TARGETING AND INSERTION INSTRUMENT FOR ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANTS

1 . A device for implanting a screw into a bone of a patient comprising:

a carrier comprising:

a first portion;

a threaded second portion opposite the first portion;

an opening extending from the first portion to the second portion, wherein the opening is configured to receive a stylet; and

a lock, wherein the lock is in communication with the opening and can be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the lock engages the stylet disposed within the opening to lock a position of the stylet relative to the carrier;

a handle having a threaded portion, wherein the second portion of the carrier threadably engages with the threaded portion of the handle; and,

a screwdriver coupled to the handle and configured to engage a threaded screw, wherein the screwdriver comprises a lumen configured to receive the stylet.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a first thread pitch of the threaded second portion of the carrier is greater than a second threaded pitch of the threaded screw.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein a first thread pitch of the threaded second portion of the carrier is equal to a second threaded pitch of the threaded screw.

4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the stylet comprises an elongate needle and a needle head, wherein the needle head comprises plurality of grooves.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the lock engages at least one of the plurality of grooves when in the locked position.

6 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged vertically along a length of the needle head.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein each groove of the plurality of grooves corresponds to a length a tip of the needle extends past a bottom of the screw.

8 . A device for implanting a screw into bone comprising:

a carrier comprising:

a first portion;

a threaded second portion;

an opening extending from the first portion to the second portion; and

a lock moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a stylet having an elongate needle and a needle head, wherein at least a portion of the needle head is disposed within the carrier, wherein the lock engages the needle head in the locked position;

a handle having a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion of the handle is threadably engaged with the threaded second portion of the carrier;

a screwdriver coupled to the fourth portion of the handle; and,

a screw coupled to the screwdriver.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein a first thread pitch of the threaded second portion of the carrier is greater than a second threaded pitch of the threaded screw.

10 . The device of claim 8 , wherein a first thread pitch of the threaded second portion of the carrier is equal to a second threaded pitch of the threaded screw.

11 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the stylet is moveable within the carrier when the lock is in the unlocked position.

12 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the needle head comprises a plurality of grooves.

13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the lock engages at least one of the plurality of grooves when in the locked position.

14 . The device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged vertically along a length of the needle head.

15 . The device of claim 12 , wherein each groove of the plurality of grooves corresponds to a length a tip of the needle extends past a bottom of the screw.

16 . A method of implanting a screw into a bone of a patient, comprising the steps of:

providing an instrument comprising:

a carrier defining an opening configured to receive a stylet, the carrier comprising a lock moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;

a handle having a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the third portion of the handle is threadably engaged with the carrier;

a screwdriver coupled to the fourth portion of the handle;

inserting the stylet into the instrument, the stylet having an elongated needle and a needle head, wherein the elongate needle extends through the instrument and the screw, and wherein at least a portion of the needle head is disposed within the carrier and the lock engages the needle head such that a first length of a tip of the needle extends past a distal end of the screw;

implanting the first length of the tip of the needle into the bone; and

implanting the screw into bone.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:

adjusting, after implanting the first length of the tip of the needle into the bone, the instrument so that the needle extends a second length past the distal end of the screw; and,

implanting the second length of the tip of the needle into the bone.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein adjusting the instrument comprises moving the lock of the carrier into an unlocked position.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the needle head of the stylet comprises a plurality of grooves.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein adjusting the instrument comprises:

moving the lock into an unlocked position;

moving the carrier relative to the stylet such that the lock aligns with a groove of the plurality of grooves; and,

moving the lock into a locked position, wherein the lock engages the groove of the plurality of grooves.