US 12,251,136 B2
Medical implant thread plug having a lower rod engaging extension
Roger P. Jackson, Prairie Village, KS (US); and James L. Surber, Kansas City, KS (US)
Filed by Roger P. Jackson, Prairie Village, KS (US)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/188,855.
Application 18/188,855 is a continuation of application No. 17/808,438, filed on Jun. 23, 2022, granted, now 11,911,075.
Application 17/808,438 is a continuation of application No. 17/476,652, filed on Sep. 16, 2021, granted, now 11,399,873, issued on Aug. 2, 2022.
Application 17/476,652 is a continuation of application No. 17/123,499, filed on Dec. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,129,646, issued on Sep. 28, 2021.
Application 17/123,499 is a continuation of application No. 16/779,304, filed on Jan. 31, 2020, granted, now 10,898,233, issued on Jan. 26, 2021.
Application 16/779,304 is a continuation of application No. 15/964,502, filed on Apr. 27, 2018, granted, now 10,548,641, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 15/964,502 is a continuation of application No. 15/469,076, filed on Mar. 24, 2017, granted, now 9,956,004, issued on May 1, 2018.
Application 15/469,076 is a continuation of application No. 14/566,356, filed on Dec. 10, 2014, granted, now 9,636,146, issued on May 2, 2017.
Application 14/566,356 is a continuation of application No. 13/694,849, filed on Jan. 10, 2013, granted, now 8,911,479, issued on Dec. 16, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/634,361, filed on Feb. 28, 2012.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/631,746, filed on Jan. 10, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0225767 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/86 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61B 17/7035 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7032 (2013.01); A61B 17/863 (2013.01); A61B 17/8665 (2013.01); A61B 17/8685 (2013.01); A61B 2017/8655 (2013.01); A61B 2090/037 (2016.02)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A medical implant assembly for securing an elongate rod to a bone anchor, the medical implant assembly comprising:
a receiver comprising a central axis, a base portion, an upper portion defining a channel configured to receive the elongate rod, a front face, a back face opposite the front face, and a top surface, the channel extending between the front face and the back face of the receiver and extending to the top surface defining a top of the receiver, the receiver further comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface, the interior surface having a helically wound receiver thread formed therein, the exterior surface having first and second horizontal curvate extending instrument engaging grooves (HCEIEG) formed therein and being proximate the top surface of the receiver, each of the front face and back face including a planar surface extending parallel with respect to each other and the central axis, and the exterior surface including first and second outward-facing planar surfaces extending parallel with respect to each other and being positioned below the first and second HCEIEG, respectively, the first HCEIEG including a first outer end opening onto the planar surface on the front face of the receiver, the second HCEIEG including a second outer end opening onto the planar surface on the back face of the receiver; and
a threaded plug configured to be positioned within the channel to secure the elongate rod to the receiver in a locked configuration, the threaded plug comprising a cylindrical body, a longitudinal axis, a first outer diameter, a planar top surface including a central internal drive structure with a tool abutment surface defined therein, a through-bore centered around the longitudinal axis and extending below the tool abutment surface, a lower surface including a protrusion centrally positioned around the longitudinal axis and having a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter, an external side surface on the cylindrical body having a continuous helically wound closure thread configured to rotatably mate with the helically wound receiver thread, the continuous helically wound closure thread including a lower leading surface, an upper trailing surface opposite the lower leading surface, and a cylindrical outer crest surface positioned between the upper trailing surface and the lower leading surface, the cylindrical outer crest surface extending parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the lower leading surface and the upper trailing surface both extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,
wherein, when the medical implant assembly is in a locked configuration via the threaded plug: the protrusion on the threaded plug is configured to engage the elongate rod positioned in the channel of the receiver; and the threaded plug does not extend overtop of any portion of the top surface defining the top of the receiver.