Extended tab separation apparatus and method
A tool for breaking tabs of a vertebral bone anchor can include a tip, a first rail, and a second rail. The tip can be positionable over a housing of a vertebral bone anchor. The first rail can be pivotably coupled to the tip and can extend proximally away from the tip. The first rail can be configured to receive a first extended tab therein. The first rail can be pivotable with respect to the tip between a first upright position and a first outward position to break the first extended tab from the housing. The second rail can be pivotably coupled to the tip and can extend proximally away from the tip.
1. A method for breaking tabs of a vertebral bone anchor, comprising:
positioning a tip over a housing of a vertebral bone anchor and first and second rails over first and second extended tabs joined to the vertebral bone anchor housing by first and second breakaway portions, respectively, the tip being pivotably connected to the first and second rails and extending proximally away from opposing sides of an anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor and comprising a collar configured, during breakage and removal of the first and second extended tabs from the anchor slot, to at least substantially enclose opposing sides of the anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor housing distally from the first and second breakaway portions; and
pivoting the first and second rails with respect to the tip from different first and second upright positions, respectively, to different first and second outward positions, respectively, to break the first and second extended tabs from the housing.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anchor slot is U-shaped, wherein the tip further comprises a tip slot configured to align with the anchor slot in the vertebral bone anchor housing and be positionable around a connecting member positioned within the anchor slot and wherein a first handle is connected to a proximal portion of the first rail and a second handle is connected to a proximal portion of the second rail.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the collar is configured, during breakage of the first and second extended tabs, to enclose at least most of the opposing sides of the anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor housing and wherein a first magnet is located on the first handle and a second magnet is located on the second handle and couplable with the first magnet to retain the first rail and the second rail in the first upright position and the second upright position, respectively.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein a lock is connected to the first handle and movable between a locked position where the lock engages the second handle to lock the first rail and the second rail in the first upright position and between an unlocked position where the first rail and the second rail are movable with respect to each other.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein a spring is connected to the first handle and engaged with the lock, the spring configured to bias the lock to the locked position.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the lock is positioned to engage the first extended tab to move the lock to the unlocked position when the tip is position over the housing.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collar is configured, during breakage of the first and second extended tabs, to enclose at least most of the opposing sides of the anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor housing, and wherein the tip includes a notch configured to at least partially surround a connecting rod extending at least partially through the anchor slot of the housing of the vertebral bone anchor.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first pillar is connected to the tip and extending proximally therefrom, the first rail and the second rail pivotably coupled to and contacting opposing chamfers in the first pillar.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein a second pillar is connected to the tip and extending proximally therefrom, the first rail and the second rail pivotably coupled to and contacting opposing chamfers in the second pillar.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a pivot pin extends between the first pillar and the second pillar, the first rail and the second rail pivotably coupled to the pivot pin.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first rail includes a knuckle connected to a distal portion of the first rail, the knuckle pivotably coupled to the pivot pin.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first rail includes a rail chamfer configured to engage the pillar chamfer to limit movement of the first rail toward the second rail.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein, during breakage of the first and second extended tabs, the first and second breakaway portions are positioned between at least a portion of the collar and at least a portion of the first and second rails, wherein the first rail defines a first channel configured to receive the first extended tab therein and wherein the second rail defines a second channel configured to receive the second extended tab therein and wherein the first and second rails are configured to remain in a constant axial position relative to the tip when receiving corresponding first and second extended tabs.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first channel includes a slot extending through a laterally outer portion of the first rail.
15. A method for breaking tabs of a vertebral bone anchor, comprising:
positioning a tip over a housing of a vertebral bone anchor and first and second rails over first and second extended tabs, respectively, joined to the vertebral bone anchor housing by first and second breakaway portions, respectively, and extending proximally away from opposing sides of an anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor, the tip comprising a collar configured to at least substantially enclose opposing sides of the anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor housing during breakage of the first and second extended tabs, wherein the first and second rails are connected to the tip and extend proximally away from the tip and each of the first and second rails is pivotable with respect to the tip between respective first and second upright positions and first and second outward positions; and
moving the first and second rails from the respective first and second upright positions to the respective first and second outward positions to break the first and second extended tabs away from the vertebral bone anchor housing, and wherein, during breakage of the first and second extended tabs, the first and second breakaway portions are positioned between at least a portion of the collar and at least a portion of the first and second rails.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the tip further comprises a tip slot configured to align with the anchor slot in the vertebral bone anchor housing and be positionable around a connecting member positioned within the anchor slot and wherein a first handle is connected to a proximal portion of the first rail; and a second handle connected to a proximal portion of the second rail.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein a first magnet is located on the first handle and a second magnet is located on the second handle and couplable with the first magnet to retain the first rail and the second rail in the first upright position and the second upright position, respectively.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein a lock is connected to the first handle and movable between a locked position where the lock engages the second handle to lock the first rail and the second rail in the first upright position and between an unlocked position where the first rail and the second rail are movable with respect to each other.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein a spring is connected to the first handle and engaged with the lock, the spring configured to bias the lock to the locked position.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the anchor slot is U-shaped and wherein the collar is configured, during breakage of the first and second extended tabs, to enclose at least most of the opposing sides of the anchor slot of the vertebral bone anchor housing.