US5707371A — Repositioning tool

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for repositioning and handling a pedicle screw having an annular head including parallel clamping faces on opposite sides of said annular head to be connected to at least a tensioning means, said method comprising: bringing a tongue-shaped pliers portion connected to a pliers handle into engagement with the head of said pedicle screw in the axial direction thereof to apply a tilting moment perpendicular to the length axis of said pedicle screw and to apply a torque, wherein said pliers (10) portion comprises jaws (22, 24) meeting at a pivot pin and having a jaw mouth (26) with a jaw mouth opening and including inwardly extending projections (28, 30) so that said inwardly extending projections (28, 30) engage opposite indentions (70, 72) having plane bottoms and provided along the periphery of the annular head (64) of said pedicle screw (60).

Claim 2

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for repositioning and handling a pedicle screw having an annular head including parallel clamping faces on opposite sides of said annular head to be connected to at least a tensioning means, said method comprising: bringing a tongue-shaped pliers portion connected to a pliers handle into engagement with the head of said pedicle screw in the axial direction thereof to apply a tilting moment perpendicular to the length axis of said pedicle screw and to apply a torque, wherein said pliers (10) portion comprises jaws (22, 24) meeting at a pivot pin and having a jaw mouth (26) with a jaw mouth opening and including inwardly extending projections (28, 30) so that said inwardly extending projections (28, 30) engage opposite indentions (70, 72) having plane bottoms and provided along the periphery of the annular head (64) of said pedicle screw (60).

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 79 words

The method of claim 1, wherein said jaws (22, 24) have a jaw width w, said head of said pedicle screw has a width W and the jaw width w is smaller than the width W of the head (64) of the pedicle screw (60) and wherein the width w' of said projections (28, 30) is smaller than the width w of the jaws (22, 24) and wherein the jaws (22, 24) are offset with respect to each other.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method of claim 2, wherein said projections (28, 30) have outer faces, wherein said outer faces of said projections (28, 30) facing each other converge towards said jaw mouth opening to engage indentations (70, 72) substantially in an area below the diameter of said annular head (64) of said pedicle screw (60) extending perpendicular to said length axis of said pedicle screw.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 3, wherein said pedicle screw has a screw shaft (62), wherein the projections (28, 30) are triangular and the indentations (70, 72) each include a plane bottom, and wherein the bottoms of the opposite indentations (70, 72) converge towards said screw shaft (62).

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 4, wherein the bottoms include an angle of 20° to 30°.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 5, wherein a projection (28, 30) has a side which is flush with an outer face of a jaw (22, 28).

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 6, wherein the jaws (22, 24) include an inner abutment portion (36, 38) each for engaging a peripheral portion of the screw head (64) opposite the screw shaft (62).

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 7 wherein said abutment portions (36, 38) are formed by lugs extending toward said jaw mouth opening, which lugs commonly engage a third indentation (74) provided along said peripheral portion of said screw head (64).

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 8, wherein said abutment portions (36, 38) have plane faces to cooperate with a plane bottom of a third indentation (74) of said screw head (64).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method of claim 9, wherein said pliers handle has a first handle portion and a second handle portion in a gripping area (18) and wherein said first handle portion is provided with a locking arm (44) arranged in said gripping area (18), and said locking arm cooperating with a locking tooth (50) is attached to said second handle portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 10, wherein said locking arm (44) is pivotally mounted, said locking arm being biased by a spring (52) towards said locking tooth (50) at least when pivotally mounted.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 129 words

A method for handling a pedicle screw which has an annular head including parallel clamping faces on opposite sides of said head, said method comprising: (1) grasping said pedicle screw with a tool comprising pliers having: (a) a handle portion and (b) a jaw portion having a tongue-shape and connected to said handle portion, and (2) bringing said jaw portion into engagement with the head of said pedicle screw so as to apply a tilting moment perpendicular to the length axis of said pedicle screw and to apply a torque, wherein said jaw portion comprises a first jaw and a second jaw meeting at a pivot pin and having inwardly extending projections for engagement of corresponding indentations provided along the periphery of said annular head of said pedicle screw.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 129 words

A method for handling a pedicle screw which has an annular head including parallel clamping faces on opposite sides of said head, said method comprising: (1) grasping said pedicle screw with a tool comprising pliers having: (a) a handle portion and (b) a jaw portion having a tongue-shape and connected to said handle portion, and (2) bringing said jaw portion into engagement with the head of said pedicle screw so as to apply a tilting moment perpendicular to the length axis of said pedicle screw and to apply a torque, wherein said jaw portion comprises a first jaw and a second jaw meeting at a pivot pin and having inwardly extending projections for engagement of corresponding indentations provided along the periphery of said annular head of said pedicle screw.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 93 words

A method for handling pedicle screws including an annular head having head indentations on opposite sides of the periphery of said head, a threaded shank, and a longitudinal axis, said method comprising: (1) bringing a pliers having a pair of jaws with inwardly extending projections facing each other and connected to crossing handle portions into engagement with said head indentations such that said pliers is coaxial with said longitudinal axis and (2) exerting a tilting force on said pedicle screw transverse to said longitudinal axis and exerting a torque on said pedicle screw.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 93 words

A method for handling pedicle screws including an annular head having head indentations on opposite sides of the periphery of said head, a threaded shank, and a longitudinal axis, said method comprising: (1) bringing a pliers having a pair of jaws with inwardly extending projections facing each other and connected to crossing handle portions into engagement with said head indentations such that said pliers is coaxial with said longitudinal axis and (2) exerting a tilting force on said pedicle screw transverse to said longitudinal axis and exerting a torque on said pedicle screw.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2001-01-12	2001-07-14	2002-01-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2005-01-12	2005-07-14	2006-01-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2009-01-12	2009-07-14	2010-01-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Repositioning tool

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