Apparatus and method for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018296255-A1
Application number	US-201816018891-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 26, 2018
Priority date	Dec 8, 2011
Publication date	Oct 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus and devices for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct ipsilaterally with an additional spinal construct in a patient are disclosed. The additional spinal construct comprises a rod connector that includes an elongate additional rod integrally attached thereto. The additional rod is placed through an access port in a first orientation generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the access port and rotated to a different second orientation generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the access port. During such rotation the additional rod is moved subcutaneously beneath the skin of the patient from the existing spinal rod to an additional bone engaging implant. In another arrangement, the extension of an existing spinal construct in a minimally invasive procedure comprises a rod connector having an offset support for receiving an additional spinal rod that may be placed laterally interiorly or exteriorly of the existing spinal construct.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus for use in attaching an additional construct to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a rod connector assembly comprising a rod connector and a rod connector introducer, said rod connector having a first opening for receipt of said spinal rod of said existing spinal construct and a rod engagement member for engaging said spinal rod of said existing spinal construct, said rod connector having a second opening defining an axis, said rod connector including a connecting portion defining an elongate additional rod projecting therefrom and terminating in a free distal end, said rod connector introducer including an elongate sleeve having a distal end releasably secured to said rod connector and a proximal end, said sleeve having a lumen extending axially therethrough and a length between said distal end and said proximal end, said axis of said second opening of said rod connector being disposed in substantial axial alignment with the lumen of said outer sleeve

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rod engagement member is configured to engage said existing spinal rod upon rotation of said rod engagement member relative to said existing spinal rod.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said rod engagement member comprises a pair of spaced hooks each including a projecting rod engagement member that engages said existing spinal rod upon such rotation of said rod engagement member relative to said existing spinal rod.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a bone implant comprising a bone engaging portion and an opposed yoke defining a slot therethrough for receipt of said distal free end of said elongate additional rod.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , further including an elongate extension having a slot, said elongate extension being releasably secured to said bone implant with said slot in said elongate extension being in communication with said slot in said bone implant, said slot in said elongate extension being configured to receive said distal free end of said additional rod.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sleeve of rod connector introducer includes an outer sleeve having a lumen and an elongate inner sleeve, said outer sleeve and said inner sleeve each having a distal end and a proximal end, said inner sleeve being sized and configured for insertion into said lumen of said outer sleeve.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said second opening of said rod connector is threaded, and wherein the distal end of said inner sleeve is threaded for threadable attachment with the threads of said second opening of said rod connector.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the proximal end of said inner sleeve include a flange projecting outwardly therefrom.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein said inner sleeve is hollow, wherein said flange includes an exterior surface to facilitate manipulation of said inner sleeve within said outer sleeve, and wherein said flange is configured to engage an upper surface at the proximal end of said outer sleeve when said distal end of said inner sleeve is threaded into the threaded second opening of said rod connector.

10 . The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a set screw having exterior threads for threaded engagement with the threaded second opening of said rod connector.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a driver tool having a distal end and a proximal end, said driver tool being sized and configured for insertion into said lumen of said outer sleeve, the distal end of said driver tool being configured for releasable attachment to said set screw.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said rod connector comprises a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having said opening for receiving said spinal rod of said existing spinal construct and said second portion including said connecting portion, said first portion being articulatingly attached to said second portion of said rod connector.

13 . An apparatus for use in attaching an additional construct to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a rod connector assembly comprising a rod connector and a rod connector introducer releasably secured to said rod connector, said rod connector comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having a rod receiving opening for receipt of said existing spinal rod and including a rod engagement member, said second portion having an opening therethrough defining an axis, said second portion including a connecting portion defining an elongate additional rod projecting therefrom and terminating in a free distal end, said rod connector introducer including an elongate outer sleeve having a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being releasably secured to said second portion, said outer sleeve having a lumen extending lengthwise through said sleeve collinearly along said axis of said opening of said second portion in communication with the opening of said second portion.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said rod engagement member comprises a pair of spaced oppositely directed hooks each including a projecting rod engagement member that engages said existing spinal rod upon rotation of said rod engagement member relative to said existing spinal rod.

15 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said distal end of said outer sleeve includes an anti-rotation feature cooperatively attached to said second portion of said rod connector.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said anti-rotation feature comprises an attachment pin projecting distally from the distal end of said outer sleeve, and wherein said second portion of said rod connector has a hole sized to receive said attachment pin.

17 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said first portion is rotatably and articulatingly attached to said second portion of said rod connector.

18 . A method of percutaneously attaching an additional rod to an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient having at least two bone engaging implants engaged to corresponding spinal segments and interconnected by an existing spinal rod, comprising the steps of:
providing a rod connector comprising a first portion and a second portion, said first portion defining a rod receiving opening for receiving said existing spinal rod, said second portion having an opening defining an axis, said second portion including a connecting portion defining an elongate additional rod projecting therefrom and terminating in a free distal end; providing a rod connector introducer having a distal end and a proximal end, said rod connector introducer having a lumen extending therethrough; releasably attaching said rod connector introducer and said rod connector such that said second portion opening and said lumen through said rod connector introducer are in substantial axial alignment; making an incision through the skin of said patient to access said existing spinal rod; introducing said rod connector into said incision by manipulating said rod connector introducer until said rod connector extends below the skin of said patient; and securing said rod connector to said section of said existing spinal rod.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said opening of said second portion of said rod connector is threaded, and wherein said rod connector introducer includes a distal end and a proximal end, said distal end being threaded, and wherein said rod connector introduce

Assignees

• Spine Wave Inc

Inventors

• Mclean Scott
• Adamson Tim E

Classifications

• A61B17/7091

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

• A61B17/7011

  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

• A61B17/7037

  wherein pivoting is blocked when the rod is clamped · CPC title

• A61B17/3423

  Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands (access sites for liquids A61M39/0247) · CPC title

• A61B17/7049

  Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence) · CPC title