Bone anchor, instruments, and methods for use

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a surgical instrument configured for attachment to a surgical device. The surgical instrument includes a distal region having a curved internal surface configured to mate with a curved external surface of the surgical device, a rotational locking feature that limits rotational movement of the instrument with respect to the surgical device, and an axial locking feature that limits axial movement of the blade with respect to the surgical device. Methods of using the surgical instruments include sliding the axial locking feature past a corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device, locking the axial locking feature to the corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device (thereby limiting axial movement of the elongated blade with respect to the surgical device), adjusting the position of the surgical device using the surgical instrument, and disengaging the axial locking feature (for example, by using a disengagement instrument).

1 . An elongated blade configured to attach to a surgical device, the elongated blade comprising;
 a distal region having a curved internal surface configured to mate with a curved external surface of the surgical device,   a rotational locking feature on the curved internal surface that limits rotational movement of the elongated blade with respect to the surgical device,   an axial locking feature on the curved internal surface that limits axial movement of the blade with respect to the surgical device.   
     
     
         2 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated blade is curved in at least one transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         3 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the walls of the blade ranges from about 1 millimeters to about 4 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the rotational locking feature comprises a longitudinally extending protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The elongated blade of  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinally extending protrusion comprises angled longitudinally extending surfaces. 
     
     
         6 . The elongated blade of  claim 4 , wherein the longitudinally extending protrusion is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         7 . The elongated blade of  claim 5 , wherein the longitudinally extending protrusion comprises at least one flat proximal or distal surface. 
     
     
         8 . The elongated blade of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending protrusions. 
     
     
         9 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the axial locking feature comprises a laterally extending ridge. 
     
     
         10 . The elongated blade of  claim 9 , wherein the distal region of the elongated blade further comprises a living hinge, and the laterally extending ridge is positioned at a distal portion of the living hinge. 
     
     
         11 . The elongated blade of  claim 10 , wherein the living hinge comprises an elongated tab cut into a sidewall of the distal region of the elongated blade. 
     
     
         12 . The elongated blade of  claim 9 , wherein the laterally extending ridge comprises angled surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The elongated blade of  claim 12 , wherein the proximal surface of the laterally extending ridge creates an acute angle with a sidewall of the living hinge in at least one longitudinal cross section. 
     
     
         14 . The elongated blade of  claim 12 , wherein the distal surface of the laterally extending ridge creates an obtuse angle with a sidewall of the living hinge in at least one longitudinal cross section. 
     
     
         15 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein a proximal region of the blade comprises at least one fixation feature configured to be attached to one or more surgical instruments. 
     
     
         16 . The elongated blade of  claim 15 , wherein the fixation feature comprises a thru-hole, a thru-slot, a notch, a groove, or a cut-out. 
     
     
         17 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated blade is formed of MoRe. 
     
     
         18 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated blade is a first elongated blade, and further comprising a second elongated blade configured to attach to the same surgical device as the first elongated blade, thereby creating a path for surgical access to the surgical device. 
     
     
         19 . The elongated blade of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second elongated blades are joined by a permanent connection positioned between a proximal region of the first elongated blade and a proximal region of the second elongated blade. 
     
     
         20 . The elongated blade of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second elongated blades are joined by a non-permanent connection positioned between a proximal region of the first elongated blade and a proximal region of the second elongated blade. 
     
     
         21 . The elongated blade of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated blade is engaged with a bone anchor, the bone anchor comprising attachment features configured to mate with at least one of the axial locking feature or the rotational locking feature of the elongated blade. 
     
     
         22 . The elongated blade of  claim 21 , wherein the bone anchor further comprises a distal set of threads terminating with cutting edges. 
     
     
         23 . The elongated blade of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated blade is further engaged with a disengagement instrument, the disengagement instrument comprising a projecting member configured to push the axial locking feature away from bone anchor. 
     
     
         24 . A method of using the elongated blade of  claim 1 , the method comprising,
 sliding the axial locking feature of the elongated blade past a corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device,   locking the axial locking feature of the elongated blade to the corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device, thereby limiting axial movement of the elongated blade with respect to the surgical device,   adjusting the position of the surgical device using the elongated blade, and   disengaging the axial locking feature.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein sliding the axial locking feature of the elongated blade past a corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device comprises flexing a living hinge outwardly from the surface of the elongated blade. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising returning the living hinge to its original position after sliding the axial locking feature of the elongated blade past the corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein locking the axial locking feature of the elongated blade to the corresponding axial locking feature on the surgical device further comprises engaging angled surfaces of the axial locking feature of the elongated blade to complementary angled surfaces of the axial locking feature of the surgical device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising sliding the rotational locking feature of the elongated blade into or onto a complementary rotational locking feature on the surgical device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the surgical device is a bone anchor, and wherein adjusting the position of the surgical device using the elongated blade further comprises cutting the bone with a cutting edge of a distal set of threads of the bone anchor. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein disengaging the axial locking feature comprises using a disengagement instrument. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein using a disengagement instrument comprises pushing the axial locking feature away from the surgical device.