US 12,004,782 B2
Instrument for locking orthopedic screws
Brian A. Butler, Atoka, TN (US); Aubrey R. Mills, Memphis, TN (US); Christel Italiaie, Memphis, TN (US); Bret M. Wilfong, Hernando, MS (US); and Madeline G. Wilson, Memphis, TN (US)
Assigned to WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC., Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed by Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US)
Filed on Feb. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/167,258.
Application 17/167,258 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/830,377, filed on Mar. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,730,529.
Prior Publication US 2021/0298794 A1, Sep. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/56 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/7082 (2013.01) [A61B 17/8886 (2013.01); A61B 2017/564 (2013.01); A61B 17/7032 (2013.01); A61B 17/7074 (2013.01); A61B 17/7076 (2013.01); A61B 17/7085 (2013.01); A61B 17/7086 (2013.01); A61B 17/7088 (2013.01); A61B 17/7091 (2013.01); A61B 17/8875 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surgical instrument, comprising:
a drive shaft axially aligned with a central axis of the surgical instrument, the drive shaft including a first mating end and being rotatably supported within a drive housing, the drive housing supporting the first mating end;
an outer shaft including an outer receiver interface configured to selectively couple and uncouple to a connecting portion of a receiver;
a plunger, the plunger being axially aligned with the central axis of the surgical instrument and including a second mating end disposed within the drive housing, the second mating end being axially aligned with and in contact with the first mating end; and
a biasing member configured to urge the second mating end of the plunger into contact with the first mating end of the drive shaft;
wherein the plunger is configured to linearly translate forward and backward along the central axis upon rotation of the drive shaft around the central axis,
wherein:
the drive housing comprises a contoured interior supporting the first mating end, the second mating end being disposed within the contoured interior, the contoured interior comprises a plurality of grooves extending in a direction parallel with the central axis,
the first mating end comprises a first plurality of ramps having a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys and the second mating end comprises a second plurality of ramps having a second plurality of peaks and a second plurality of valleys,
the first mating end comprises a positioning ball extending laterally from a side surface of the first mating end in a direction perpendicular to the central axis, the positioning ball being selectively seated within one groove of the plurality of grooves, and
the positioning ball is configured to align the first plurality of ramps with the second plurality of ramps such that the first plurality of peaks is aligned with the second plurality of valleys and the first plurality of valleys is aligned with the second plurality of peaks.