Patent ID: 8317796
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A rod-reduction and locking cap advancement tool for reducing an elongated spinal rod into a rod-receiving channel formed in a body portion of a bone fixation element and for engaging a locking cap to the body portion, the tool comprising: an outer tube including a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen defining an inner surface, the lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the distal end including an engagement feature for engaging the body portion of the bone fixation element, the inner surface including a plurality of threads; an inner tube including a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the inner tube being slidably disposed within the lumen formed in the outer tube, the distal end of the inner tube including an engagement member for engaging the locking cap; and a rotatable sleeve including a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the rotatable sleeve being rotatably coupled to the proximal end of the inner tube, the sleeve including a plurality of external threads for threadably engaging the threads formed on the inner surface of the outer tube such that rotation of the sleeve advances the inner tube with respect to the outer tube and hence downwardly and non-rotationally forces the locking cap and the elongated spinal rod into engagement with the body portion of the bone fixation element to provisionally lock the locking cap to the body portion of the bone fixation element and thus secure the spinal rod within the rod-receiving channel formed in the body portion of the bone fixation element.