Patent Application
20140277493
The present disclosure relates to interconnections between implants and instruments. While the present disclosure is made in the context of a spinal intervertebral spacer implant and an inserter instrument, the concepts embodied herein are applicable to other implant/instrument interconnections.
Many different types of surgical tools are utilized to insert device implants into a human body. One implant that generally is placed using an inserter device is a spinal intervertebral spacer. Such a spacer is placed between two vertebrae and used to facilitate fusion of the respective vertebrae. Placing this device requires the use of different forces between a connection point of an insertion tool and the device, e.g. pushing, pulling, and prying, etc., due to the anatomy of the body. Accordingly, an inserter must be able to withstand these forces without losing the device or improperly placing the device.
One inserter device which is currently utilized may be referred to as a threaded inserter device. A threaded inserter device generally has a threaded extension that threads onto the implant device to secure the device during insertion and is configured to allow a surgeon to unthread the implant device from the extension after insertion. While such devices have been useful, problems may still occur due with respect to the connection between the inserter device and the implant device. For example, when exerting force on a connected implant device, rotational forces can be present that can cause the implant to be misaligned with the insertion space, and in some cases, can cause the implant device to back off of the insertion device. Additionally, current threaded devices are not the ideal design to account for torsional or pulling forces.
The present application provides for systems, devices and methods which implement a connection between an inserter device and an implant that provides for both a primary connection and a secondary connection. In one example, the inserter device may include a threaded portion configured to connect to an implant device as well as one or more finger portions that provide for a gripping connection. The finger portions may be configured to reduce or prohibit rotation of the implant device. Further, the finger portions may be set at an angle with respect to the threaded portion to assist in mitigating pulling forces. In some embodiments, the finger portions may be configured to grip and release in coordination with the primary connection device.
In one embodiment an implant device may be provided that is configured to receive a primary and secondary connection from an inserter device. The primary connection configuration may include a threaded aperture which receives a threaded extension. Further, the secondary connection configuration may include one or more apertures configured to accept a gripping mechanism. Such apertures may be set at angles corresponding to the gripping mechanisms.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present application. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the application as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of embodiments described herein, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present embodiments.
While exemplary embodiments of the present technology have been shown and described in detail below, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from its scope. As such, that which is set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the following claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate upon reading and understanding this disclosure that other variations for the technology described herein can be included within the scope of the present technology.
In the following Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in several embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that exemplary embodiments of the technology require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature or a feature with similar functionality. Not every feature of each embodiment is labeled in every figure in which that embodiment appears, in order to keep the figures clear. Similar reference numbers (e.g., those that are identical except for the first numeral) are used to indicate similar features in different embodiments.
Standard medical planes of reference and descriptive terminology are employed in this specification. A sagittal plane divides a body into right and left portions. A mid-sagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left halves. A coronal plane divides a body into anterior and posterior portions. A transverse plane divides a body into superior and inferior portions. Anterior means toward the front of the body. Posterior means toward the back of the body. Superior means toward the head. Inferior means toward the feet. Medial means toward the midline of the body. Lateral means away from the midline of the body. Axial means toward a central axis of the body. Abaxial means away from a central axis of the body.
Medical devices such as implants, trial components, provisional components, and the like are often grasped and/or manipulated with instruments or tools. Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide better grip of the medical device, more secure positioning of the medical device, and/or better access (for example, minimally invasive access) to a surgical location. The present disclosure shows and describes an interconnection, or interface, between an instrument and an implant. This description is made in the context of a spinal intervertebral spacer implant and a corresponding inserter instrument, the concepts embodied herein are applicable to other medical device/instrument interconnections.
The instrument 12 includes a shaft portion 14, a handle portion 16 at one end of the shaft portion 14, and a knob 18 which may be located along either the shaft portion 14 or the handle portion 16. The knob 18 may be located in a middle portion of an overall length of the instrument 12, particularly in a location that is readily accessible to a user's fingers and thumb while grasping the handle portion 16. The knob 18 is set into the instrument 12 so as to be at least partially contained within the overall instrument profile.
When the knob 18 rotates, torque is transmitted to the central shaft 26, yet the central shaft 26 is free to slide axially with respect to the sleeve 20 and knob 18.
Each finger moves in coordination with the axial motion of the central shaft 26. In the illustrated example, as the central shaft 26 advances within the implant 10, each finger pivots toward the central shaft 26. Conversely, as the central shaft withdraws from the implant 10, each finger pivots away from the central shaft 26. The fingers are biased to stand away from the central shaft 26. In another example, as the central shaft advances within the implant, each finger pivots away from the central shaft 26. In yet other examples, the motion of the fingers may be in a direction unrelated to the central shaft 26, although still coordinated with its motion.
Thus, the instrument 12 may be described as having at least two states: an open state (
Referring to
As the threaded tip 34 initially advances within the threaded hole 36, the fingers 38, 40 slide into the corresponding pockets 42, 44 respectively, as shown in
One example of a mechanism for coordinating the movement of the fingers 38, 40 with the central shaft 26 is shown in
One example of a mechanism for biasing the fingers 38, 40 toward the open state is shown in
While the preceding description has focused on one example, other examples are contemplated. One example may lack the threaded connection, and may have a lever-actuated finger gripping action.
In use, this interconnection may be quite similar to a plain threaded connection. However, the secondary connection of the gripping fingers 38, 40 improves instrument function by rotationally aligning the instrument 12 to the implant 10 and distributing service loads between the threaded connection and the gripping connection. Furthermore, as soon as the threaded connection is started, the rest of the locking operation may be performed one-handed.
The components disclosed herein may be made from metals, polymers, ceramics, glasses, composite materials, biological materials or tissues, insulators, conductors, semiconductors, or other biocompatible or non-biocompatible materials. Different materials may be used for individual components. Different materials may be combined in a single component.
It should be understood that the present system, kits, apparatuses, and methods are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, they are to cover all combinations, modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the claims.
The claims are not to be interpreted as including means-plus- or step-plus-function limitations, unless such a limitation is explicitly recited in a given claim using the phrase(s) “means for” or “step for,” respectively.
The term “coupled” is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The term “about” means, in general, the stated value plus or minus 5%. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternative are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.”
The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features are grouped together in several embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the embodiments of the invention require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
The present application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/782,036, entitled “IMPLANT INSTRUMENTATION INTERCONNECTION,” filed Mar. 14, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61782036 | Mar 2013 | US |
