Bone anchor configured to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone
View Patent ↗A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws. The tool set 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. Intermediate guide tools having guiding pass through slots are utilized to guide intermediate locations along the rod toward associated bone screws. An attachment structure operably connects the guide tools to the bone screws. The guide tools each include a lower guide and advancement structure to allow a closure top with mating structure to be rotated and driven downward against the rod and to cooperate with similar structure in the bone screw to seat and lock the rod therein. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the rod in the patient.
1. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to attach to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member, the head to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending into the distal end such that the head is coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot near the proximal end of the head and extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool; and
wherein the horizontal radiused slot comprises a proximal boundary comprising a radially inner extent and a radially outer extent radially outward of the radially inner extent, wherein the radially outer extent is distal the radially inner extent.
2. The bone anchor of claim 1 , wherein, when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool, a free end of the attachment structure is received in a proximal recess defined by the radially inner extent and the radially outer extent.
3. The bone anchor of claim 2 , wherein the free end and the radially outer extent interact to inhibit the attachment structure from radially outward displacement.
4. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to attach to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member, the head to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending into the distal end such that the head is coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot near the proximal end of the head and extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool; and
wherein the horizontal radiused slot comprises a proximal boundary comprising a distal projecting lip structure and, when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool, the attachment structure engages the distal projecting lip.
5. The bone anchor of claim 4 , wherein the attachment structure engaging the distal projecting lip acts to inhibit the attachment structure from radially outward displacement.
6. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to attach to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member, the head to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending into the distal end such that the head is coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot near the proximal end of the head and extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool;
wherein the slot comprises a boundary perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head that comprises a structural configuration that interacts with the attachment structure to inhibit radially outward displacement of the attachment structure from the slot in which the attachment structure is received; and
wherein the structural configuration comprises a lip structure.
7. The bone anchor of claim 6 , wherein the boundary perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head is a proximal boundary.
8. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to attach to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member, the head to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending into the distal end such that the head is coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot near the proximal end of the head and extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool;
wherein the proximal end comprises a surface perpendicular to the outer surface:
wherein the horizontal radiused slot is closer in proximity to the proximal end than to the distal end; and
wherein a proximal perpendicular boundary of the horizontal radiused slot comprises an undercut defining a proximal projecting recess of the horizontal radiused slot.
9. The bone anchor of claim 8 , wherein the recess of the slot is to interact with the attachment structure to prevent radially outward displacement of the attachment structure from the slot in which the attachment structure is received.
10. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to attach to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member, the head to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal end and a distal end opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending into the distal end such that the head is coupled to the proximal portion of the anchoring member;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot near the proximal end of the head and extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool; and
wherein the horizontal radiused slot comprises a planar boundary perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head and perpendicularly intersecting the outer surface.
11. The bone anchor of claim 10 , wherein the planar boundary makes complementary planar surface contact with the attachment structure when the attachment structure is received in the slot.
12. The bone anchor of claim 10 , wherein the planar boundary is located at a proximal region of the slot.
13. The bone anchor of claim 12 , wherein the slot further comprises a recessed portion comprising another planar boundary perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the another planar boundary being stepped proximally from the planar boundary and located radially inward from the planar boundary.
14. The bone anchor of claim 13 , wherein the recessed portion interacts with the attachment structure in a manner that inhibits radially outward displacement of the attachment structure from the slot.
15. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure near a lower end of the tool, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to be attached to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head to be coupled to and located near the proximal portion of the anchoring member and to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal region with a proximal end, and a distal region opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending distally from the distal region of the head;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel therebetween to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end of the head;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface on opposite sides of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on at least the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head and radially spaced therefrom, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool, the slot located near the proximal end of the head, and the proximal end of the head having a top surface thereon
wherein the horizontal radiused slot comprises a recessed overhanging configuration at a proximal boundary of the horizontal radiused slot.
16. A bone anchor to anchor an elongated implant to a patient bone and threadably engage with a closure plug, the bone anchor further to couple with a tool comprising an attachment structure near a lower end of the tool, the bone anchor comprising:
an anchoring member comprising a distal portion and a proximal portion opposite the distal portion, the distal portion to be attached to the patient bone in an anchoring manner; and
a head to be coupled to and located near the proximal portion of the anchoring member and to couple to the elongated implant, the head comprising:
a proximal region with a proximal end, and a distal region opposite the proximal end, the proximal portion of the anchoring member extending distally from the distal region of the head;
a first arm and a second arm spaced apart from the first arm to define a channel therebetween to receive the elongated implant to couple the head to the elongated implant, the channel extending distally from the proximal end of the head;
a helically wound thread defined in an inner surface on opposite sides of the channel, the inner surface facing radially inward towards a longitudinal center axis of the head, the helically wound thread to threadably engage with the closure plug when the closure plug is received in the channel;
an outer surface facing radially outward relative to the longitudinal center axis of the head, the outer surface being on at least the first arm; and
a horizontal radiused slot extending along at least a portion of the outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the head and radially spaced therefrom, the slot to receive the attachment structure when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool, the slot located near the proximal end of the head, and the proximal end of the head having a top surface thereon
wherein the horizontal radiused slot comprises a proximal boundary comprising a radially inner extent and a radially outer extent radially outward of the radially inner extent, wherein the radially outer extent is distal the radially inner extent.
17. The bone anchor of claim 16 , wherein, when the bone anchor is coupled to the tool, a free end of the attachment structure is received in a proximal recess defined by the radially inner extent and the radially outer extent.
18. The bone anchor of claim 17 , wherein the free end and the radially outer extent interact to inhibit the attachment structure from radially outward displacement.
19. The bone anchor of claim 15 , wherein the bone screw is a polyaxial bone screw.