Patent ID: 6416528
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A pilot hole forming apparatus for creating a pilot hole in a vertebral body comprising: a hollow tubular member having a top end and a lower end configured to cooperatively engage a bone screw receiving hole in a bone plate, said lower end having a shoulder adapted to contact an upper surface of the bone plate, said lower end having a first reduced cross-section adapted to fit within a portion of the bone screw receiving hole adapted to receive at least a portion of a head of a screw, said lower end having a second reduced cross-section adapted to fit within a portion of the bone screw receiving hole adapted to receive the shaft of the screw, said second reduced cross-section being smaller than said first reduced cross-section, a rod having an upper portion and a sharpened-end opposite said upper portion, said rod being movable within said tubular member whereby applying a force to said upper portion of said rod drives the sharpened-end of said rod into the vertebral body, said sharpened-end having sufficient length to pass through the bone plate and into the vertebral body to a predetermined depth less than the depth of the vertebral body.