Patent ID: 11857223
Assignee: SPINE WAVE, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 22:
23. A modular rod extender for extending a rod in an existing spinal construct, formed by a process comprising the steps of:
providing an extender body comprising a modular attachment feature at one end and an extension rod extending from an opposite end, said modular attachment feature having a central bore extending along an axis through a top surface and a bottom surface of said extender body, said central bore being defined by an interior surface, said central bore having a lower portion and an upper portion, said lower portion having a lower opening adjacent said bottom surface and a lower interior cavity communicating with said lower opening;
introducing into said central bore through said upper portion of said central bore in a top loading process an expandable and contractible socket collar and disposing said socket collar into said lower interior cavity for axial movement therewithin, said socket collar being of size and configuration to not pass through said lower opening of said central bore, said socket collar having a central opening configured to expandably receive a head of a component of a rod connector that is connectable to said rod of said existing spinal construct;
introducing into said central bore through said upper portion of said central bore in a top loading process a crown and disposing said crown into said central bore between said upper portion and said socket collar, said crown being axially movable within said central bore independently of said socket collar, said crown having a lower end configured to forcibly engage said head of said component;
introducing into said central bore through said upper portion of said central bore in a top loading process a retention insert, said retention insert having a central insert opening, disposing said retention insert into said central bore between said top surface and said crown, and securing said retention insert to said extender body in a fixed position allowing axial movement of said crown and said socket collar within said central bore while retaining said crown and said socket collar within said central bore; and then
introducing a locking element into said central insert opening in a top loading process, said locking element being configured to engage an upper end of said crown and cause said crown to move and wedge said head between said crown and said socket collar within said lower interior cavity of said extender body to thereby lock said extender body and said rod connector together.