Cannulated bone screw extraction device and methods of use thereof

1 . An assembly for engaging a cannulated bone screw with a screw tip and a screw head opposite the screw tip, comprising:

a screw tip engagement device comprising an elongated body having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a screw tip contact member disposed proximate the second end, the elongated body comprises a canted portion proximate the screw tip contact member;

a proximal screw engagement element having a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and a first hollow channel extending from the third end to the fourth end; and

a gripping element holding the screw tip engagement device proximate the first end of the screw tip engagement device;

wherein the screw tip engagement device comprises a deformably resilient wire that is configured to deform the screw tip contact member into a compressed state while traveling through the first hollow channel of a proximal screw engagement element and to return to an uncompressed state when the screw tip contact member engages a portion of the screw tip of the cannulated bone screw;

wherein the fourth end of the proximal screw engagement element is configured to engage a portion of the screw head of the cannulated bone screw;

wherein the screw tip contact member of the screw tip engagement device is configured to engage a portion of the screw tip of the cannulated bone screw outside of a cannula of the cannulated bone screw;

wherein the screw tip engagement device is movable to pass through the first hollow channel such that the first end of the screw tip engagement device extends outside the third end of the first hollow channel and such that the second end of the screw tip engagement device travels past and extends outside the fourth end of the first hollow channel; and

wherein the proximal screw engagement element is rotatable about the deformably resilient wire independent of the gripping element.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the proximal screw engagement element further comprises a first handle that is rotatable relative to the screw tip engagement device.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gripping element further comprises a second hollow channel extending therethrough, wherein a portion of the screw tip engagement device proximate the first end extends into the second hollow channel.

4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the portion of the screw tip engagement device proximate the first end extends through the second hollow channel.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fourth end comprises a screwdriver assembly.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the screw tip engagement device and the proximal screw engagement element have exterior surfaces that are composed of biologically compatible material.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the deformably resilient wire is composed of an elastic material selected from the group consisting of spring steel with a low-alloy manganese, medium-carbon steel or high-carbon steel with a high yield strength, or a combination thereof.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the screw tip engagement device is adapted to pass through the cannula of the cannulated bone screw.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said screw tip contact member comprises a bend and a point.

10 . The assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the elongated body of the screw tip engagement device extending from the first end to the second end has a first longitudinal axis; and

wherein the canted portion extends along a second longitudinal axis that is canted relative to the first longitudinal axis when the deformably resilient wire is in a decompressed state, the first longitudinal axis being non-parallel with the second longitudinal axis.

11 . A kit for removing a cannulated bone screw, comprising:

a screw tip engagement device including an elongated body with a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a screw tip contact member disposed proximate the second end;

a proximal screw engagement element having a third end, a fourth end opposite the third end, and a first hollow channel extending from the third end to the fourth end; and

a screw tip engagement device grasping element configured to hold the screw tip engagement device in a position relative to the proximal screw engagement element,

wherein the screw tip engagement device comprises a deformably resilient wire that is configured to deform the screw tip contact member into a compressed state while traveling through a first hollow channel of a proximal screw engagement element and to return to an uncompressed state when the screw tip contact member engages a portion of a screw tip of the cannulated bone screw;

wherein the fourth end of the proximal screw engagement element is configured to engage a portion of a screw head of the cannulated bone screw;

wherein the screw tip engagement device is movable to pass through the first hollow channel such that the first end of the screw tip engagement device extends outside the third end of the first hollow channel, and such that the second end of the screw tip engagement device travels past and extends outside the fourth end of the first hollow channel;

wherein the screw tip contact member is configured to engage a screw tip of the cannulated bone screw outside of the cannula of the cannulated bone screw; and

wherein the proximal screw engagement element is rotatable about the deformably resilient wire independent of the screw tip engagement device grasping element.

12 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the proximal screw engagement element further comprises a first handle that is rotatable relative to the screw tip engagement device.

13 . The kit of claim 11 , wherein the screw tip engagement device grasping element further comprises a second handle.