Surgical instrument and method

Abstract

A surgical instrument includes a first member being engageable to an inner surface of a spinal implant. An actuator is connected to a second member such that the second member is translatable relative to the first member for connecting the spinal implant to a bone fixation device. Systems, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.

1 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 an outer sleeve having a distal portion, the distal portion including at least one expandable projection being engageable to an inner groove of a spinal rod receiver of a bone fastener;   an inner shaft having a distal portion; and   an actuator connected to the outer sleeve and the inner shaft such that the distal portion of the inner shaft is engageable to the distal portion of the outer sleeve to expand the at least one projection into the inner groove to capture the spinal rod receiver.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve includes at least one spring tab having the at least one projection, the at least one spring tab biased radially inward and expandable to engage the inner groove and capture the spinal rod receiver. 
     
     
         4 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the distal portion of the inner shaft expands the distal portion of the outer sleeve to engage the inner groove and capture of the spinal rod receiver to snap fit the spinal rod receiver to a bone fixation device. 
     
     
         5 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the spinal rod receiver includes a crown and the distal portion of the inner shaft engages the crown for snap fit assembly to a bone fixation device. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection of the outer sleeve is biased radially inward. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve includes opposing spring tabs including the projections, the spring tabs bias radially inward and expand to engage the inner surface and capture the receiver. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a pair of lever handles being rotatable relative to the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         12 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a handle being rotatable relative to the outer sleeve and disposable in at least one non-locked orientation such that the handle is movable relative to the outer sleeve and a locked orientation such that the handle is fixed relative to the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A surgical instrument comprising:
 an outer sleeve including a distal portion having at least one projection biased radially inward;   an inner shaft including a distal portion; and   a handle connected to the outer sleeve and the inner shaft such that the distal portion of the inner shaft is engageable to the distal portion of the outer sleeve to expand the at least one projection into an inner groove of a spinal rod receiver of a bone fastener to capture the spinal rod receiver.   
     
     
         15 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the distal portion of the inner shaft expands the distal portion of the outer sleeve to engage the inner groove capture the spinal rod receiver to snap fit the spinal rod receiver to a bone fixation device. 
     
     
         16 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the distal portion of the outer sleeve includes opposing spring tabs, including the projections. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the handle is rotatable relative to the outer sleeve and disposable in at least one non-locked orientation such that the handle is movable relative to the outer sleeve and a locked orientation such that the handle is fixed relative to the outer sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . A surgical instrument as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the handle includes a pair of lever handles. 
     
     
         20 . A surgical system comprising:
 a bone fastener shaft configured for fixation to vertebral tissue;   a spinal rod receiver including an inner groove; and   a surgical instrument including an outer sleeve having a distal portion, the distal portion including at least one expandable projection being engageable to the inner groove and an inner shaft having a distal portion,   the surgical instrument further including an actuator connected to the outer sleeve and the inner shaft such that the distal portion of the inner shaft is engageable to the distal portion of the outer sleeve to expand the at least one projection into the inner groove to capture the spinal rod receiver.