Patent ID: 9510875
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: A61B

Claim Text:
1. An access device for percutaneously accessing a pedicle fastener connected to a vertebra of a patient, the access device comprising: an elongate gripping member including a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg, the first and second legs each having a proximal portion connected to the body portion and a distal portion for engagement with a head of a pedicle fastener, the distal portion of the first leg including a first prong and a second prong, and the distal portion of the second leg including a third prong and a fourth prong, the first and second prongs having a first longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another, and the third and fourth prongs having a second longitudinal slot therebetween permitting the third and fourth prongs to spread apart from one another, wherein the distal portions of the first and second legs are deflectable away from one another to engage and disengage the head of the pedicle fastener, and wherein the first and second legs of the gripping member define a first pass-through slot therebetween, the first pass-through slot adapted to receive a spinal fusion rod therethrough; and an elongate locking member connected to and movable relative to the gripping member between a retracted position and a locked position, wherein the locking member prevents the first and second legs of the gripping member from deflecting away from one another when in the locked position; wherein the access device includes at least one projection arranged within the first slot, and wherein the projection is adapted to move along the first slot to cause the first and second prongs to spread apart from one another.