Spinal fixation tool set and method
View Patent ↗A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Each end guide tool includes a laterally extending, rigid, rod holding structure located near a bottom surface thereof. Intermediate guide tools having pass-through slots are utilized to guide the rod to the bone screws at intermediate locations. For bone screw implantation, the end guide tools and intermediate guide tools are assembled with a driver. The driver is coaxial with the respective guide tool and rotatingly mateable thereto. The driver includes a stem and a nut-type fastener, the stem receivable in the guide tool. The fastener allows for rotation of the bone screw without rotating the attached guide tool. For reducing a rod into the bone screw, a rod pusher is deployed that is coaxial with a respective guide tool and includes an outer sleeve that abuts the rod as the sleeve is translated along the guide tool and toward the bone screw. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the bone screws and the rod in the patient.
1. A tool assembly for positioning a fixation rod in a bone anchor implanted in a patient, the bone anchor having a rod receiving channel, and the tool assembly extending above a portion of skin of the patient during use, and comprising:
a) an elongate guide tool member including an upper end portion, a lower side opening, and a lower end portion configured to engage and releasably attach to the bone anchor, whereby the lower side opening is aligned with the rod receiving channel of the bone anchor;
b) an outer member engaging and substantially surrounding the elongate guide tool member; and
c) the outer member cooperating with the elongate guide tool member to engage and push the fixation rod extending through the lower side opening of the guide tool member down into the bone anchor rod receiving channel when the outer member is advanced toward the bone anchor.
2. The tool assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:
a) the outer member is a sleeve threadably connected to the guide tool member near a top thereof.
3. The tool assembly according to claim 2 wherein an end of the sleeve is configured to engage the fixation rod and urge the rod and bone anchor together.
4. The tool assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein:
a) the guide tool member has engagement structure to releasably secure the guide tool member to mating structure on the bone anchor when the guide tool member is in engagement with the bone anchor.