Surgical tool

Abstract

A surgical tool includes a pair of pivotally coupled operating handles and working distal ends connected thereto configured to engage bone fixation elements. A toothed ratchet member is arranged across the handles and includes a first and second tooth rack. The first tooth rack includes a plurality of teeth angled in a first direction and the second tooth rack includes a plurality of teeth angled in a second direction. The ratchet member is rotatable with respect to the handles to selectively present the first or second tooth rack to a pawl disposed on one of the handles. The handles are operable for closing or spreading movement via selective engagement of the pawl with the first or second tooth rack, which correspondingly closes or spreads the working distal ends. A method for operating the tool is also disclosed.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A surgical tool for distraction and compression operation, the tool comprising:
 a first handle having a proximal and distal ends;   a second handle having proximal and distal ends, the first handle being pivotally coupled to the second handle for relative opening and closing movement;   a pawl disposed on the second handle; and   an elongated ratchet member arranged across the handles and pivotally coupled to the first handle, the ratchet member being rotatable with respect to the handles, the ratchet member having a first tooth rack comprising a plurality of teeth angled in a first direction and a second gear rack comprising a plurality of teeth angled in a second direction opposite the first direction;   wherein the first and second tooth racks are selectively and alternatingly engageable with the pawl by rotating the ratchet member.   
     
     
         11 . The surgical tool of  claim 10 , wherein closing the first and second handles simultaneously opens the first and second lateral arms, and vice versa. 
     
     
         12 . The surgical tool of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second tooth racks are disposed on opposite sides of the ratchet member. 
     
     
         13 . The surgical tool of  claim 10 , wherein when the first tooth rack is in an active rotational position engageable with the pawl and the second tooth rack is in an inactive rotational position, the handles are movable in a closing direction but prevented from moving in an opening direction, and wherein when the first tooth rack is in an inactive rotational position and the second tooth rack is in an active position engageable with the pawl, the handles are movable in an opening direction but prevented from moving in a closing direction. 
     
     
         14 . The surgical tool of  claim 10 , wherein the ratchet member comprises an outer ratchet bar and an inner control rod disposed inside an axially elongated cavity formed in the ratchet bar, the ratchet bar being slidable between unlocked and locked positions with respect to the control rod. 
     
     
         15 . The surgical tool of  claim 14 , further comprising a locking knob rotatably disposed on the control rod, the knob being selectively engageable with one end of the ratchet bar to prevent sliding the ratchet bar on the control rod. 
     
     
         16 . The surgical tool of  claim 14 , wherein one of the ratchet bar and control rod includes a locking projection engageable with a locking recess disposed on the other remaining one of the ratchet bar and control rod, the projection and recess being mutually configured to prevent rotation of the ratchet bar with respect to the control rod when engaged. 
     
     
         17 . The surgical tool of  claim 10 , further comprising a spring biasing one end of the ratchet member against the pawl. 
     
     
         18 . A method for operating a surgical tool comprising:
 providing a surgical tool comprising a pair of handles pivotally coupled together and a toothed ratchet member arranged between the handles, the ratchet member being configured to engage a pawl disposed on one handle and having a first end pivotally coupled to one of the handles, the surgical tool including a pair of distal ends each configured for engaging a fixation element securable to a bone segment, wherein moving the handles together moves the distal ends apart and moving the handles apart moves the distal ends together;   engaging a first tooth rack disposed on a first side of the ratchet member with the pawl;   rotating the ratchet member; and   engaging a second tooth rack disposed on a second side of the ratchet member with the pawl.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rotating step comprises rotating the ratchet member 180 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first tooth rack comprises a plurality of teeth angled in a first orientation and the second tooth rack comprises a plurality of teeth angled in a second orientation different than the first orientation.