Stylet screw driver

Abstract

A stylet screw driver assembly having a screw driver/ratcheting handle assembly which houses a stylet, pre-assembled to a set length based on the screw length in use, fixed in place by a spring loaded button mechanism located on the proximal end of the ratcheting handle. The spring loaded button mates with the stylet assembly, providing various stylet protrusion lengths.

1 . A stylet screw driver assembly comprising:
 a body having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therethrough, the distal end being configured to hold a pedicle screw;   a handle portion having a proximal end, a distal end and a lumen therethrough, the distal end being coupled to the body and the proximal end having a stylet adjustment mechanism; and   a stylet assembly having a pre-assembled stylet portion and a length adjustment portion configured for insertion in the lumen to engage the stylet adjustment mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the length adjustment section is configured to adjust the stylet to a desired distance based on the screw length. 
     
     
         3 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 2 , wherein adjustment of the stylet includes impacting the stylet to advance the stylet relative to the pedicle screw. 
     
     
         4 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a button mechanism configured to hold the stylet assembly in the body. 
     
     
         5 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the button mechanism is further configured to disengage the stylet to advance the stylet axially. 
     
     
         6 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 5 , wherein advancement of the stylet includes disengagement of the button mechanism and impact the stylet to advance the stylet relative to the pedicle screw. 
     
     
         7 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the length adjustment section includes a plurality of slots configured to engage the button mechanism to stop the stylet at a selected distance. 
     
     
         8 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of slots include screw length labels proximate each slot. 
     
     
         9 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a screw driver/ratcheting handle configured to rotate the screw.) 
     
     
         10 . A stylet screw driver assembly comprising:
 a stylet screw driver having a lumen and a distal end configured to couple with a screw, and   a stylet assembly having a stylet slidably positioned within the lumen, the stylet configured to extend distally from the distal end of the stylet screw driver.   
     
     
         11 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a button mechanism coupled to the stylet screw driver configured to releasably engage the stylet assembly to stop the stylet at a selected distance. 
     
     
         12 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the button mechanism is further configured to disengage the stylet to advance the stylet axially. 
     
     
         13 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 12 , wherein advancement of the stylet includes disengagement of the button mechanism and impact the stylet to advance the stylet relative to the pedicle screw. 
     
     
         14 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the stylet includes a plurality of slots configured to engage the button mechanism to stop the stylet at a selected distance. 
     
     
         15 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of slots include screw length labels proximate each slot. 
     
     
         16 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a screw driver/ratcheting handle coupled to a proximal end of the stylet screw driver. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a stylet screw driver assembly comprising:
 selecting a stylet screw driver assembly comprising:   a stylet screw driver having a body and handle portion with a lumen, a distal end of the body being configured to couple with a pedicle screw,   a stylet assembly having a stylet slidably positioned within the lumen, the stylet configured to extend distally from the distal end of the stylet screw driver;   selecting a desired pedicle screw having a screw length;   adjusting the stylet to extend distally for the selected screw length;   inserting a distal tip of the stylet into a bone;   rotating the stylet screw driver to screw the pedicle screw into the bone; and   disengaging the pedicle screw and remove the stylet screw driver assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the screw driver assembly further comprising a button mechanism coupled to the stylet screw driver configured to releasably engage the stylet assembly, and adjusting of the stylet includes disengagement of the button mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The stylet screw driver assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the stylet includes a plurality of slots configured to engage the button mechanism to stop the stylet at a selected distance. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein adjusting of the stylet includes impacting the stylet to advance the stylet into the bone.