DEVICE FOR HANDLING A BONE SCREW

Abstract

A device for handling a bone screw to be connected with a vertebral rod includes an essentially cylindrical and hollow housing and an adjustment tool which axially traverses the housing and which has a section provided with an outer threading and is screwed into an internal threading of the housing, wherein the housing is constructed pliers-like and has a first and a second jaw which relative to the user each have a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal ends engage at the head of the bone screw, wherein the two jaws are pivotably connected with each other via a pivot axis which is situated between the distal and proximal ends and extends orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the internal threading of the housing is provided on a proximal end of a single one of the jaws.

Claims

1. A device for handling a bone screw to be connected with a vertebral rod, said device comprising: an essentially cylindrical and hollow housing defining a longitudinal axis and including a first jaw and a second jaw, each of the first and second jaws having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal ends of the first and second jaws engaging at a fork head of the bone screw, the first jaw including a shell-shaped section and a cylindrical section which has an internal threading, and the second jaw including a shell-shaped section configured to complement the shell-shaped section and the cylindrical section of the first jaw to jointly form the housing, with the proximal end of the second jaw being distal with respect to the cylindrical section of the first jaw, said first and second jaws being interconnected for rotation about a pivot axis which is situated between the distal and proximal ends of the first and second jaws and distal with respect to the cylindrical section of the first jaw, said pivot axis extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to not cross over each other, and an adjustment tool axially traversing the housing, said adjustment tool having a section provided with an outer threading for threaded engagement in the internal threading of the cylindrical section, said adjustment tool being displaceable in a direction of the longitudinal axis by screwing so as to push a distal end of the adjustment tool against the vertebral rod placed within the fork head and thereby move the vertebral rod along the longitudinal axis in a direction of the fork head.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing the first jaw is rigid and the second jaw is pivotable.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool is constructed of at least two parts, with a first proximal part being rotatable and including the section with the outer threading and a second distal part being a rotatively fixed section having the distal end for pushing against the vertebral rod.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the rotatively fixed section is guided in the longitudinal direction between the first and second jaws.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool is constructed as a hollow body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool has an outer diameter essentially corresponding to an outer diameter of the fork head of the bone screw.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the housing and the adjustment tool has a receptacle for attachment of an additional holding or turn handle.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an external handle structured for attachment to the housing or the adjustment tool to exert a force or torque to the housing or the adjustment tool.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool includes a first turn handle with a central opening, an external second turn handle, and an adapter configured for insertion into the central opening, said external second turn handle being fitted onto the adapter for form fittingly connecting the external second turn handle to the adjustment tool for allowing application of a greater force or exact torque.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the adjustment tool is constructed for movement between a first position, in which the external threading is positioned proximal to the proximal end of the second jaw, and a second position, in which at least a portion of the external threading axially coincides with the proximal end of the second jaw, wherein in the first position the proximal end of the second jaw is pivotable into a position radially inwardly relative to the internal threading thereby causing the distal ends of the first and second jaws to move apart from each other for receiving the fork head of the bone screw, and wherein in the second position the at least one portion of the external threading prevents inward pivoting of the proximal end of the second jaw.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0018] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device in a position during use;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a side view of the device taken in the direction of the arrow II according to FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a top view onto the device taken in the direction of the arrow III according to FIG. 1;

[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the device;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the device with completely screwed in adjustment tool; and

[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective representation of the device with additional holding and turn handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements are generally indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0026] Turning now to the drawing, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a device overall designated with reference numeral 10 with which a bone screw 12 can be grasped. In the shown exemplary embodiment this bone screw 12 is configured as polyaxial screw with a screw shaft 14 and a fork head 16. This fork head 16 has two parallel legs 18 which embrace a vertebral rod 20. The device 10 has a housing 22 which is axially traversed by an adjustment tool 24. An integrated turn handle 26 is located on the adjustment tool 24, with which the adjustment tool 24 can be rotated in the housing 22. The housing 22 is held on an integrated holding handle 28.

[0027] As can be seen form FIG. 2 the housing 22 is essentially constructed two-part and has a first jaw 30 which has a section on which the holding handle 28 is formed. The housing 22 is completed by a second jaw 34 which is fitted into a recess 36 of the first jaw 30. The two jaws 30 and 34 are articulately interconnected via a pivot bearing 40 which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis 38, so that when pushing the two proximal ends 42 and 44 together, whereby in particular the proximal end 44 is pushed into the recess 36, the distal ends 46 and 48 move apart from each other so that the fork head 16 can be pushed between the two distal ends 46 and 48. In the region of the proximal ends 42 and 44 restoring springs 50 are arranged which urge the two proximal ends 42 and 44 back into their starting position. As can be easily seen from FIGS. 1 to 3, the instrument 10 is operated with one hand in that the handle 28 is held with four fingers and the proximal end 44 is operated, in particular pushed in, with the thumb of this hand. In this way the fork head 16 of the bone screw 12 is grasped.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows the device 10 in its individual parts and an internal threading 52 in the section 32 of the first jaw 30, i.e., in the handle 28, can be recognized. An outer threading 54 is screwed into this internal threading 52, which outer threading 54 is provided on a section 56 of the adjustment tool 24.

[0029] It can further be recognized that the adjustment tool 24 is constructed two-part and has a first section 58 which has the outer threading 54, and a second section 60 which are interconnected so that they can be rotated relative to each other, but are non-detachable in axial direction. This occurs by way of a press-fit stem of which press-fit stem points 62 can be recognized. The pivot bearing 40 is formed by two bearing bolts 64, which engage in the corresponding receptacles 66 and 68 in the two jaws 30 and 34. The restoring springs 50 are supported in indentations 70. An end position of the two jaws 30 and 34 is achieved via stops 72 and 74, which prevent the distal ends 46 and 48 to pivot into a fully closed position. These ends 46 and 48 have circumferential grooves 76 in the internal surface for grasping an indentation 78 in the fork head 16 of the bone screw 12.

[0030] When the two jaws 30 and 34 are joined, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a longitudinal slot 82 forms between these two jaws 30 and 34, into which pins 84 which radially protrude from the second section 60 engage. These pins 84 prevent a rotation of this second section 60 so that the latter can only be moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis 38. The first section 58 on the other hand is guided so as to be screwable in the first jaw 30.

[0031] On the distal end of the second section 60 two extensions 86 are located which on their free ends each have an indentation 88 with which the vertebral rod 20 can be pushed in the direction of the fork head 16. This vertebral rod 20 is displaceable within a longitudinal slot 90 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) which is also formed between the two jaws 30 and 34, and is moved during screwing in of the adjustment tool 24 in the direction of the bone screw 12.

[0032] In FIG. 5 the adjustment tool 24 is further screwed in than in FIG. 1. It can be seen that the outer threading 54 axially protrudes out of the section 32 in which the internal threading 52 is provided, so that the outer threading 54 reaches the pivot region of the proximal end 44 of the second jaw 34. This jaw 34 can no longer be actuated, in particular the proximal end 44 can no longer be pushed in so that there is no risk that the fork head 16 of the bone screw 12 detaches from the distal ends 46 and 48, i.e., from the device 10. When the adjustment tool 24 is screwed in, the bone screw 12 is thus secured on the device 10.

[0033] A grub screw can then be inserted in the direction of the longitudinal axis 38 via the central opening in the handle 28 by means of a suitable tool and screwed into the fork head 16 and with this the vertebral rod 20 can be fixed on the bone screw 12.

[0034] In the case greater forces or exact torques have to be exerted, the device 10 can be equipped with additional external tools as shown in FIG. 6. On one hand an additional external handle 94 can be fastened on the handle 28 in that a receiving fork 96 with inwardly protruding pins 98 is pushed onto the handle 28 so that the pins 98 engage pin receptacles 100 which are axially open in the direction of the proximal end 42 and are distributed over the circumference.

[0035] In addition the turn handle 26 can be provided with an external turn handle 102 in that an adapter 106 which has a toothing 104 is inserted into the central opening 92, onto which adapter 106 the turn handle 102 is pushed, which can be form fittingly connected at flanks 108 with the adapter. The turn handle 102 has a torque limiter 110 and can be switched from left turning to right turning.

[0036] With the device 10 according to the invention a bone screw 12 can be connected to a vertebral rod in a simple manner.

[0037] While the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with currently preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and practical application to thereby enable a person skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0038] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: