SURGICAL INSTRUMENT BOLT

Abstract

A surgical instrument bolt for use with an orthopaedic prosthesis inserter includes a bolt head and a bolt shaft that extends away from the bolt head. The bolt shaft includes a threaded end and a shank located between the threaded end and the bolt head. The bolt shaft also includes an inner surface that defines an axial passageway that extends through at least a portion of the bolt shaft. In some embodiments, the axial passageway may extend completely through the bolt shaft and bolt head or may be embodied as a blind passageway in other embodiments.

Claims

1. An orthopaedic surgical instrument for inserting an orthopaedic prosthesis into a bone of a patient, the orthopaedic surgical instrument comprising: an orthopaedic prosthesis inserter having a body and a bolt passageway defined through the body; and a surgical instrument bolt configured to be received in the bolt passageway of the body of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter, wherein the surgical instrument bolt comprises a bolt head and a bolt shaft extending away from a bottom side of the bolt head, wherein the bolt shaft comprises a (i) a threaded end extending out of a distal end of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter, (ii) a shank located between the bolt head and the threaded end, and (iii) an inner surface defining an axial passageway that extends through at least a portion of the bolt shaft.

2. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the inner surface further defines a first aperture on a top side of the bolt head opposite the bottom side and a second aperture on a bottom side of the threaded end of the bolt shaft, wherein the axial passageway extends from the first aperture to the second aperture such that the axial passageway extends completely through the surgical instrument bolt.

3. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the inner surface further defines an aperture on a top end of the bolt head, wherein the axial passageway comprises a blind passageway that extends from the aperture, through the bolt head, and into the shank of the bolt shaft.

4. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 3, wherein the blind passageway extends into the shank of the bolt shaft without extending into the threaded end of the bolt shaft.

5. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the inner surface further defines an aperture on a bottom side of the threaded end of the bolt shaft and the axial passageway comprises a blind passageway that extends from the aperture into the bolt shaft.

6. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 5, wherein the blind passageway extends from the aperture on the bottom side of the threaded end of the bolt shaft, through the threaded end, and into the shank of the bolt shaft without extending into the bolt head.

7. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 1, wherein the axial passageway comprises an inner chamber located within the shank of the bolt shaft.

8. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 7, wherein the inner chamber does not extend into the bolt head or into the threaded end of the bolt shaft.

9. A securing device for use with a surgical instrument, the securing device comprising: a surgical instrument bolt having a bolt head and a bolt shaft extending away from a bottom side of the bolt head, wherein the bolt shaft comprises (i) a threaded end having a plurality of bolt threads defined thereon, (ii) a shank located between the bolt head and the threaded end, and (iii) an inner surface defining an axial passageway that extends through at least a portion of the bolt shaft.

10. The securing device of claim 9, wherein the inner surface further defines a first aperture on a top side of the bolt head opposite the bottom side and a second aperture on a bottom side of the threaded end of the bolt shaft, wherein the axial passageway extends from the first aperture to the second aperture such that the axial passageway extends completely through the surgical instrument bolt.

11. The securing device of claim 9, wherein the inner surface further defines an aperture on a top end of the bolt head, wherein the axial passageway comprises a blind passageway that extends from the aperture, through the bolt head, and into the shank of the bolt shaft.

12. The securing device of claim 11, wherein the blind passageway extends into the shank of the bolt shaft without extending into the threaded end of the bolt shaft.

13. The securing device of claim 9, wherein the inner surface further defines an aperture on a bottom side of the threaded end of the bolt shaft and the axial passageway comprises a blind passageway that extends from the aperture into the bolt shaft.

14. The securing device of claim 13, wherein the blind passageway extends from the aperture on the bottom side of the threaded end of the bolt shaft, through the threaded end, and into the shank of the bolt shaft without extending into the bolt head.

15. The securing device of claim 9, wherein the axial passageway comprises an inner chamber located within the shank of the bolt shaft.

16. The securing device of claim 15, wherein the inner chamber does not extend into the bolt head or into the threaded end of the bolt shaft.

17. An orthopaedic surgical instrument for inserting an orthopaedic prosthesis into a bone of a patient, the orthopaedic surgical instrument comprising: a handle having an impaction plate; and a shaft extending from the handle, wherein the shaft includes a threaded end, a shank located between the handle and the threaded end, and an inner surface defining an axial passageway that extends through at least a portion of the shaft.

18. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the inner surface further defines an aperture on a bottom side of the threaded end and the axial passageway extends from the aperture into the shaft.

19. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 18, wherein the axial passageway comprises a blind passageway.

20. The orthopaedic surgical instrument of claim 17, wherein the axial passageway comprises an inner chamber located within the shank of the shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The concepts described herein are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Where considered appropriate, reference labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an orthopaedic surgical instrument including an orthopaedic prosthesis inserter and a surgical instrument bolt configured to secure an orthopaedic prosthesis to the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the surgical instrument bolt of the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the surgical instrument bolt of FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the surgical instrument bolt of the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the surgical instrument bolt of the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the surgical instrument bolt of the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter and the surgical instrument bolt of the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 1 prior to securement of the orthopaedic prosthesis to the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter and the surgical instrument bolt of the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 1 with the orthopaedic prosthesis secured to the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter via the surgical instrument bolt; and

[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another orthopaedic surgical instrument for inserting an orthopaedic prosthesis into a bone of a patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the present disclosure and the appended claims.

[0028] Terms representing anatomical references, such as anterior, posterior, medial, lateral, superior, inferior, etcetera, may be used throughout the specification in reference to the orthopaedic implants or prostheses and surgical instruments described herein as well as in reference to the patient's natural anatomy. Such terms have well-understood meanings in both the study of anatomy and the field of orthopaedics. Use of such anatomical reference terms in the written description and claims is intended to be consistent with their well-understood meanings unless noted otherwise.

[0029] References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. Additionally, it should be appreciated that items included in a list in the form of “at least one A, B, and C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C). Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (A and C); (B and C); or (A, B, and C).

[0030] In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown in specific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may not be included or may be combined with other features.

[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1, an orthopaedic surgical instrument 100 includes an orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 and a surgical instrument bolt 104. In use, as discussed in more detail below, the surgical instrument bolt 104 is usable to secure an orthopaedic prosthesis 106, such as an acetabular cup, to the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 to facilitate implantation of the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 into a bone of a patient. To do so, the surgical instrument bolt 104 is received through a bolt passageway 120 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 and screwed into a threaded aperture 108 of the orthopaedic prosthesis 106. Once so attached, an orthopaedic surgeon may align the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 to the patient's boney anatomy and impact the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 into a bone of the patient by striking an impaction plate 114 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 with a surgical mallet or similar tool.

[0032] As discussed in more detail below, the surgical instrument bolt 104 includes an axial passageway 224 defined therethrough to increase the amount of bolt stretch exhibited by the surgical instrument bolt 104. Due to the increased bolt stretch, the tendency, frequency, or likelihood of the surgical instrument bolt 104 loosening during impaction is reduced. That is, the increased bolt stretch allows the surgical instrument bolt 104 to absorb vibrational forces caused during impaction without causing the threads of the surgical instrument bolt 104 to loosen. It should be appreciated that the inclusion of the axial passageway 224 increases the bolt stretch of the surgical instrument bolt 104 without the need to modify the diameter, length, or thread pitch of the surgical instrument bolt 104 relative to typical surgical instrument bolts used with the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 and orthopaedic prosthesis 106. As such, in the illustrative embodiment, the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be used with typical orthopaedic prosthesis inserters and orthopaedic prostheses without modification thereof. Of course, in other embodiments, the surgical instrument bolt 104 may also include a modified diameter, length, and/or thread pitch relative to typical orthopaedic surgical bolts used with the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102.

[0033] The orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 may be embodied as any type of orthopaedic prosthesis inserter in which a surgical instrument bolt is used to secure an orthopaedic prosthesis to the inserter. In the illustrative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 includes a curved body 110 having a distal end 112 to which the impaction plate 114 attached, integrally or separately. The impaction plate 114 is shaped and sized to provide a striking surface to receive impacts from an orthopaedic surgical mallet or similar tool during impaction of the orthopaedic prosthesis 106. Although the body 110 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 is illustratively curved to allow positioning of the inserter 102 around the patient's anatomy, the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 may have a body that is substantially straight or otherwise non-curved, similar to the orthopaedic surgical inserter 900 described below in regard to FIG. 9.

[0034] The body 110 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 also includes a proximal end 116, opposite the distal end 112, which includes an inner surface 118 that defines the bolt passageway 120. The bolt passageway 120 is sized to receive the surgical instrument bolt 104. In some embodiments, the inner surface 118 may be threaded, and the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be threaded into the inner surface 118. In such embodiments, the threads of the inner surface 118 are sized such that, when threaded through the inner surface 118, a threaded end of the surgical instrument bolt 104 extends out of the bolt passageway 120 from the distal end 112 and the surgical instrument bolt 104 is free to rotate within the bolt passageway 120 while being retained therein. In other embodiments, however, the bolt passageway 120 may not be threaded.

[0035] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the illustrative surgical instrument bolt 104 includes a bolt head 200 and a bolt shaft 202 that extends away from a bottom side 204 of the bolt head 200. The bolt head 200 also includes a top side 206 on which a tool aperture 208 is defined. The tool aperture 208 is shaped to receive a corresponding bolt tool (e.g, an Allen wrench) to allow the surgical instrument bolt 104 to be threaded into the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 as discussed in more detail below. Of course in other embodiments, the surgical instrument bolt 104 may not include the tool aperture 208 and, in such embodiments, the bolt head 200 may be shaped (e.g., hexagonal) to facilitate the threading of the surgical instrument bolt 104 into the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 using a corresponding tool, such as a bolt driver.

[0036] The bolt shaft 202 includes a threaded end 210 and a shank 212 located between the bolt head 200 and the threaded end 210. In the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 3, the shank 212 is not threaded, unlike the threaded end 210. However, in other embodiments, the shank 212 may be threaded (e.g., the entire bolt shaft 202 may be threaded) and, in such embodiments, the shank 212 corresponds to that section of the bolt shaft 202 that does not engage with the mating threads of the threaded aperture 108 of the orthopaedic prosthesis 106.

[0037] The bolt shaft 202 also includes an inner surface 222 that defines the axial passageway 224, which extends through at least the shank 212 of the bolt shaft 202. It should be appreciated that because the axial passageway 224 extends through the shank 212 of the bolt shaft 202, the cross-sectional area of the shank 212 is reduced, which increases the bolt stretch of the surgical instrument bolt 104.

[0038] In the illustrative embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the axial passageway 224 extends completely through the bolt shaft 202. That is, the inner surface 222 further defines a top aperture 230 on the top side 206 of the bolt head 200, which is illustratively inside the tool aperture 208, and a bottom aperture 232 on a bottom side 234 of the threaded end 210. The axial passageway 224 extends from the top aperture 230, through the shank 212 and the threaded end 210, and to the bottom aperture 232.

[0039] In other embodiments, the axial passageway 224 may be embodied as a blind passageway that does not extend completely through the bolt shaft 202. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the axial passageway 224 extends from the top aperture 230 on the top side 206 of the bolt head 200, through the shank 212, and terminates near the threaded end 210 without extending therethrough. As such, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the axial passageway 224 includes the top aperture 230 but does not include the bottom aperture 232 on the bottom side 234 of the threaded end 210.

[0040] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, the axial passageway 224 may be embodied as a blind passageway that extends from the bottom aperture 232 on the bottom side 234 of the threaded end 210, through the threaded end 210 and the shank 212, and terminates just below the bolt head 200 without extending therethrough. As such, in the embodiment of FIG. 5, the axial passageway 224 includes the bottom aperture 232 but does not include the top aperture 230 on the top side 206 of the bolt head 200.

[0041] In other embodiments, as show in FIG. 6, the axial passageway 224 may be embodied as an inner chamber located in the shank 212 of the bolt shaft 202. In such embodiments, the axial passageway 224 does not include the top aperture 230 or the bottom aperture 232. Rather, the axial passageway 224 forms a sealed void within the shank 212.

[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, in use, an orthopaedic surgeon may secure the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 to the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 by inserting the surgical instrument bolt 104 into the bolt passageway 120 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 as indicated in FIG. 7. The surgical instrument bolt 104 is positioned in the bolt passageway 120 such that the threaded end 210 of the surgical instrument bolt 104 extends out of the bolt passageway 120. In embodiments in which the inner surface 118 is threaded, the surgical instrument bolt 104 is threaded into the bolt passageway 120 until the shank 212 extends though the threaded inner surface 118 and the threaded end 210 of the surgical instrument bolt 104 extends from the bolt passageway 120. The orthopaedic surgeon may then thread the surgical instrument bolt 104 into the threaded aperture 108 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 as shown in FIG. 8 to secure the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 onto the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102. Once so secured, the orthopaedic surgeon may position the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 to the patient's boney anatomy and impact the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 into a bone of the patient by repeatedly striking the impaction plate 114 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 until the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 is properly seated.

[0043] Although the orthopaedic prosthesis 106 is illustratively shown as an acetabular cup prosthesis, it should be appreciated that the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be used with other types of prostheses to secure those prostheses to the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102 or other prosthesis inserter. Additionally, the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be used with surgical tools, such as an orthopaedic broach, to secure such surgical tools to an associated orthopaedic inserter, impactor, or other surgical instrument. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be used with other types of orthopaedic surgical instruments, other than the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 102. That is, the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be useful with any orthopaedic surgical instrument to replace a typical bolt that may loosen due to vibrational forces to improve the bolt stretch typically exhibited by such bolts and thereby reduce the likelihood of loosening.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 9, it should be appreciated that the inclusion of the axial passageway 224 described above in regard to the surgical instrument bolt 104 may be applicable to other orthopaedic surgical instruments that are exposed to impacts or vibrational forces during use to improve the securement of such orthopaedic surgical instruments. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, another embodiment of an orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 900 includes a handle 902 and a shaft 904 extending from a bottom side 906 of the handle 902. The shaft 904 includes a threaded end 908 and a shank 910 located between the threaded end 908 and the handle 902. The threaded end 908 is configured to be screwed directly into a corresponding orthopaedic prosthesis, such as the orthopaedic prosthesis 106, without the use of a surgical instrument bolt. As such, the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 900 may be attached to an orthopaedic prosthesis by threading the threaded end 908 into a corresponding threaded aperture of the orthopaedic prosthesis. Once so attached, an orthopaedic surgeon may align the orthopaedic prosthesis to the patient's boney anatomy and impact the orthopaedic prosthesis into a bone of the patient by striking the handle 902.

[0045] To reduce the likelihood of loosening of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 900 and the orthopaedic prosthesis during impaction, the shaft 904 of the orthopaedic prosthesis inserter 900 includes an inner surface 912 that defines an aperture 914 on an end 916 of the threaded end 908 and an axial passageway 918 that extends into the shaft 904 from the aperture 914. Similar to the surgical instrument bolt 104 described above, the axial passageway 918 extends through the shank 910 of the shaft 904. As such, the cross-sectional area of the shank 910 is reduce, which increases the bolt stretch of the threaded end 908 and reduces the likelihood that the threaded end 908 loosens during impaction.

[0046] Although the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 9 is embodied as an orthopaedic prosthesis inserter, it should be appreciated that the orthopaedic surgical instrument of FIG. 9 may be embodied as other types of orthopaedic surgical instruments in other embodiments. That is, the illustrative axial passageway 918 may be incorporated in any other orthopaedic surgical instrument having a threaded end to improve the bolt stretch of that threaded end and reduce the likelihood of the orthopaedic surgical instrument loosening during use.

[0047] While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail in the drawings and the foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected.

[0048] There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the method, apparatus, and system described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the method, apparatus, and system of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the method, apparatus, and system that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.