Driver instruments and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11457967-B2
Application number	US-201816120206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2018
Priority date	Apr 13, 2015
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

Driver instruments are disclosed herein with various features for improving usability, easing the task of cleaning or sterilizing the instrument, reducing patient trauma associated with use of the instrument, and/or reducing the cost and assembly burden of the instrument. For example, a driver instrument can include a guide sleeve to protect patient tissue from damage caused by rotating components of the instrument or a bone anchor assembly coupled thereto, and to protect extension tabs of the bone anchor assembly from inadvertent separation. By way of further example, an instrument can include a preload assembly for maintaining engagement of a driver shaft of the instrument with a bone anchor assembly. As yet another example, an instrument can consist of a small number of components which are configured for simple, tool-free assembly and disassembly. An instrument can also be configured for use with bone anchor assemblies with and without extension tabs.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An instrument for driving a bone anchor assembly into bone, the instrument comprising:
a driver shaft having a distal drive tip and a proximal driven end;
an elongate body having proximal and distal ends that define a central passage in which the driver shaft is rotatably disposed, a proximal portion of the elongate body having a faceted sidewall that includes a plurality of throughholes formed in a single face of the faceted sidewall; and
a release button disposed in one of the plurality of throughholes of the body and having at least a first position in which the driver shaft can be completely removed from the body and a second position in which the driver shaft cannot be removed from the body;
wherein the release button prevents complete removal of the driver shaft from a proximal-most end of the elongate body when the release button is in the second position; and
wherein the release button moves relative to the driver shaft to make the driver shaft completely removable from the proximal-most end of the elongate body when the release button is in the first position.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a preload assembly configured to bias the driver shaft in a distal direction relative to the body.

3. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein a location at which the preload assembly engages the driver shaft can be selected from amongst a plurality of locations to adjust the degree to which the driver shaft protrudes from the distal end of the body.

4. The instrument of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of locations are defined by radial projections that extend from the driver shaft.

5. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the preload assembly is coupled directly to the release button.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a guide sleeve positionable over the distal end of the body and configured to separate the body and the driver shaft from surrounding tissue when the instrument is used to drive the bone anchor assembly into the bone.

7. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve has a flared distal end and a flared proximal end.

8. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve includes a lever configured to pivot at a fulcrum point to selectively engage and disengage the sleeve with the body.

9. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the lever is formed integrally with the sleeve at a living hinge.

10. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve is rotatable with respect to the body and with respect to the driver shaft.

11. The instrument of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve is configured to engage any of a plurality of mating features spaced longitudinally along the body.

12. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the body includes an engagement portion formed at a distal end thereof, the engagement portion being configured to engage a corresponding engagement portion on the bone anchor assembly.

13. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of throughholes allow fluid to access the central passage.

14. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the release button includes a cylindrical recess in which a sliding collar is disposed, the sliding collar being movable relative to the driver shaft.

15. The instrument of claim 14 , wherein the sliding collar includes a plurality of openings spaced about a sidewall thereof.

16. The instrument of claim 14 , further comprising a preload spring disposed between the collar and the release button.

17. The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the preload spring is configured to move with the release button in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the driver shaft.

18. The instrument of claim 14 , wherein the sliding collar is configured to move with the release button in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the driver shaft.

19. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the driver shaft can be removed from the proximal end of the body.

20. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the release button is configured to move in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the driver shaft when transitioning from the first position to the second position.

21. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the release button is disposed distal to at least one of the plurality of throughholes.

22. An instrument for driving a bone anchor assembly into bone, the instrument comprising:
a driver shaft having a distal drive tip and a proximal driven end;
a monolithic elongate body having proximal and distal ends that define a central passage in which the driver shaft is rotatably disposed; and
a release button disposed in the body and having at least a first position in which the driver shaft can be removed from the body and a second position in which the driver shaft cannot be removed from the body;
wherein the elongate body includes a plurality of throughholes formed in a first face of a faceted sidewall of the elongate body, the release button being disposed distal to at least one of the plurality of throughholes.

23. The instrument of claim 22 , wherein the elongate body includes at least one longitudinal groove formed between adjacent faces of the sidewall.

24. The instrument of claim 22 , wherein a throughhole formed in a second face of the faceted sidewall is substantially aligned with one of the plurality of throughholes formed in the first face such that a crossbar can be passed through the throughholes of the first face and the second face to create a T-shaped structure for applying additional torque through the elongate body.

25. An instrument for driving a bone anchor assembly into bone, the instrument comprising:
a driver shaft having a distal drive tip and a proximal driven end;
an elongate body having proximal and distal ends that define a central passage in which the driver shaft is rotatably disposed; and
a release button disposed in the body and having at least a first activated position in which the driver shaft can be removed from the body and a second position in which the driver shaft cannot be removed from the body;
wherein the release button includes a cylindrical recess in which a sliding collar is disposed, the sliding collar being movable relative to the driver shaft;
wherein the sliding collar is configured to move with the release button in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the driver shaft; and
wherein the driver shaft passes through the sliding collar, and the sliding collar prevents removal of the driver shaft when the release button is not activated.

Assignees

• Medos Int Sarl

Inventors

• Chandanson Thibault
• Fournier Richard W
• Stad Shawn D
• Spratt Frank
• Grossman Sam
• Defossez Henri
• Rouge Renaud
• Cormier Philip A

Classifications

• A61B17/8816

  characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections · CPC title

• B25B23/0035

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title

• A61B17/7098

  wherein the implant is permeable or has openings, e.g. fenestrated screw (hollow surgical screws A61B17/864) · CPC title

• A61B17/1655

  for tapping · CPC title

• A61B17/7082 Primary

  for driving, i.e. rotating, screws or screw parts specially adapted for spinal fixation, e.g. for driving polyaxial or tulip-headed screws · CPC title