US 12,185,981 B2
Rod inserter and rod with reduced diameter end
Daniel J. Triplett, Providence, UT (US); T. Wade Fallin, Hyde Park, UT (US); Karen E. Mohr, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Thierry Millard, Cestas (FR)
Assigned to Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Portage, MI (US)
Filed by Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC, Kalamazoo, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/464,769.
Application 12/705,001 is a division of application No. 11/651,442, filed on Jan. 9, 2007, granted, now 7,686,809, issued on Mar. 30, 2010.
Application 17/464,769 is a continuation of application No. 16/229,485, filed on Dec. 21, 2018, granted, now 11,134,990.
Application 16/229,485 is a continuation of application No. 14/252,349, filed on Apr. 14, 2014, granted, now 10,194,948, issued on Feb. 5, 2019.
Application 14/252,349 is a continuation of application No. 12/705,001, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, granted, now 8,771,318, issued on Jul. 8, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/847,009, filed on Sep. 25, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2021/0393296 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7004 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7011 (2013.01); A61B 17/7083 (2013.01); A61B 17/7085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of inserting a spinal rod, comprising the steps of:
implanting a first pedicle screw in a first vertebral body;
implanting a second pedicle screw in a second vertebral body;
selecting a spinal rod from a plurality of spinal rods;
attaching the spinal rod to a collapsible ball socket received in an opening of an inserter tool;
after the attaching step, moving the collapsible ball socket with respect to the opening, the insertion tool remaining uncoupled from the first and second pedicle screws;
tightening a clamping tip to fix the collapsible ball socket with respect to the opening; and
inserting the spinal rod in the first and second pedicle screws.