IP Library Granted Patent US 11,439,443
Granted Patent B2
US 11,439,443 · App. 16/655,421 · Granted Sep 13, 2022

Rod reducing device

Inventors: Kan Min (Rüschlikon, CH); Brian Kunes (Arlington, VA)
Assignee: K2M, Inc.
A61B17/7086A61B17/7002A61B17/7091A61B17/7032A61B17/7041A61B17/7085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,439,443
App. No.
16/655,421
Granted
Sep 13, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rod reducer includes a housing, an anvil, a locking anvil configured to engage a locking plug of a bone screw assembly, an arm assembly, a reducing screw extending through the housing and rotatably coupled with the anvil, and a locking screw extending through the housing and rotatably coupled with the locking anvil. The arm assembly includes an arm hingedly coupled to the housing, and first and second grasping members configured to engage the bone screw assembly. The first and second grasping members are hingedly coupled to the housing and extend through the anvil. Rotation of the reducing screw transitions the arm assembly between an open position, in which, distal portions of the arm and the first and second grasping members are radially expanded, and a closed position, in which, the distal portions of the arm and the first and second grasping members are radially contracted.

Claims (35)

1. A method of reducing a spinal rod comprising:

transitioning a rod reducer to an open state, in which, distal ends of a first arm and grasping members of the rod reducer are radially expanded;

positioning the rod reducer over a bone screw assembly;

positioning a spinal rod adjacent a rod receiving portion of the bone screw assembly;

rotating a reducing screw of the rod reducer to transition an anvil of the rod reducer away from a housing of the rod reducer to a closed state, in which, the distal ends of the first arm and the grasping members of the rod reducers are radially contracted to engage the bone screw assembly;

reducing the spinal rod into the rod receiving portion; and

rotating a locking screw of the rod reducer to move a locking anvil to advance a locking plug into a bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly to secure the spinal rod to the rod receiving portion, the locking screw and the locking anvil being rotatably coupled to one another.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating the reducing screw of the rod reducer includes engaging the first arm of the rod reducer with the rod receiving portion of the bone screw assembly.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein rotating the reducing screw of the rod reducer includes engaging the grasping members with the bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the reducing screw is rotatably coupled with the anvil.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising partially rotating the locking screw to partially advance the locking plug into the bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly and making adjustments to the spinal rod.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the locking screw causes axial displacement of the locking anvil relative to the anvil.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locking anvil imparts an axial force to the locking plug to transition the housing of the bone screw assembly to a locked state.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the locking anvil advances within a cutout of the anvil.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the locking screw is rotated, the locking screw threadably engages a threaded bore of the anvil.

10. A method of reducing a spinal rod comprising:

positioning a rod reducer over a bone screw assembly;

positioning a spinal rod adjacent a rod receiving portion of the bone screw assembly;

transitioning an anvil of the rod reducer to transition a first arm and grasping members of the rod reducer from a radially expanded position to a closed position, in which, the first arm and the grasping members of the rod reducers are radially contracted to engage the bone screw assembly;

reducing the spinal rod into the rod receiving portion; and

rotating a locking screw of the rod reducer to move a locking anvil to advance a locking plug into a bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly to secure the spinal rod to the rod receiving portion, the locking screw and the locking anvil being rotatably coupled to one another.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of transitioning the anvil includes rotating a reducing screw of the rod reducer.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising partially advancing the locking plug into the bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly and making adjustments to the spinal rod.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reducing step includes rotating a reducing screw of the rod reducer.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the locking screw and the locking anvil are rotatably coupled together.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein rotating the reducing screw of the rod reducer includes engaging the first arm of the rod reducer with the rod receiving portion of the bone screw.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein rotating the reducing screw of the rod reducer includes engaging the grasping members with the bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the locking anvil advances within a cutout of the anvil.

18. A method of reducing a spinal rod comprising:

transitioning a rod reducer to an open state, in which, distal ends of a first arm and grasping members of the rod reducer are radially expanded;

positioning the rod reducer over a bone screw assembly;

positioning a spinal rod adjacent a rod receiving portion of the bone screw assembly;

rotating a reducing screw of the rod reducer to transition an anvil of the rod reducer away from a housing of the rod reducer to a closed state, in which, the distal ends of the first arm and the grasping members of the rod reducers are radially contracted, the grasping members engage the bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly, and the first arm of the rod reducer engages the rod receiving portion of the bone screw assembly;

reducing the spinal rod into the rod receiving portion; and

rotating a locking screw of the rod reducer to axially move a locking anvil relative to the anvil to advance a locking plug into a bone screw housing of the bone screw assembly to transition the housing of the bone screw assembly to a locked state to secure the spinal rod to the rod receiving portion, the locking screw and the locking anvil being rotatably coupled to one another.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2026
From: K2M, INC.
To: VB SPINE LLC
Reel/Frame 075801/0592 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2025
From: K2M, INC.; VB SPINE US OPCO LLC
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 072340/0397 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 16, 2025
From: K2M, INC.; VB SPINE US OPCO LLC; VB SPINE LLC
To: ANKURA TRUST COMPANY, LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071682/0116 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 13, 2019
From: MIN, KAN; KUNES, BRIAN
To: K2M, INC.
Reel/Frame 050996/0030 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15873370 · Jan 17, 2018
Provisional Application 62447519 · Jan 18, 2017
Related Publication 20200046410A1 · Feb 13, 2020