A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws. The tool set includes a pair of end guide tools that receive opposite ends of the rod in channels and under manipulation by a surgeon facilitate transport of the rod toward the bone screws attached to the guide tools. Intermediate guide tools having guiding pass through slots are utilized to guide intermediate locations along the rod toward associated bone screws. An attachment structure operably connects the guide tools to the bone screws. The guide tools each include a lower guide and advancement structure to allow a closure top with mating structure to be rotated and driven downward against the rod and to cooperate with similar structure in the bone screw to seat and lock the rod therein. A method utilizing the tool set allows a surgeon to percutaneously implant the rod in the patient.

A device for use as a portal in percutaneous minimally invasive surgery performed within a patient's body cavity includes a first elongated hollow tube having a length adjusted with a self-contained mechanism. The first elongated tube includes an inner hollow tube and an outer hollow tube and the inner tube is adapted to slide within the outer tube thereby providing the self-contained length adjusting mechanism. Two or more elongated tubes with adjustable lengths can be placed into two or more adjacent body cavities, respectively. Paths are opened within the tissue areas between the two or more body cavities, and are used to transfer devices and tools between the adjacent body cavities. This system of two or more elongated tubes with adjustable lengths is particularly advantageous in percutaneous minimally invasive spinal surgeries, and provides the benefits of minimizing long incisions, recovery time and post-operative complications.

A tool set for implanting a rod in a human spine in conjunction with bone screws.

A rod reducer assembly is provided. The rod reducer includes a pedicle screw housing defining a rod-receiving passage therethrough. A tab is removably coupled to the pedicle screw housing by a frangible member. An extension is secured to the tab. The extension and the tab are separable from the pedicle screw housing upon application of a threshold force to the frangible member.

Problem to be Solved

A traverse that is percutaneously provided and a surgical instrument for percutaneously providing the transverse are provided.

Solution

A rod 10 is placed in each of two rod openings 113, 123 and a transverse bar 130 is inserted in two bar holes 111, 121. Set screws 140, 150 are screwed in screw holes 114, 124. The set screws 140, 150 press the transverse bar 130, thereby restraining the transverse bar 130 in the longitudinal direction. Since portions of the bar holes 111, 121 adjoin the rod openings 113, 123, the pressed transverse bar 130 contacts the rods 10 and pushes the rods 10 against the rod openings 113, 123. A protrusion 127 engages with the rods 10 to restrain hooks 110, 120 in the longitudinal direction and circumferential direction of the rods 10.

An instrument for guiding a rod into a holder of an implant, in particular a pedicle screw, includes a coupling unit for coupling the instrument to the implant, in particular a head of the pedicle screw, a threaded rod that can be positioned in the axial direction relative to the coupling unit, and at least one internally threaded segment that is arranged in an axially fixed manner relative to the coupling unit, and can be positioned in a radial direction relative to the threaded rod, and prestressed toward the threaded rod by a prestressing element applying a radial force. The internally threaded segment can be brought into engagement with, and disengaged from, the male thread of the threaded rod by radial positioning. Thread flanks of the threaded rod and thread flanks of the internally threaded segment face each other and are each formed with an undercut.

A device for use as a portal in percutaneous minimally invasive surgery performed within a patient's body cavity includes a first elongated hollow tube having a length adjusted with a self-contained mechanism. The first elongated tube includes an inner hollow tube and an outer hollow tube and the inner tube is adapted to slide within the outer tube thereby providing the self-contained length adjusting mechanism. Two or more elongated tubes with adjustable lengths can be placed into two or more adjacent body cavities, respectively. Paths are opened within the tissue areas between the two or more body cavities, and are used to transfer devices and tools between the adjacent body cavities. This system of two or more elongated tubes with adjustable lengths is particularly advantageous in percutaneous minimally invasive spinal surgeries, and provides the benefits of minimizing long incisions, recovery time and post-operative complications.

This application describes surgical instruments and implants for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. Extension guides are provided that attach to bone anchors implanted within the spine. The extension guides have a guide channel that align with a rod channel in the anchor to help direct the rod to the anchor. Instruments are provided to aid in insertion and positioning or the rod.

Problem to be Solved A traverse that is percutaneously provided and a surgical instrument for percutaneously providing the transverse are provided. Solution A rod 10 is placed in each of two rod openings 113, 123 and a transverse bar 130 is inserted in two bar holes 111, 121. Set screws 140, 150 are screwed in screw holes 114, 124. The set screws 140, 150 press the transverse bar 130, thereby restraining the transverse bar 130 in the longitudinal direction. Since portions of the bar holes 111, 121 adjoin the rod openings 113, 123, the pressed transverse bar 130 contacts the rods 10 and pushes the rods 10 against the rod openings 113, 123. A protrusion 127 engages with the rods 10 to restrain hooks 110, 120 in the longitudinal direction and circumferential direction of the rods 10.

A persuader instrument for advancing a fixation rod into a vertebral implant includes a housing and at least one arm. The at least one arm can include detents for detachable connection to the vertebral implant. The persuader instrument can also include a shaft coupled to an anchor. The anchor can include a fixation rod engagement surface. The shaft can be axially displaceable through the housing to axially displace the anchor and a rod engaged by the anchor. The persuader instrument can further include an auto-locking ratchet assembly in releasable engagement with the shaft. The auto-locking ratchet assembly can control axial displacement of the shaft through the longitudinal passage of the housing.