Spinal rod reducer and cap insertion apparatus

1. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

disengaging a drive mechanism for the rod reducing member with the rod reducing assembly secured to the coupling device;

shifting the reducing member into contact with the spinal rod without operation of the drive mechanism;

engaging the drive mechanism for driving the reducing member;

operating the drive mechanism to apply force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device; and

driving a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device after the reducing member has shifted the rod into the coupling device;

wherein the step of engaging the drive mechanism comprises shifting a first threaded surface into engagement with a second threaded surface.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasably coupling the cap member to an elongate drive member, shifting the elongate drive member linearly toward the coupling device without rotation to secure the cap to the coupling device, disengaging the cap member from the drive member, and retracting the drive member away from the coupling device.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the drive member is first shifted to a provisional lock position where the cap releasably coupled thereto is shifted partway into the coupling device and secured thereto, and subsequently shifted to a full lock position where the cap is shifted fully into the coupling device to immobilize the rod in the coupling device.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising securing the drive member to the reducing member prior to shifting the drive member linearly.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein applying force to the rod reducing member shifts the spinal rod to a predetermined seated position within the coupling device, and driving the cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device locks the spinal rod in the predetermined seated position.

6. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

engaging the spinal rod with the reducing member outside and on each side of the coupling device;

applying force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device;

inserting a drive member of a cap inserter into a throughbore of the rod reducing assembly;

operating an actuator of an actuator assembly of the cap inserter to drive the drive member in an advancing axial direction through the throughbore for advancing a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device;

releasably anchoring a coupling portion of the actuator assembly to the rod reducing assembly upon operation of the actuator to restrict relative axial movement between the actuator assembly coupling portion and the rod reducing assembly as the drive member is driven through the throughbore; and

linearly shifting the reducing member without rotation to contact the spinal rod, engaging the reducing member with a drive mechanism, and then using the drive mechanism to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising releasably coupling the cap member to the drive member, shifting the drive member linearly toward the coupling device without rotation of the cap member to secure the cap to the coupling device, disengaging the cap member from the drive member, and retracting the drive member away from the coupling device.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein applying force to the rod reducing member shifts the spinal rod to a predetermined seated position within the coupling device, and advancing the cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device locks the spinal rod in the predetermined seated position.

9. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

engaging the spinal rod with the reducing member outside and on each side of the coupling device;

applying force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device;

inserting a drive member of a cap inserter into a throughbore of the rod reducing assembly;

operating an actuator of an actuator assembly of the cap inserter to drive the drive member in an advancing axial direction through the throughbore for advancing a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device; and

releasably anchoring a coupling portion of the actuator assembly to the rod reducing assembly upon operation of the actuator to restrict relative axial movement between the actuator assembly coupling portion and the rod reducing assembly as the drive member is driven through the throughbore; and

releasably coupling the cap member to the drive member, shifting the drive member linearly toward the coupling device without rotation of the cap member to secure the cap to the coupling device, disengaging the cap member from the drive member, and retracting the drive member away from the coupling device;

wherein the drive member is first shifted to a provisional lock position where the cap releasably coupled thereto is shifted partway into the coupling device and secured thereto, and subsequently shifted to a full lock position where the cap is shifted fully into the coupling device to immobilize the rod in the coupling device.

10. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

disengaging a drive mechanism for the rod reducing member while the rod reducing assembly is secured to the coupling device;

shifting the reducing member against the spinal rod without operation of the drive mechanism;

engaging the drive mechanism for driving the reducing member;

operating the drive mechanism to apply force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device;

inserting a drive member of a cap inserter into a throughbore of the rod reducing assembly;

operating an actuator of an actuator assembly of the cap inserter to drive the drive member in an advancing axial direction through the throughbore for advancing a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device; and

releasably anchoring a coupling portion of the actuator assembly to the rod reducing assembly upon operation of the actuator to restrict relative axial movement between the actuator assembly coupling portion and the rod reducing assembly as the drive member is driven through the throughbore.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein applying force to the rod reducing member shifts the spinal rod to a predetermined seated position within the coupling device, and advancing the cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device locks the spinal rod in the predetermined seated position.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising linearly shifting the reducing member without rotation to contact the spinal rod, engaging the reducing member with a drive mechanism, and then using the drive mechanism to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising releasably coupling the cap member to the drive member, shifting the drive member linearly toward the coupling device without rotation of the cap member to secure the cap to the coupling device, disengaging the cap member from the drive member, and retracting the drive member away from the coupling device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the drive member is first shifted to a provisional lock position where the cap releasably coupled thereto is shifted partway into the coupling device and secured thereto, and subsequently shifted to a full lock position where the cap is shifted fully into the coupling device to immobilize the rod in the coupling device.

15. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

disengaging a drive mechanism for the rod reducing member with the rod reducing assembly secured to the coupling device;

shifting the reducing member into contact with the spinal rod without operation of the drive mechanism;

engaging the drive mechanism for driving the reducing member;

operating the drive mechanism to apply force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device; and

driving a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device after the reducing member has shifted the rod into the coupling device;

wherein the drive mechanism is threaded.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of disengaging the drive mechanism comprises shifting a first set of threads of the drive mechanism away from a second set of threads of the drive mechanism and wherein the step of engaging the drive mechanism comprises shifting the first set of threads of the drive mechanism into engagement with the second set of threads of the drive mechanism.

17. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

engaging the spinal rod with the reducing member outside and on each side of the coupling device;

applying force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device;

inserting a drive member of a cap inserter into a throughbore of the rod reducing assembly;

operating an actuator of an actuator assembly of the cap inserter to drive the drive member in an advancing axial direction through the throughbore for advancing a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device; and

releasably anchoring a coupling portion of the actuator assembly to the rod reducing assembly upon operation of the actuator to restrict relative axial movement between the actuator assembly coupling portion and the rod reducing assembly as the drive member is driven through the throughbore;

wherein releasably anchoring the cap inserter to the reducing assembly comprises shifting a locking mechanism of the cap inserter into a recess in the reducing assembly.

18. A method for securing a spinal rod to a vertebra, the method comprising:

securing a fixation device and a coupling device to the vertebra;

securing a rod reducing assembly to the coupling device so that the spinal rod is positioned between the coupling device and a reducing member of the rod reducing assembly;

engaging the spinal rod with the reducing member outside and on each side of the coupling device;

applying force to the reducing member to shift the spinal rod into the coupling device;

inserting a drive member of a cap inserter into a throughbore of the rod reducing assembly;

operating an actuator of an actuator assembly of the cap inserter to drive the drive member in an advancing axial direction through the throughbore for advancing a cap member into locking engagement with the coupling device;

releasably anchoring a coupling portion of the actuator assembly to the rod reducing assembly upon operation of the actuator to restrict relative axial movement between the actuator assembly coupling portion and the rod reducing assembly as the drive member is driven through the throughbore; and

manipulating a single actuator to releasably anchor the cap inserter member to the reducing assembly and to shift the drive member to advance the cap member.