Tool system for dynamic spinal implants

Abstract

A tool set for implanting bone screws in a human spine, followed by the implantation of a longitudinal connecting member into the bone screws includes a pair of independently mountable and manipulatable elongate guide tools that form a unitary tool guide when desired. Each guide tool includes attachment structure for independent operable connection of the guide tool to an arm of the bone screw. The bone screw/guide tool attachment includes an undercut and/or recess so as to resist separation of the guide tool member from an attached bone screw. Further tools include a removable stabilizer, a cooperating bone screw driver with an attached stabilizer, a closure starter/reduction tool, a closure driver and a counter torque tool.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is as follows: 
     
         1 . A medical implant holding tool for use with a bone screw that includes a receiver with a pair of opposed sides, each side having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof and a lower first surface projecting downwardly toward a bottom thereof, said holding tool comprising:
 (a) first and second elongated parts defining an elongated channel extending along a length thereof when in mating engagement with the bone attachment receiver;   (b) each elongated part having implant engaging structure at a lower end thereof for operably mating with one of the opposed sides of the receiver in vertical sliding relationship thereto, the implant engaging structure including a longitudinally oriented raised structure for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating engagement to block horizontal translation between the receiver and the elongated part; and   (c) the first and second elongated parts being independently manipulatable with respect to one another and having variable spatial relationships therebetween during at least a portion of the use thereof.   
     
     
         2 . A tool as set forth in  claim 1  including a stabilizer selectively attached to each of the tool elongated parts at a location spaced from the bone attachment receiver for keeping the elongate parts in fixed spaced relation to one another. 
     
     
         3 . A tool as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the stabilizer is mounted on a driver. 
     
     
         4 . A tool as set forth in  claim 2  wherein each tool elongated part has a pair of lock pins extending therefrom and the stabilizer has apertures for receiving the lock pins. 
     
     
         5 . A tool as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the stabilizer includes a first guide and advancement structure sized and shaped to matingly cooperate with a second guide and advancement structure of a reduction tool. 
     
     
         6 . A medical implant holding tool for use with a bone screw that includes a receiver with a pair of opposed sides, each side having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof, said holding tool comprising:
 (a) first and second elongated parts defining an elongated channel extending along a length thereof when in mating engagement with the bone attachment receiver; and   (b) each elongated part having implant engaging structure at a lower end thereof for operably mating with one of the opposed sides of the receiver in vertical sliding relationship thereto, the implant engaging structure including a longitudinally oriented element for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating engagement to block horizontal translation between the receiver and the elongated part.   
     
     
         7 . A tool as set forth in  claim 6  wherein:
 (a) the first and second elongated parts are independently manipulatable with respect to one another and have variable spatial relationships therebetween during at least a part of the operation thereof; and 
 (b) a stabilizer is selectively attached to each of the tool elongated parts at a location spaced from the bone attachment receiver for keeping the elongated parts in fixed spaced relation to one another. 
 
     
     
         8 . A tool as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the stabilizer is mounted on a driver. 
     
     
         9 . A tool as set forth in  claim 7  wherein each tool elongated part has a pair of lock pins extending therefrom and the stabilizer has apertures for receiving the lock pins. 
     
     
         10 . A tool as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the stabilizer includes a first guide and advancement structure sized and shaped to matingly cooperate with a second guide and advancement structure of a reduction tool. 
     
     
         11 . In a medical implant holding tool having structure at a lower end thereof that is operably mateable with opposed sides of a bone attachment receiver, each side having a laterally opening, vertically oriented slot extending up to a top surface thereof, the improvement wherein:
 (a) the holding tool has an elongated channel extending along a length thereof defined by first and second elongated parts, each elongated part having receiver engaging structure for attachment to the bone attachment receiver, the receiver engaging structure including a longitudinally oriented element for vertical sliding engagement with one of the laterally opening, vertically oriented slots for mechanical overlapping and interlocking mating engagement to block horizontal translation between the receiver and the elongated part; and   (b) the first and second parts being independently manipulatable with respect to one another and having variable spatial relationships therebetween during use thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The improvement of  claim 11  further comprising a stabilizer attachable to each of the tool elongated parts at a location spaced from the bone attachment receiver for keeping the elongated parts in fixed spaced relation to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein the stabilizer is mounted on a driver. 
     
     
         14 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein each tool elongated part has a pair of lock pins extending therefrom and the stabilizer has apertures for receiving the lock pins. 
     
     
         15 . The improvement of  claim 12  wherein the stabilizer includes a first guide and advancement structure sized and shaped to matingly cooperate with a second guide and advancement structure of a reduction tool.