Granted Patent B2

US 12,521,153 · App. 18/450,900 · Granted Jan 13, 2026

Inventors: Tyler G. Smith (Gold River, CA); Michael Krasovic (San Diego, CA); Brian Wade Adams (Rocklin, CA)

Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.

A61B17/7076A61B17/70A61B17/7083A61B17/708

Abstract

Claims (41)

1 . A tilt sensor adaptor, comprising:

a post;

a securing knob; and

one or more securing arms, and

wherein the post is configured to engage with a first portion of a tilt sensor clip and a securing arm of the one or more securing arms is configured to engage a second portion of the tilt sensor clip, and

wherein the post is configured to engage a hook at the first portion of the tilt sensor clip and create a snap connection with the hook.

2 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the adaptor is configured to orient a tilt sensor with respect to gravity while a surgical instrument to which the adaptor is coupled is used on a posterior column of a spine of a patient.

3 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the one or more securing arms includes a first securing arm and a second securing arm.

4 . The adaptor of claim 3 , wherein the post is a central post and the first securing arm and the second securing arm are laterally spaced from the central post.

5 . The adaptor of claim 1 , wherein the securing knob is axially aligned with the post.

6 . The adaptor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a clamp configured to couple the adaptor with one of a screwdriver and a tap.

7 . A system for positioning a tilt sensor at a surgical site of a patient, the system comprising:

an adaptor configured to couple with a surgical tool; and

a clip having the tilt sensor and configured to couple with the adaptor, and wherein the adaptor is configured to orient the tilt sensor with respect to gravity while the adaptor is coupled with the surgical tool and the surgical tool is used at the surgical site,

wherein the adaptor comprises:

a post;

wherein the clip includes a fastener end configured to couple with the post, and

wherein the fastener end comprises a hook configured to snap fit couple with the post.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the clip is configured to couple with the adaptor at a first location and a second location.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the adaptor comprises:

an arm,

wherein the clip includes a fastener end configured to couple with the arm.

10 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

a surgical tool coupled with the adaptor.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the clip is configured to be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the surgical tool when the surgical tool is coupled with the adaptor and the clip is coupled with the adaptor.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein:

the surgical tool comprises a handle; and

the clip is configured to be parallel to a face of the handle when the surgical tool is coupled with the adaptor and the clip is coupled with the adaptor.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the adaptor is configured to maintain a position of the tilt sensor with respect to gravity while the surgical tool is used with the patient positioned in a lateral decubitus position.

14 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the adaptor comprises a clamp configured to couple the adaptor to the surgical tool.

15 . A method, comprising:

coupling a clip with an adaptor coupled with a surgical tool, the clip comprising a tilt sensor; and

using the surgical tool on a posterior column of a spine of a patient positioned in a lateral decubitus position,

wherein coupling the clip with the adaptor comprises:

snapping the clip onto the adaptor at a first location;

rotating the clip relative to the adaptor; and

coupling the clip with the adaptor at a second location of the clip.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the clip coupled with the adaptor is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the surgical tool and parallel to a handle of the surgical tool.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

using the tilt sensor to set a medial/lateral angle to a templated angle.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (281)