Apparatus and devices for percutaneously extending an existing spinal construct

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9629668-B2
Application number	US-201514872287-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Dec 8, 2011
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

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. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion configured to receive said existing spinal rod and to provisionally hold said received existing spinal rod in an unlocked position;
a second portion attached to said first portion in a first unlocked position in which said second portion rotates relative to said first portion and in a second locked position in which said second portion is fixed relative to said first portion, said second portion including a connecting portion projecting therefrom; and
a single locking element supported by and engaging said second portion and operable independently of said first portion to securely lock said first portion to said existing spinal rod and to said second portion in said second locked position upon operation of said locking element.

2. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said first portion of said rod connector is configured to attach to said existing spinal rod upon rotation about an axis of engagement and comprises a pair of spaced hooks each including a projecting rod engagement member that engages said existing spinal rod upon such rotation of said first portion relative to said existing spinal rod, said hooks defining an opening therebetween sized and configured for receipt of said existing rod, and wherein said biasing member that includes a holding element movably supported by said first portion under a spring bias, said holding element having an extent extending into said opening for providing said provisional holding, wherein said holding element is engageable by said locking element and cooperable therewith to securely lock said first portion to said existing spinal rod and to said second portion in said second locked position upon operation of said locking element.

3. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are coupled for articulation by a ball and socket structure.

4. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said connecting portion of said second portion comprises an elongate additional rod projecting integrally therefrom and terminating in a free distal end.

5. The rod connector of claim 4 , wherein said elongate additional spinal rod defines a first axis, wherein said second portion of said rod connector is attached to said first portion of said rod connector along a second axis that is transverse to said first axis, and wherein said first and second portions articulate relatively about said second axis.

6. The rod connector of claim 5 , wherein said elongate additional rod comprises a jog between the distal free end and said second portion.

7. The rod connector of claim 6 , wherein said second portion is disposed in substantial axial alignment with said first portion and is configured such that said elongate additional rod extends generally parallel to and collinear with said existing spinal rod.

8. The rod connector of claim 1 , wherein said connecting portion is configured to receive and support an additional spinal rod.

9. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion having a rod receiving opening for receiving said existing spinal rod in an unlocked position, said first portion movably supporting a holding element for movement toward said rod receiving opening, said holding element having an extent extending into said rod receiving opening to provisionally hold said existing spinal rod in said unlocked position;
a second portion attached to said first portion in a first unlocked position in which said second portion rotates relative to said first portion and in a second locked position in which said second portion is fixed relative to said first portion, said second portion including a connecting portion projecting therefrom; and
a single locking element separate from said first portion and supported by and engaging said second portion, said locking element being operable to engage said holding element and securely lock said first portion to said existing spinal rod and to said second portion in said second locked position upon operation of said locking element.

10. The rod connector of claim 9 , wherein said second portion is attached to said first portion at a first location and said second portion has an opening extending therethrough and communicating with said first portion at said first location.

11. The rod connector of claim 10 , wherein said locking element is supported for movement within said rod receiving opening of said first portion.

12. The rod connector of claim 11 , wherein said locking element includes a first end having a surface for engagement with said existing spinal rod and a second opposite end having a configuration accessible through said opening of said second portion.

13. The rod connector of claim 9 , wherein said connecting portion of said second portion comprises an elongate additional rod projecting integrally therefrom and terminating in a free distal end.

14. The rod connector of claim 9 , wherein said first portion comprises a pair of spaced hooks defining said rod receiving opening, each of said hooks including a projecting rod engagement member that engages said existing spinal rod upon rotation of said first portion relative to said existing spinal rod about an axis of engagement.

15. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion having a rod receiving opening to receive said existing spinal rod and to provisionally hold said existing spinal rod in said rod receiving opening in an unlocked position, said, said first portion being configured such that said rod receiving opening receives said existing rod in a snap-fit manner producing at least one of a tactile and audio feedback;
a second portion attached to said first portion in a first unlocked position in which said second portion rotates relative to said first portion and in a second locked position in which said second portion is fixed relative to said first portion, said second portion including a connecting portion projecting therefrom; and
a single locking element supported by and engaging said second portion and operable to securely lock said first portion to said existing spinal rod and to said second portion in said second locked position upon operation of said locking element.

16. The rod connector of claim 15 , wherein said first portion movably supports a holding element for movement toward said rod receiving opening, said holding element having an extent extending into said rod receiving opening to provisionally hold said existing spinal rod in said unlocked position.

17. The rod connector of claim 16 , wherein said first portion includes a biasing member that biases said holding element toward said rod receiving opening for providing said provisional holding.

18. The rod connector of claim 17 , wherein said biasing element comprises a spring supported by said first portion and biasing said holding element toward said rod receiving opening.

19. The rod connector of claim 15 , wherein said locking element is rotatable relative to said second portion.

20. The rod connector of claim 15 , wherein said first portion and said second portion are coupled for articulation.

21. A rod connector for attachment to a spinal rod in an existing spinal construct implanted in a patient, comprising:
a first portion having a rod receiving opening

Assignees

• Spine Wave Inc

Inventors

• Mclean Scott
• Adamson Tim E

Classifications

• A61B17/7037

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

• A61B17/705

  for linking adjacent ends of longitudinal elements · CPC title

• A61B17/7032

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

• A61B17/7043

  with a longitudinal element fixed to one or more transverse elements which connect multiple screws or hooks · CPC title