Systems and methods for delivering bone cement to a bone anchor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE50403-E
Application number	US-202117567107-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Dec 31, 2021
Priority date	Oct 30, 2008
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

A method of stabilizing a first vertebra and a second vertebra includes implanting a first bone anchor into the first vertebra, implanting a second bone anchor into the second vertebra, connecting a first anchor connection instrument to the first anchor, connecting a second anchor connection instrument the second anchor, positioning a cement delivery tube into a passage provided through the first anchor, delivering bone cement from a bone cement delivery system coupled to the bone cement delivery tube through the passage in the first anchor to the first vertebra, removing the cement delivery tube from the first anchor connection instrument and the first anchor, connecting the cement delivery tube to second anchor connecting instrument connected to the second anchor, delivering bone cement through a passage in the second anchor to the second vertebra, connecting a spinal connection element to the first anchor and the second anchor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of delivering cement to a spinal anchor anchored in a vertebra of a patient, the method comprising:
advancing a distal end of an anchor connection instrument through an opening in a proximal portion of a spinal anchor, the proximal portion of the spinal anchor having a slot for receiving a spinal rod and a thread for receiving a closure mechanism for securing the rod in the proximal portion, the distal end of the anchor connecting instrument including a first connection feature spaced apart from a second connection feature, the first connection feature comprising an external thread, the second connection feature comprising a drive tip located at a distal tip of the distal end of the anchor connection instrument, advancing the drive tip of the anchor connection instrument into a drive feature at a proximal opening in a passage formed in a distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor, the passage communicating with the opening in the proximal portion of the spinal anchor, rotating the first connection feature to engage the external thread of the first connection feature with the thread on the proximal portion of the spinal anchor, the first connection feature being positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the anchor connection instrument a distance from the drive tip, the distance selected to allow the drive tip to be advanced into the drive feature of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor when the first connection feature engages the proximal portion of the spinal anchor, the anchor connection instrument holding the proximal portion of the spinal anchor relative to the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor when the first connection feature engages the proximal portion of the spinal anchor and the second connection feature is advanced into the drive feature of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor, positioning a bone cement delivery tube through the anchor connection instrument, advancing a distal end of the bone cement delivery tube into the passage of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor, connecting a proximal end of the bone cement delivery tube to a bone cement delivery system, and injecting cement into the passage of distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor through the bone cement delivery tube.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion the bone cement delivery system is positioned outside of a fluoroscopic imaging field about the patient.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising
removing the anchor connection instrument and the bone cement delivery tube from the spinal anchor, advancing a distal end of the anchor connection instrument through an opening in a proximal portion of a second spinal anchor, advancing the drive tip of the anchor connection instrument into a drive feature at a proximal opening in a passage formed in a distal bone engaging portion of the second spinal anchor, the passage communicating with the opening in the proximal portion of the second spinal anchor, rotating the first connection feature to engage the external thread of the first connection feature with the thread on the proximal portion of the second spinal anchor, positioning the bone cement delivery tube through the anchor connection instrument, advancing the distal end of the bone cement delivery tube into the passage of the distal bone engaging portion of the second spinal anchor, and injecting cement into the passage of distal bone engaging portion of second the spinal anchor through the bone cement delivery tube.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thread of the first connection feature is interrupted at two spaced apart, opposed unthreaded sections and further comprising
inserting the first connection feature into the proximal portion of the bone anchor with the unthread sections facing the thread, and rotating the first connection feature to engage the thread on the first connection feature with the thread on the proximal portion of the bone anchor.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting a spinal rod to the proximal portion of the bone anchor after injecting cement into spinal anchor.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising connecting a connection mechanism to the proximal end of the bone anchor to capture to the spinal rod to the spinal anchor.

7. A method of delivering cement to a spinal anchor anchored in a vertebra of a patient, the method comprising:
advancing a distal end of an anchor connection instrument into a proximal portion of a spinal anchor, the proximal portion of the spinal anchor having a slot for receiving a spinal rod and a thread for receiving a closure mechanism for securing the rod in the proximal portion, the distal end of the anchor connection instrument including a first connection feature spaced apart from a second connection feature, the first connection feature comprising an external thread, the second connection feature comprising a distal tip of the distal end of the anchor connection instrument, advancing the distal tip of the anchor connection instrument into a proximal opening in a passage formed in a distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor, the passage communicating with the proximal portion of the spinal anchor, rotating the first connection feature to engage the external thread of the first connection feature with the thread on the proximal portion of the spinal anchor, the first connection feature being positioned between the proximal end and the distal end of the anchor connection instrument a distance from the distal tip, the distance selected to allow the distal tip to be advanced into the proximal opening of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor when the first connection feature engages the proximal portion of the spinal anchor, the anchor connection instrument holding the proximal portion of the spinal anchor relative to the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor when the first connection feature engages the proximal portion of the spinal anchor and the second connection feature is advanced into the proximal opening of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor, positioning a bone cement delivery tube through the anchor connection instrument, and injecting cement into the passage of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor through the bone cement delivery tube, wherein the first connection feature and the second connection feature are advanced simultaneously, wherein the bone cement delivery tube includes a handle comprising two wings extending laterally-outward from a proximal end of the bone cement delivery tube, and a connector disposed between the two wings of the handle for connecting the bone cement delivery tube to a reservoir of bone cement.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising removing the anchor connection instrument after injecting cement into the passage of the distal bone engaging portion of the spinal anchor.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein removing the anchor connection instrument includes rotating the first connection feature to disengage the external thread of the first connection feature from the thread of the proximal portion of the bone anchor.

10. The method of claim 7 , further comprising positioning the anchor connection instrument through a tubular extension.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the tubular extension is connected to the bone anchor.

12. The method of claim 7 , further comprising connecting a spinal rod to the proximal portion of the spinal anchor after injecting cement into the spinal anchor.

13. The method of claim 12

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Jones Bryan S
• Michielli Michael
• Hall Mark
• Lee Kevin

Classifications

• A61B2017/0023

  disposable · CPC title

• A61B17/8822

  characterised by means facilitating expulsion of fluid from the introducer, e.g. a screw pump plunger, hydraulic force transmissions, application of vibrations or a vacuum · CPC title

• A61B17/8816

  characterised by the conduit, e.g. tube, along which fluid flows into the body or by conduit connections · CPC title

• A61B17/864

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

• A61B17/7085

  for insertion of a longitudinal element down one or more hollow screw or hook extensions, i.e. at least a part of the element within an extension has a component of movement parallel to the extension's axis · CPC title