Device for handling a bone screw

Abstract

A device for handling a bone screw to be connected with a vertebral rod includes an essentially cylindrical and hollow housing and an adjustment tool which axially traverses the housing and which has a section provided with an outer threading and is screwed into an internal threading of the housing, wherein the housing is constructed pliers-like and has a first and a second jaw which relative to the user each have a proximal and a distal end, wherein the distal ends engage at the head of the bone screw, wherein the two jaws are pivotably connected with each other via a pivot axis which is situated between the distal and proximal ends and extends orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing, and wherein the internal threading of the housing is provided on a proximal end of a single one of the jaws.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for handling a bone screw to be connected with a vertebral rod, said device comprising:
 an essentially cylindrical and hollow housing defining a longitudinal axis and including a first jaw and a second jaw, each of the first and second jaws having a proximal end and a distal end, said distal ends of the first and second jaws engaging at a fork head of the bone screw, the first jaw including a shell-shaped section and a cylindrical section which has an internal threading, and the second jaw including a shell-shaped section configured to complement the shell-shaped section and the cylindrical section of the first jaw to jointly form the housing, with the proximal end of the second jaw being distal with respect to the cylindrical section of the first jaw, said first and second jaws being interconnected for rotation about a pivot axis which is situated between the distal and proximal ends of the first and second jaws and distal with respect to the cylindrical section of the first jaw, said pivot axis extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the housing, wherein the first and second jaws are configured to not cross over each other, and   an adjustment tool axially traversing the housing, said adjustment tool having a section provided with an outer threading for threaded engagement in the internal threading of the cylindrical section, said adjustment tool being displaceable in a direction of the longitudinal axis by screwing so as to push a distal end of the adjustment tool against the vertebral rod placed within the fork head and thereby move the vertebral rod along the longitudinal axis in a direction of the fork head.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing the first jaw is rigid and the second jaw is pivotable. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment tool is constructed of at least two parts, with a first proximal part being rotatable and including the section with the outer threading and a second distal part being a rotatively fixed section having the distal end for pushing against the vertebral rod. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the rotatively fixed section is guided in the longitudinal direction between the first and second jaws. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment tool is constructed as a hollow body. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment tool has an outer diameter essentially corresponding to an outer diameter of the fork head of the bone screw. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the housing and the adjustment tool has a receptacle for attachment of an additional holding or turn handle. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an external handle structured for attachment to the housing or the adjustment tool to exert a force or torque to the housing or the adjustment tool. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment tool includes a first turn handle with a central opening, an external second turn handle, and an adapter configured for insertion into the central opening, said external second turn handle being fitted onto the adapter for form fittingly connecting the external second turn handle to the adjustment tool for allowing application of a greater force or exact torque. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment tool is constructed for movement between a first position, in which the external threading is positioned proximal to the proximal end of the second jaw, and a second position, in which at least a portion of the external threading axially coincides with the proximal end of the second jaw, wherein in the first position the proximal end of the second jaw is pivotable into a position radially inwardly relative to the internal threading thereby causing the distal ends of the first and second jaws to move apart from each other for receiving the fork head of the bone screw, and wherein in the second position the at least one portion of the external threading prevents inward pivoting of the proximal end of the second jaw.