Keyhole rod bender

Claim 2

A first and second rod bender capable of plastically deforming a rod by movement relative to each other under an influence of force manually applied to end portions of said first and second rod benders, said first and second rod benders each comprising: a handle having a center; a working end at one end of said handle; said working end further comprising a working end central axis; said working end further comprising a rod slot having a bottom, a rod slot central axis, and a diameter; and said rod slot further comprising a keyhole hollow at the bottom formed substantially by a pair of offset bores, whereby the rod is held in a substantially static manner by opposing notches in the keyhole hollow.

Claim 3

The rod benders of claim 1 wherein said offset bores further comprise a 2° to 5° offset relative to the rod slot central axis and co-planar therewith.

Claim 4

The rod benders of claim 2 wherein said offset bores further comprise a diameter of about 0.005 inch wider than the rod slot diameter.

Claim 5

The rod benders of claim 1 wherein said rod slot central axis further comprises a 90° offset to said working end central axis.

Claim 6

The rod benders of claim 1 wherein said working end further comprises substantially a 20° offset to said handle.

Claim 7

The rod benders of claim 1 wherein said handle further comprises a flat shape having edges.

Claim 8

The rod benders of claim 6 wherein said handle further comprises a taper extending from a widest point at the center of the handle and narrowing to the working end.

Claim 9

The rod benders of claim 7 wherein said handle further comprises an 80 grit finish.

Claim 10

The rod benders of claim 1 wherein said handle is substantially 131/2" long and the working end is substantially 3/4" long.

Claim 11

The rod benders of claim 1 further comprising a second working end located at an opposite end of the handle from said working end.

Claim 12

A first and second surgical rod bender capable of plastically deforming a surgically implanted rod in situ by movement relative to each other under an influence of force manually applied to end portions of said first and second rod benders, said first and second rod benders each comprising: a shaft having a central handle portion; a working end at each end of the shaft; said working ends each further comprising a rod slot having a bottom, a rod slot central axis, and a diameter; and said rod slot further comprising a keyhole hollow at the bottom formed substantially by a pair of bores 2° to 5° offset relative to the rod slot central axis, whereby the rod is held in a substantially static manner by opposing notches in the keyhole hollow.

Claim 13

A first and second surgical rod bender capable of plastically deforming a surgically implanted rod in situ by movement relative to each other under an influence of force manually applied to end portions of said first and second rod benders, said first and second rod benders each comprising: a shaft having a central handle portion; a working end at each end of the shaft; said working ends each further comprising a rod slot having a bottom, a rod slot central axis, and a diameter; and said rod slot further comprising a keyhole hollow at the bottom formed substantially by a pair of bores 2° to 5° offset relative to the rod slot central axis, whereby the rod is held in a substantially static manner by opposing notches in the keyhole hollow.

Claim 14

The rod benders of claim 11 wherein said working ends further comprise a 20° offset to said shaft.

Claim 15

The rod benders of claim 11 wherein said offset bores further comprise a diameter of about 0.005 inch wider than the rod slot diameter.

Claim 16

The rod benders of claim 11 wherein said central handle portion further comprises a flat shape having edges.

Claim 17

The rod benders of claim 14 wherein said central handle portion further comprises a taper extending from a widest point at a midpoint of the central handle portion and narrowing to each working end.

Claim 18

A pair of rod benders each comprising: a shank; a working end at one end of the shank; said working end further comprising a rod slot having a rod slot central axis 90° offset to the working end; said rod slot further comprising a diameter to accommodate a rod, and a bottom; and said rod slot bottom further comprising a keyhole hollow formed substantially by a pair of offset bores, whereby the rod is held in a substantially static manner by opposing notches in the keyhole hollow.

Claim 19

A pair of rod benders each comprising: a shank; a working end at one end of the shank; said working end further comprising a rod slot having a rod slot central axis 90° offset to the working end; said rod slot further comprising a diameter to accommodate a rod, and a bottom; and said rod slot bottom further comprising a keyhole hollow formed substantially by a pair of offset bores, whereby the rod is held in a substantially static manner by opposing notches in the keyhole hollow.

Claim 20

The rod benders of claim 16 wherein said offset bores further comprise a 2° to 5° offset relative to the rod slot central axis and co-planar therewith.

Claim 21

The rod benders of claim 17 wherein said offset bores further comprise a diameter of about 0.005 inch wider than the rod slot diameter.