Novel implant inserter having a laterally-extending dovetail engagement feature

Abstract

A spinal implant inserter having a) an outer sleeve having a bore, and b) a forked inner shaft having a proximal rod and a pair of distal tynes extending therefrom, each distal tyne comprising an engagement feature having a laterally-extending dovetail feature. An assembly comprising the implant inserter and an implant having a pair of mating dovetail features.

Description

CONTINUING DATA[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Ser. No. 61 / 385,959, filed on Sep. 23, 2010, and entitled “Stand Alone Intervertebral Fusion Device” (DEP6341USPSP), and is related to non-provisional U.S. Ser. No. ______, filed on even date, entitled “Stand Alone Intervertebral Fusion Device” (DEP6341USNP), the specifications of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.[0002]This application claims priority from U.S. Ser. No. 61 / 466,309, filed on Mar. 22, 2011, and entitled “Novel Implant Inserter Having a Laterally-Extending Dovetail Engagement Feature” (DEP6392USPSP), the specification of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0003]This application claims priority from U.S. Ser. No. 61 / 466,321, filed on Mar. 22, 2011, and entitled “Fusion Cage with In-Line Single Piece Fixation” (DEP6394USPSP), and is related to non-provisional U.S. Ser. No. ______, filed on even date, entitled “Fusion Cage with In-Line Single Piece Fixation” (DEP6394USNP...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The instrument of the present invention is advantageous over conventional inserter instruments having threads and other known grabber features, which sometimes need to withstand impaction and may move upon insertion of a bone anchor or instruments through the device.

[0010]The dual angle nature of the present invention ensures that the implant is axially square and / or co-linear with the instrument and so further ensures that a larger surface area of the instrument absorbs any required impaction.

[0015]Optional elements on the inserter may include a knob, a drag adjustment screw, at least one protrusion, and a depth control member. The knob can be mechanically coupled to the outer sleeve for causing the outer sleeve and the forked inner shaft to be rotated about the frame. The drag adjustment screw can provide tension between the trigger mechanism and the forked inner shaft. The at least one protrusion can be located on the outer sleeve for slidably engaging a distraction instrument. The depth control member can be slidably coupled to the outer sleeve for providing a predetermined insertion depth of the implant.

[0021]The invention has many advantages. For example, the invention provides safe one-handed insertion of an implant into a prepared disc space. The invention reduces the amount of time required to complete the surgical procedure. The invention also provides for various manipulations of the implant without physically contacting the implant. For example, the invention can align an endplate of the implant radially and provide a lordotic angle for implantation. The invention can be used for packaging the implant, and the invention can be used to hold the implant during the implant sterilization process.

Problems solved by technology

Conventional inserters with chamfer features also do not take advantage of dissimilar angles at the interface in more than one plane, and so fail to ensure that the anterior surface of the implant bottoms out on the inserter grabber tip.

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