Devices and methods for breaking and retaining surgical reduction tabs

摘要

Various devices and methods for breaking and retaining surgical reduction tabs are provided. In general, the devices and methods can allow a single surgical instrument to break a plurality of surgical reduction tabs off one or more surgical implants and retain the broken tabs within the instrument. In an exemplary embodiment, a surgical instrument can include an opening at a distal end thereof that is configured to receive a surgical reduction tab therein when the tab is connected to a surgical implant. A retention element at least partially disposed within the instrument can be configured to engage the tab received in the opening so as to hold the tab securely within the instrument. With the tab received in the opening and held by the retention element, the surgical instrument can be configured to be manipulated to break the tab off the surgical implant. The broken tab can be retained within the surgical instrument by being held therein by the retention element. The instrument can be repeatedly relocated and repeatedly break off surgical reduction tabs of one or more surgical implants, with each successive tab received in the opening displacing the immediately preceding broken tab from the retention element such that a chamber formed in the instrument can simultaneously hold a plurality of broken tabs within the instrument.

主权项

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising:
an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having an opening shaped to receive a reduction tab of a U-shaped head of a surgical implant therein, the distal end being configured to be advanced into a body of a patient, the proximal end having a chamber that extends through at least a portion thereof, the chamber being in communication with the opening and configured to receive a broken-off reduction tab therein; a retention arm positioned at least partially within the shaft, the retention arm being configured to directly contact a reduction tab inserted into the opening to direct a force onto the reduction tab that maintains the reduction tab in a fixed position relative to the opening while the reduction tab is broken off from the surgical implant; and a release mechanism movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration to allow release of retained broken tabs from within the chamber through the opening.