Screw inserter instruments and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12336746-B2
Application number	US-202117557137-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2021
Priority date	Jun 13, 2019
Publication date	Jun 24, 2025
Grant date	Jun 24, 2025

Abstract

Screw inserter instruments and methods for implanting a bone screw are disclosed herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a screw inserter instrument can include a screw drive assembly having a first handle and a driver shaft coupled to the first handle, and a stylet assembly having a second handle and a stylet extending through the driver shaft. The first handle can have a locked configuration, in which the first handle and the driver shaft are coupled such that the first handle can maintain the driver shaft in a fixed position while the second handle is rotated relative to the first handle, and an unlocked configuration, in which the first handle and the driver shaft can rotate simultaneously in a first direction and the first handle can rotate independent of the driver shaft in a second opposite direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A screw inserter instrument, comprising:
a screw drive assembly having a handle and a driver shaft coupled to the handle, the driver shaft having a distal tip configured to couple to a bone screw for driving the bone screw into bone; and
a sleeve assembly disposed around the driver shaft, the sleeve assembly including
a locking sleeve, and
a retaining sleeve having a stop sleeve at least partially disposed around a distal end thereof, the stop sleeve being longitudinally fixed relative to the retaining sleeve and configured to extend distally beyond the distal tip of the driver shaft and at least partially beyond a proximal end of a bone screw coupled to the distal tip of the driver shaft to limit insertion of the bone screw into bone, the stop sleeve being rotatable independent of the coupled bone screw.

2. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve is formed from at least one of a radiopaque material and an insulating material.

3. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve is coupled to the locking sleeve such that rotation of the retaining sleeve causes rotation of the stop sleeve.

4. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the retaining sleeve is rotatable independent of the stop sleeve.

5. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve includes at least one window configured to allow viewing of the bone screw during coupling with the retention sleeve.

6. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve extends a predetermined distance beyond the distal tip of the driver shaft, the predetermined distance being at least partially determined by a size of the bone screw engaged therewith.

7. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve has an inner diameter that is greater than an outer diameter of the retaining sleeve.

8. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve has a proximal end and a flared distal end, the proximal end having a diameter less than the diameter of the distal end.

9. The screw inserter instrument of claim 1 , wherein the stop sleeve has a head having a substantially U-shaped configuration.

10. The screw instrument of claim 9 , wherein the head comprises a base and two opposing legs extending therefrom, the head defining at least one window disposed between the two opposing legs.

11. A screw inserter system, comprising:
a driver shaft having a distal tip configured to engage a bone screw for driving the bone screw into bone;
a retaining sleeve disposed around the driver shaft and having a distal end configured to threadably couple with the bone screw;
a locking sleeve disposed around the retaining sleeve; and
a stop sleeve having a proximal end coupled to a distal end of the locking sleeve, the stop sleeve being partially disposed around a distal end of the retaining sleeve and extending distally beyond the distal tip of the driver shaft and at least partially beyond a proximal end of a bone screw coupled to the distal tip of the driver shaft, the stop sleeve being longitudinally fixed relative to the retaining sleeve and configured to limit insertion of a bone screw into bone.

12. The screw inserter system of claim 11 , wherein the stop sleeve includes a distal head having a U-shaped cross section.

13. The screw inserter system of claim 11 , wherein the distal end of the stop sleeve includes a head defining at least one window.

14. The screw inserter system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one window is positioned to allow a user to view a bone screw coupled to the retaining sleeve.

15. The screw inserter system of claim 11 , wherein the stop sleeve is fixedly coupled to the locking sleeve such that movement of the locking sleeve effects concurrent movement of the stop sleeve.

16. The screw inserter system of claim 11 , wherein the stop sleeve is coupled to the locking sleeve such that the stop sleeve is configured to freely rotate relative to the locking sleeve.

Assignees

• Medos Int Sarl

Inventors

• Rodriguez Joshua
• Moreno Daniel
• Pavento Nicholas
• Smith Keanan R
• Murray James
• Biester Eric

Classifications

• A61B2017/00477

  Coupling (A61B2017/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B2017/00407

  Ratchet means · CPC title

• A61B17/864

  hollow, e.g. with socket or cannulated · CPC title

• A61B17/7032

  Screws or hooks with U-shaped head or back through which longitudinal rods pass · CPC title

• A61B17/8886 Primary

  holding the screw head · CPC title