Orthopedic implant rod reduction tool set and method

1. An elongate guide tool in combination with a spinal bone anchor implant, the guide tool being reversibly attachable to the bone anchor implant for guiding a rod into a receiver of the bone anchor implant, the receiver having upwardly extending and opposed arms, the guide tool comprising:

a) a body with a longitudinally extending through-bore extending from a top opening to a bottom opening, the through-bore being sized and shaped for receiving a closure top therethrough;

b) a laterally extending pass-through slot extending upwardly from the bottom opening and joined with the through-bore, the pass-through slot defining a pair of spaced opposed legs and being sized and shaped so as to receive the rod therethrough, the pass-through slot being alignable with a U-shaped channel of the bone anchor implant receiver located between the arms thereof; and

c) a first inwardly projecting attachment structure located along a lower portion of the guide tool that is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage a second attachment structure of the bone anchor implant receiver when the guide tool is secured to the bone anchor implant, the second attachment structure having an abutment surface, thereby preventing rotation of the guide tool relative to the receiver; and wherein

d) when the pass-through slot and the U-shaped channel are aligned, the rod is transferable from the guide tool to the receiver, and after which the guide tool can be removed off the receiver.

2. The bone anchor implant according to claim 1 , wherein the bone anchor implant is a polyaxial screw.

3. The bone anchor implant according to claim 1 , wherein the bone anchor implant is a fixed screw.

4. The bone anchor implant according to claim 1 , wherein the bone anchor implant is cannulated.

5. An elongate guide tool in combination with a spinal bone anchor implant, the guide tool being reversibly attachable to the bone anchor implant for guiding a rod into a receiver of the bone anchor implant, the receiver having upwardly extending and opposed arms, the guide tool comprising:

a) a body with a longitudinally extending through-bore extending from a top opening to a bottom opening, the through-bore being sized and shaped for receiving a closure top therethrough;

b) a laterally extending pass-through slot extending upwardly from the bottom opening and joined with the through-bore, the pass-through slot defining a pair of spaced opposed legs and being sized and shaped so as to receive the rod therethrough, the pass-through slot being alignable with a U-shaped channel of the bone anchor implant receiver located between the arms thereof; and

c) a first inwardly projecting attachment structure near the bottom opening that is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage a second attachment structure of the bone anchor implant receiver when the guide tool is secured to the bone anchor implant, wherein the second attachment structure is a radiused horizontal pair of notches circumferentially located on and opening onto an exterior surface of the arms near an upper end thereof and on both sides thereof, the second attachment structure having an abutment surface, thereby preventing rotation of the guide tool relative to the receiver; wherein

d) when the pass-through slot and the U-shaped channel are aligned, the rod is transferable from the guide tool to the receiver, and after which the guide tool can be removed from the receiver.

6. The bone screw implant according to claim 5 , wherein the bone anchor implant is a polyaxial screw.

7. The bone screw implant according to claim 5 , wherein the bone anchor implant is a fixed screw.

8. The bone screw implant according to claim 5 , wherein the bone anchor implant is cannulated.

9. An elongate guide tool in combination with a spinal bone anchor, the guide tool being reversibly attachable to the bone anchor for guiding a rod into a receiver of the bone anchor the guide tool comprising:

a) a body with a longitudinally extending through-bore extending from a top opening to a bottom opening, the through-bore being sized and shaped for receiving a tool and a closure top therethrough;

b) a laterally extending pass-through slot extending upwardly from the bottom opening and joined with the through-bore, the pass-through slot defining a pair of spaced opposed legs and being sized and shaped so as to have the rod positioned therebetween, the pass-through slot being alignable with a U-shaped channel between upright arms of the bone anchor receiver; and

c) a first inwardly projecting attachment structure near the bottom opening and on each spaced opposed leg that is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage a second attachment structure of the bone anchor receiver when the guide tool is secured to the bone anchor, wherein the second attachment structure is a radiused groove located on an exterior of each upright arm of the receiver and near a top thereof, the second attachment structure having an abutment surface, thereby preventing rotation of the guide tool relative to the receiver; wherein

d) when the pass-through slot and the U-shaped channel are aligned, the rod is transferable from the guide tool to the bone anchor, and the closure remains spaced apart from the receiver groove.

10. An elongate guide tool in combination with a spinal bone implant, the guide tool being reversibly attachable to the bone implant for guiding a rod into a receiver of the bone implant, the receiver having upwardly extending and opposed arms, the guide tool comprising:

a) a body with a longitudinally extending through-bore extending from a top opening to a bottom opening, the through-bore being sized and shaped for receiving a tool and a closure top therethrough;

b) a laterally extending pass-through slot extending upwardly from the bottom opening and joined with the through-bore, the pass-through slot defining a pair of spaced opposed legs and being sized and shaped so as to have the rod positioned therethrough, the pass-through slot being alignable with a U-shaped channel of the bone implant receiver located between the arms thereof; and

c) a first inwardly projecting attachment structure located along a lower portion of the guide tool that is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage a second attachment structure of the bone implant receiver when the guide tool is secured to the bone implant, the second attachment structure having an abutment surface, thereby preventing rotation of the guide tool relative to the receiver; and wherein

d) when the pass-through slot and the U-shaped channel are aligned, the rod is transferable from the guide tool to the receiver, and after which the guide tool can be removed from the receiver.

11. The bone implant according to claim 10 , wherein the bone implant is a cannulated polyaxial screw.

12. The bone implant according to claim 10 , wherein the bone implant is a cannulated fixed screw.

13. An elongate guide tool in combination with a spinal implant, the guide tool being reversibly attachable to the implant for guiding a rod into a receiver of the implant, the receiver having upwardly extending and opposed arms, the guide tool comprising:

a) a body with a longitudinally extending through-bore extending from a top opening to a bottom opening, the through-bore being sized and shaped for receiving a closure top therethrough;

b) a laterally extending pass-through slot extending upwardly from the bottom opening and joined with the through-bore, the pass-through slot defining a pair of spaced opposed legs and being sized and shaped so as to receive the rod therethrough, the pass-through slot being alignable with a U-shaped channel of the implant receiver located between the arms thereof; and

c) a first inwardly projecting attachment structure near the bottom opening that is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage a second attachment structure of the implant receiver when the guide tool is secured to the implant, wherein the second attachment structure is a radiused horizontal pair of grooves circumferentially located on and cut into an exterior surface of the receiver arms near an upper end thereof and on both sides thereof, the second attachment structure having an abutment surface, thereby preventing rotation of the guide tool relative to the receiver; wherein

d) when the pass-through slot and the U-shaped channel are aligned, the rod is transferable from the guide tool to the implant receiver.

14. The implant according to claim 13 , wherein the guide tool can be rotated off the implant receiver.

15. A receiver for a bone screw and comprising:

a) a pair of laterally spaced upstanding arms having respective upper surfaces and respective planar side surfaces;

b) each arm having two laterally open features formed in the side surface thereof which forms a horizontally extending, generally downwardly facing surface; and

c) each arm having two laterally open slots extending from the upper surface thereof to the downwardly facing surface thereof, the laterally open slots having an abutment surface.

16. A receiver for a bone anchor and comprising:

a) a pair of laterally spaced upstanding arms having external surfaces extending from a front side to a back side of the receiver and respective upper surfaces, the arms forming a rod-receiving channel therebetween; and

b) at least one arm having a laterally opening slot formed on a respective external surface and located near the respective upper surface, the slot being sized and shaped to extending radially, circumferentially, and horizontally with respect to the respective external surface, the slot extending to one of the front and back sides of the receiver, the slot having an abutment surface.