INSERTION HANDLE FOR SURGICAL IMPLANTS

摘要

An insertion handle for medical implants includes a handle with an elongate shaft extending therefrom and connection means for the implant disposed at the end of the shaft opposite the handle. The connection means includes a pivotable attachment for the implant that is controlled remotely from the handle. Both angle of the implant with respect to the handle and shaft as well as the attachment may be separately controlled and adjusted. Remote angular adjustment facilitates insertion of implants in to small surgical sites because the orientation of the implant may be repeatedly, remotely adjusted as the implant is inserted. Connectors may also be provided at the engagement surface between the handle and implant in order to provide communication with the implant or surgical site. The connectors also may serve as torque bearing members to avoid the need for separate torque bearing means such as keyways and the like.

主权项

1. An apparatus for inserting a medical implant, comprising:
a handle; an outer shaft extending from the handle along a shaft axis; an inner control shaft extending through the outer shaft along the shaft axis;
an actuator disposed with the handle and cooperating with the inner control shaft to move the inner control shaft within the outer shaft in response to user manipulation of the actuator; andpivotable connection means disposed on the outer shaft opposite the handle and cooperating with the inner shaft to engage or release an implant, and to angularly position the implant with respect to the shaft axis in response to movement of the inner control shaft, said pivotable connection means including user selectable lock means for selectively locking an implant engaged thereon at a fixed angle relative to the shaft axis;wherein the inner control shaft is axially translatable in response to user manipulation of the actuator and the pivotable connection means comprises:a grip cage mounted on the outer shaft opposite the handle and defining a distally facing pocket;two opposed implant engaging grips pivotably attached to each other and slidingly disposed in the grip cage pocket; anda pivot tensioning member operatively linked to the opposed grips to translate said grips in and out of the grip cage pocket, said pivot tensioning member also operatively linked to the inner control shaft for translation therewith.