Minimally invasive spinal fixation system including vertebral alignment features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9314274-B2
Application number	US-201213479657-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2012
Priority date	May 27, 2011
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A bone anchor coupler assembly is configured to couple a bone anchor to a spine stabilization member, and includes a coupler body and an angular adjustment member movably coupled to the coupler body.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A minimally invasive spinal stabilization system configured to move a first vertebra relative to a second vertebra between an initial position and an adjusted position, the minimally invasive spinal stabilization system comprising:
a bone screw elongate along a screw axis, the bone screw defining a proximal end and a distal end spaced from the proximal end along the screw axis, the distal end configured to be attached to the first vertebra such that the proximal end is positioned outside of an incision to enable manipulation of at least a portion of a spine;
a coupler that is configured to couple the bone screw to a spine stabilization rod, the coupler including a coupler body that defines a first coupler opening and a second coupler opening that is spaced from the first coupler opening, the first coupler opening configured to receive a portion of the bone screw, the second coupler opening configured to receive a portion of the spine stabilization rod, the coupler is configured to be coupled to the bone screw such that the bone screw is configured to move relative to the spine stabilization rod to move the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra between the initial position and the adjusted position when the distal end of the bone screw is attached to the first vertebra; and
a coupler holder configured to attach to the coupler so as to position the coupler on the bone screw such that the bone screw is received in the first coupler opening, wherein when the coupler holder is attached to the coupler and the bone screw is received in the first coupler opening, the coupler holder is offset with respect to the screw axis along a direction that is perpendicular to the screw axis, the coupler holder including a hollow body that is elongate along a longitudinal holder axis; and
a fastener guide configured to be disposed in the hollow body of the coupler holder such that the fastener guide is moveable along the longitudinal holder axis with respect to the coupler holder, the fastener guide having an elongated body that includes at least one ratchet tooth
wherein the coupler holder further includes a ratchet member supported by the hollow body, the ratchet member includes at least one ratchet tooth, and an internal bore that receives the fastener guide when the fastener guide is inserted into the hollow body of the coupler holder, wherein the ratchet member is configured to move with respect to the hollow body of the coupler holder between a locked position where the at least one ratchet tooth of the ratchet member is engaged with the at least one ratchet tooth of the fastener guide, and an unlocked position where the at least one ratchet tooth of the ratchet member is disengaged from the at least one ratchet tooth of the fastener guide to permit movement of the fastener guide relative to the coupler holder.

2. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to be coupled to the bone screw such that the bone screw is configured to angularly move relative to the received spine stabilization rod to angularly move the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.

3. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to be coupled to the to the bone screw such that the bone screw is configured to translate relative to the received spine stabilization rod to translate the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra between the initial position and the adjusted position.

4. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 3 , wherein the first vertebra is closer to the second vertebra in the adjusted position than in the initial position.

5. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 4 , wherein the first vertebra is farther from the second vertebra in the adjusted position than in the initial position.

6. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener guide is configured to urge the spine stabilization rod toward the second coupler opening.

7. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 6 , wherein the second coupler opening defines a front open end and a rear open end that is spaced from the front open end along a longitudinal direction, and the fastener guide is configured to urge the spine stabilization rod toward the coupler such that the spine stabilization rod is disposed in the second coupler opening and is substantially aligned along the longitudinal direction.

8. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , further comprising a bone anchor removal tool that includes a fork that is configured to receive at least a portion of the bone screw, and a sleeve at least partially surrounding the fork, wherein rotation of the fork relative to the sleeve causes the sleeve to translate relative to the fork and apply an inward force to the fork such that the fork tightens about the bone screw.

9. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the bone screw defines a screw length that extends from the proximal end to the distal end along the screw axis, wherein the coupler is configured to be coupled to the bone screw such that the coupler can be coupled at more than one position along the screw length of the bone screw.

10. The bone anchor coupler assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the screw length is greater than about 30 mm.

11. The bone anchor coupler assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the screw length is between about 30 mm and about 260 mm.

12. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the bone screw is configured to be attached to the first vertebra such that when the bone screw is attached to first vertebra and coupled to the coupler, movement of the bone screw causes the first vertebra to move relative to the second vertebra to correct spondylolisthesis.

13. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal holder axis is offset with respect to the screw axis along the direction when the coupler holder is attached to the coupler and the bone screw is received by the first coupler opening.

14. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler body defines a top body surface and a lower body surface that is spaced from the top body surface along a transverse direction, and the first coupler opening is elongate along the transverse direction, and the first coupler opening is spaced from the second coupler opening along a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction.

15. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 14 , further comprising an angular adjustment member movably coupled to the coupler body such that the bone screw is configured to move relative to the coupler body when 1) the portion of the bone screw is received in the first coupler opening to adjust a position of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and 2) the bone screw is attached to the first vertebra.

16. The minimally invasive spinal stabilization system according to claim 15 , wherein the angular adjustment member is a pivot member that is pivotally coupled to the coupler body such that the bone screw is configured to pivot relative to the coupler body when 1) the portion of the bone is received in the first coupler opening to adjust an angular position of the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra, and 2) the bone scre

Assignees

• Amstutz Yann
• Gonzalez Didier
• Guetlin Michael
• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Amstutz Yann
• Gonzalez Didier
• Guetlin Michael

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

• A61B17/7041 Primary

  with single longitudinal rod offset laterally from single row of screws or hooks (A61B17/7044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61B17/7082

  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

• A61B17/7083

  Tools for guidance or insertion of tethers, rod-to-anchor connectors, rod-to-rod connectors, or longitudinal elements · CPC title

• A61B17/863

  with thread interrupted or changing its form along shank, other than constant taper · CPC title