Insertion handle for surgical implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987149-B2
Application number	US-201514645843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Apr 16, 2009
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

An insertion handle for medical implants includes a handle with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and connection means for the implant disposed at the end of the shaft opposite the handle. The connection means includes a pivotable attachment for the implant that is controlled remotely from the handle. Both angle of the implant with respect to the handle and shaft as well as the attachment may be separately controlled and adjusted. Remote angular adjustment facilitates insertion of implants in to small surgical sites because the orientation of the implant may be repeatedly, remotely adjusted as the implant is inserted. Connectors may also be provided at the engagement surface between the handle and implant in order to provide communication with the implant or surgical site. The connectors also may serve as torque bearing members to avoid the need for separate torque bearing means such as keyways and the like.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An instrument for inserting a medical implant, comprising:
a handle;
an outer shaft extending from the handle along a shaft axis;
an inner shaft extending at least partially through the outer shaft;
an actuator coupled to the handle and configured to cause movement of the inner shaft within the outer shaft; and
a cage mounted on the outer shaft opposite the handle and having an annular wall, a window defined in the annular wall and being aligned with the outer shaft;
a pivot head disposed within the cage and being rotatable within the cage about an axis transverse to the shaft axis;
an attachment screw for engagement with a medical implant, the attachment screw being rotatably disposed within the pivot head and extending along a screw axis through the window of the annular wall, the attachment screw rotatably coupled with the inner shaft to permit rotational drive of the attachment screw through variable angles between the screw axis and shaft axis; and
an implant interface disposed on the cage opposite the outer shaft, the attachment screw configured to extend through the implant interface.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a user selectable lock apparatus including:
a pivot lock shaft extending between the handle and the cage;
a locking actuator coupled to the handle and the pivot lock shaft and configured to cause axial movement of the pivot lock shaft; and
a lock member disposed within the cage, such that axial movement of the pivot lock shaft in a direction towards the cage forces the lock member to bear against the pivot head to substantially prevent rotation of the pivot head within the cage.

3. The instrument of claim 2 , wherein the user selectable lock apparatus further comprises a threaded member disposed within the handle and the locking actuator is a collar having internal threads configured to engage the threaded member, such that rotation of the locking actuator causes axial movement of the pivot lock shaft.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the implant interface and the pivot head are formed as a monolithic member.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the implant interface is a separate member from the pivot head.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the implant interface further comprises an implant connector and a communication port, the implant connector being configured to engage a port on a medical implant.

7. The instrument of claim 6 , further comprising a tube communicating with the communication port.

8. An instrument for inserting a medical implant, comprising:
a handle;
an outer shaft extending from the handle along a shaft axis;
a rotatable inner shaft extending at least partially through the outer shaft;
an actuator coupled to the handle and the inner shaft, the actuator configured to cause rotation of the inner shaft;
an annular wall mounted on the outer shaft opposite the handle, the annular wall defining a window and an opening with an inner engagement surface;
a pivot member disposed within the opening, having an outer engagement surface facing at least a portion of the inner engagement surface, and being rotatable within the opening about an axis transverse to the shaft axis; and
an attachment screw for engagement with a medical implant, the attachment screw being rotatably disposed within the pivot member and extending along a screw axis through the window, the attachment screw rotatably coupled with the inner shaft to permit rotational drive of the attachment screw through variable angles between the screw axis and shaft axis;
wherein, when the inner engagement surface and the outer engagement surface are engaged with each other, rotation of the pivot member within the opening is substantially prevented.

9. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the engagement surfaces include teeth.

10. The instrument of claim 8 , further comprising an angle indicator coupled to the pivot member to indicate a value of an angle between the screw axis and shaft axis.

11. The instrument of claim 10 , wherein the angle indicator comprises:
a position indicator pivotally coupled to the handle; and
at least one linkage member having a proximal end coupled to the position indicator and a distal end coupled to the pivot member.

12. The instrument of claim 8 , further comprising an implant interface defining a central passageway, the implant interface disposed on the annular wall opposite the outer shaft, the attachment screw configured to extend through the central passageway.

13. The instrument of claim 12 , wherein the implant interface and the pivot member are formed as a monolithic member.

14. The instrument of claim 12 , wherein the implant interface further comprises an implant connector and a supply port, the implant connector communicating with the supply port, being spaced from the attachment screw, and being configured to engage a port on a medical implant.

15. An instrument for inserting a medical implant, comprising:
a handle;
an outer shaft extending from the handle along a shaft axis;
an inner shaft extending at least partially through the outer shaft;
an actuator coupled to the handle and the inner shaft and configured to cause movement of the inner shaft within the outer shaft; and
a cage mounted on the outer shaft opposite the handle and having an annular wall, a window defined in the annular wall and being aligned with the outer shaft;
a pivot head disposed within the cage and being rotatable within the cage about an axis transverse to the shaft axis; and
an attachment screw for engagement with a medical implant, the attachment screw being rotatably disposed within the pivot head and extending along a screw axis through the window, the attachment screw rotatably coupled with the inner shaft to permit rotational drive of the attachment screw through variable angles between the screw axis and shaft axis;
an access tube adapted to provide fluid communication with a medical implant; and
an external connector coupled to the access tube and configured to connect to external surgical equipment.

16. The instrument of claim 15 , further comprising a diverter valve configured to open or close a connection between the external connector and the access tube.

17. The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the access tube is a plurality of access tubes and wherein the diverter valve is configured to open or close the connection between the external connector and the plurality of access tubes.

18. The instrument of claim 16 , wherein the diverter valve is coupled to the handle and the access tube extends outside the outer shaft from the handle to an implant interface.

19. The instrument of claim 15 , further comprising a shaft clip coupling the access tube to the outer shaft.

20. The instrument of claim 15 , further comprising a medical implant coupled to the attachment screw and in fluid communication with the access tube.

Assignees

• Howmedica Osteonics Corp

Inventors

• Simpson Philip J
• Mansfield Iii George A
• Shulock Damien
• Matsuura David G
• Gillespie Walter Dean
• Ashley John E

Classifications

• A61F2250/0006

  for adjusting angular orientation · CPC title

• A61F2002/30538

  for adjusting angular orientation · CPC title

• A61F2230/0015

  Kidney-shaped, e.g. bean-shaped · CPC title

• A61F2/4611 Primary

  of spinal prostheses · CPC title

• A61F2002/4628

  with linear motion along or rotating motion about an axis transverse to the instrument axis or to the implantation direction, e.g. clamping · CPC title