ROD INSERTER AND METHODS OF USE
A spinal stabilization system, method, and a surgical kit having a surgical extender apparatus for implanting a surgical screw are disclosed. The extender includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end, a hollow interior passageway disposed between the distal end and the proximal end, a channel disposed along an exterior surface of the housing at least partially between the distal end and the proximal end and configured to at least partially expose the hollow interior passageway, an interior locking mechanism disposed on an interior surface of the housing and substantially adjacent the proximal end, wherein the interior locking mechanism is configured to allow attachment of at least one surgical tool, and at least one flexible member disposed substantially adjacent the distal end. The housing is configured to accommodate placement of a surgical screw implant. The surgical screw implant is secured to the housing using a mating feature in the surgical screw implant. The at least one flexible member is configured to retain the surgical screw implant. The mating feature is configured to control axial movement of the surgical screw implant.
1 - 7 . (canceled)
8 . A rod inserter tool for use with a hollow screw extender housing configured to be coupled to a screw assembly implanted into vertebrae, the tool comprising:
a handle coupled to a curved shaft at a proximal end of the curved shaft;
the shaft includes a static shaft portion configured to be permanently coupled to the handle;
a sliding shaft portion configured to be slidably coupled inside the handle and further configured to slide along the static shaft portion;
a rod holding mechanism formed by the static shaft portion and a sliding shaft portion and configured to be disposed at a distal end of the curved shaft;
wherein by translating the sliding shaft portion along the static shaft portion toward the distal end of the shaft, the rod holding mechanism is configured to secure a rod.
9 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 8 , wherein the handle includes a threading mechanism configured to control translational movement of the sliding shaft portion.
10 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 9 , wherein the handle includes a control knob coupled to the threading mechanism,
wherein rotation of the control knob in one direction is configured to translate the sliding shaft portion toward the distal end of the shaft and secure the rod in the rod holding mechanism, and
rotation of the control knob in another direction is configured to translate the sliding shaft portion away from the distal end of the shaft and release the rod from the rod holding mechanism.
11 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 8 , wherein the rod holding mechanism includes at least one mating feature disposed on at least one of the static shaft portion and the sliding shaft portion for mating with at least one mating feature on the rod.
12 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 8 , wherein the rod holding mechanism is configured to hold the rod at a predetermined angle with respect to the shaft.
13 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 8 , wherein the static shaft portion is configured to include a groove and the sliding shaft portion is configured to include a corresponding protrusion configured to translate inside the groove of the static shaft portion to prevent excessive translation of the sliding shaft portion.
14 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 8 , wherein the sliding shaft portion is configured to slide inside the static shaft portion.
15 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 14 , wherein the rod holding mechanism includes a static lip portion coupled to the static shaft portion and a pivoting lip portion coupled to the sliding shaft portion, wherein translational movement of the sliding shaft portion is configured to rotate the pivoting lip portion with respect to the static lip portion.
16 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 15 , wherein at least one of the static lip portion and the pivoting lip portion includes at least one mating feature configured to interact with at least one corresponding mating feature disposed on the rod to further secure the rod in the rod holding mechanism.
17 . The rod inserter tool according to claim 8 , wherein the rod inserter tool is configured to insert the rod through the screw extender housing and toward the corresponding screw assembly.
18 - 37 . (canceled)
38 . An instrument for inserting a spinal rod into a surgical area, comprising:
a static first shaft including a first proximal portion with a handle, a first curved mid-portion, and a first distal portion with a rod-receiving groove configured to receive an end of the spinal rod;
a sliding second shaft including a second proximal portion coupled with a rotary mechanism, a second curved mid-portion, and a second distal portion; and
a control mechanism on the handle that actuates the rotary mechanism to translate the second shaft relative to the first shaft and engage the second distal portion with the spinal rod.
39 . The instrument of claim 38 , further comprising a proximally-facing protrusion in the rod-receiving groove configured to engage with a mating feature of the spinal rod.
40 . The instrument of claim 38 , further comprising a stop portion within the first shaft that limits translation of the second shaft.
41 . The instrument of claim 38 , wherein the curved mid-portions offset the proximal portions from the distal portions along a longitudinal axis of the instrument.
42 . The instrument of claim 38 , wherein the proximal portions and the distal portions are substantially straight and parallel.
43 . The instrument of claim 38 , in conjunction with a spinal rod including a leading first end for insertion into the spinal implants and a grasping second end.
44 . A method for linking spinal implants, comprising:
providing an instrument including
a static first shaft including a first proximal portion with a handle, a first curved mid-portion, and a first distal portion with a rod-receiving groove configured to receive the grasping end of a spinal rod;
a sliding second shaft including a second proximal portion coupled with a rotary mechanism, a second curved mid-portion, and a second distal portion; and
a control mechanism on the handle that actuates the rotary mechanism to translate the second shaft relative to the first shaft and engage the second distal portion with the spinal rod;
inserting the grasping end of the spinal rod into the first distal portion;
rotating the control mechanism to advancing the sliding second shaft distally to engage the second distal portion with the grasping end of the spinal rod;
inserting the spinal rod into the spinal implants; and
securing the spinal rod to the spinal implants.