the jaws toward one another includes distally advancing the outer member relative to the inner member on which the jaws are formed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein releasing the implant from the inserter includes proximally withdrawing the outer member relative to the inner member.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein passing the implant into the disc space is done using any of a PLIF approach, a TLIF approach, a medially-shifted PLIF approach, and a medially-shifted TLIF approach.

15. A surgical instrument, comprising:
an outer member having a central longitudinal axis; and
an inner member having a medial jaw and a lateral jaw that extend distally from a distal-most end of the outer member, the inner member being axially translatable within an inner passage of the outer member to move the jaws towards one another to a closed position, thereby grasping an implant;
wherein the distal-most end of the outer member has a width that is less than a maximum outer width of the medial and lateral jaws when the jaws are in the closed position,
wherein the medial jaw and the lateral jaw are asymmetrical to one another such that, when the jaws are in the closed position, only the lateral jaw extends beyond the maximum width of the distal-most end of the outer member.

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Dittmann Dirk
• Miller William
• Walker Jeff

Classifications

• A61F2002/4629

  connected to the endoprosthesis or implant via a threaded connection · CPC title

• A61F2/4611 Primary

  of spinal prostheses · 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

• 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

• 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