Angling Inserter Tool For Expandable Vertebral Implant

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of inserting an implant comprising providing an expandable vertebral implant. The method further may comprise providing an angling inserter tool. The angling inserter tool comprises a handle portion, a base portion, and a tip assembly, the base portion being disposed between the handle portion and the tip assembly. The method further may comprise distally advancing a central shaft of the tip assembly with rotation into an opening in the expandable vertebral implant to secure the angling inserter tool to the expandable vertebral implant. The method further may comprise positioning the expandable vertebral implant in a patient's spine. The method further may comprise for causing the tip assembly to angulate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the angling inserter tool, wherein the internal shaft is coaxial with an outer cylinder of the base portion.

主权项

1. A system for inserting an implant comprising:
an expandable implant configured for insertion into a patient's spine, the expandable implant having a longitudinal axis and comprising a gear member configured to expand the expandable implant; and a tool having a longitudinal axis and configured for insertion of the expandable implant between the vertebra, wherein the tool comprises:
a handle portion;a cylindrical base portion coupled to the handle portion, wherein the base portion comprises:
an outer cylinder;an internal shaft configured to be coaxially received within the outer cylinder;a primary drive shaft configured to be coaxially received within the internal shaft; anda secondary drive shaft configured to be coaxially received within the primary drive shaft; anda tip assembly at a distal end of the base portion, wherein the tip assembly comprises a base portion and a central shaft disposed in a through-bore in the base portion, wherein the central shaft is configured to engage the expandable implant;a primary gear mechanism configured to transfer rotation of the primary drive shaft to the gear member on the expandable implant; anda secondary gear mechanism configured to transfer rotation of the secondary drive shaft to the central shaft,wherein the internal shaft is configured to engage the tip assembly such that the tip assembly is configured to rotate about a pin coupled between the base portion and the tip assembly upon distal advancement of the internal shaft.