DYNAMIC SPINAL STABILIZATION ASSEMBLIES, TOOL SET AND METHOD

摘要

A hinged bone screw and tool set is used for implanting such bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws. The hinged bone screw includes a shank with an upper portion and a receiver with integral arms forming a U-shaped channel. A lower curved seat partially defining the U-shaped channel cooperates with an upper portion of the bone screw shank for hinged movement of the shank with respect to the receiver. The tool set includes an insertion tool, a bone screw driver, a reduction tool and a closure starter. The insertion tool includes a bone screw attachment structure and a laterally opening channel. The insertion tool further includes a threaded portion for cooperation with the reduction tool to provide synchronized placement of a closure structure in the bone screw receiver while reducing and capturing a longitudinal connecting member within the receiver. Further alternative bone screws are hinged, polyaxial or fixed and include lordosing or kyphosing lateral surfaces.

主权项

1. In an insertion tool having an elongate body with a tool attachment structure at a lower end thereof releasably securable to an implant, the improvement comprising:
a) a laterally opening channel formed in the body and communicating with an interior of the body, the lateral opening extending from a top end of the body to the bottom end thereof and providing side access to the interior of the body along the entire length thereof, at least a portion of the opening receiving longitudinal connecting member; and b) a guide and advancement structure disposed on the body interior spaced from the lower end and rotatably mating with a reduction tool holding a closure structure, the guide and advancement structure having a starting location selected for synchronized cooperation with an attached implant precisely mating with the closure structure being rotated and moved into the implant by the reduction tool and place the closure structure at an exact location within the implant.