Granted Patent B2

US 9,198,703 · App. 13/876,364 · Granted Dec 1, 2015

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A system for inserting an implant into bone, comprising:

a plurality of polymeric augmentation pins;

an augmentation screw having an internal bore for receiving one of the augmentation pins;

a pin inserter having an elongated housing with an axial through-bore and a lateral opening, wherein the axial through-bore and the lateral opening are in communication with each other, and an elongated pusher which is movably and at least partially accommodated in the axial through-bore, so that, when one of the augmentation pins is placed in the lateral opening and is aligned with the axial through-bore, then the augmentation pin can be moved by means of the pusher through at least a portion of the axial through-bore, out of the housing and into the internal bore of the augmentation screw;

wherein the housing further comprises a connection portion for fastening a proximal end of the augmentation screw at the connection portion of the housing, such that the axial through-bore of the housing is coaxial with the internal bore of the augmentation screw;

wherein the lateral opening in the housing is a through- opening and wherein the housing further comprises a projection projecting into the lateral opening, so that one of the augmentation pins is blocked from lateral movement and is automatically aligned with the axial through-bore, when the one augmentation pin is placed in the lateral opening and abuts the projection;

the system further comprising a pin-magazine for holding the plurality of augmentation pins wherein the pin-magazine is designed to be at least partially received in the lateral opening of the housing; and wherein the polymeric augmentation pins are capable of being fluidized by ultrasonic energy.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a length of the elongated pusher is greater than a length of the axial through-bore.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the connection portion includes a releasable coupling for selective engagement with the proximal end of the augmentation screw.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the pin-magazine is adapted to align a pin-retainer with the axial through-bore of the elongated housing, for inserting the augmentation pin into an augmentation screw, when the augmentation pin is located in the pin-retainer.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a recess formed on the pin-retainer, so that, when the pin-magazine is placed in the lateral opening of the housing, the projection on the housing protrudes into the recess, and, when the augmentation pin is located in the pin-retainer, a portion of the augmentation pin is laterally exposed for abutting the projection.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the pin magazine further comprises a notch adapted for an engagement with a locking element of a pin-inserter.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the pin-magazine comprises two pin-retainers.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the two pin-retainers are adapted to hold two different pins.

9. A system for inserting an implant into bone, comprising:

a plurality of polymeric augmentation pins;

an augmentation screw having an internal bore for receiving one of the augmentation pins;

a pin inserter having an elongated housing with an axial through-bore and a lateral opening, wherein the axial through-bore and the lateral opening are in communication with each other, and an elongated pusher which is movably and at least partially accommodated in the axial through-bore, so that, when one of the augmentation pins is placed in the lateral opening and is aligned with the axial through-bore, then the augmentation pin can be moved by means of the pusher through at least a portion of the axial through-bore, out of the housing and into the augmentation screw; wherein the housing further comprises a connection portion for fastening a proximal end of the augmentation screw at the connection portion of the housing, such that the axial through-bore of the housing is coaxial with the internal bore of the augmentation screw;

wherein the lateral opening in the housing is a through- opening and wherein the housing further comprises a projection projecting into the lateral opening, so that the augmentation pin is blocked from lateral movement and is automatically aligned with the axial through-bore, when the augmentation in is placed in the lateral opening and abuts the projection;

the system further comprising a pin-magazine for holding the plurality of augmentation pins wherein the pin-magazine is designed to be at least partially received in the lateral opening of the housing;

wherein the polymeric augmentation pins are capable of being fluidized by ultrasonic energy; and

a tissue protection sleeve having a proximal end releasably coupled to a connection portion of the housing.

10. The system as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the tissue protection sleeve releasably engages the proximal end of the augmentation screw.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the connection portion includes a releasable coupling for selective engagement with the proximal end of the augmentation screw.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the pin-magazine is adapted to align a pin-retainer with the axial through-bore of the elongated housing, for inserting the augmentation pin into an augmentation screw, when the augmentation pin is located in the pin-retainer.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a recess formed on the pin-retainer, so that, when the pin-magazine is placed in the lateral opening of the housing, the projection on the housing protrudes into the recess, and, when the augmentation pin is located in the pin-retainer, a portion of the augmentation pin is laterally exposed for abutting the projection.

Assignments (8)