Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090018586 | Spinal Cross-Connector - A spinal cross-connector is configured for adjustable connection between spinal fixation devices such as spinal fixation rods and allows for adjustment in length or distance between adjacent spinal rod clamping members and provides independent rotational adjustment of the two spinal rod clamping members for individual and independent attachment thereof to adjacent spinal rods of a spinal rod assembly. The cross-connector has first and second connection members that are adjustable in length and rotation relative to one another. A first spinal rod clamping member is provided on an end of the first connection member and defines first and second arced jaws that are adapted to clamp onto a first spinal rod. A second spinal rod clamping member is provided on an end of the second connection member and defines first and second arced jaws that are adapted to clamp onto a second spinal rod. Both the first and second clamping members are rotatable relative to the connection arms and thus provide the rotational adjustment. The individual and independent rotational adjustment of the spinal rod clamping members allows the present cross-connector to adjust to variations in skew between adjacent spinal rods as well as provide the ability to attach to the adjacent spinal rods at various angles between the adjacent spinal rods. | 01-15-2009 |
20090054932 | Resilient Spinal Rod System With Controllable Angulation - A spinal rod/rod system for spinal stabilization is controllably bendable or flexible along its longitudinal axis to achieve a particular radius of curvature, flex, arch or angle of the spinal rod and preserve the achieved angle through a locking mechanism. The spinal rod is controllably bendable through application of a controlled axial force. Such controllable curvature allows for limited movement of the vertebrae connected by the present resilient spinal rod system. The present spinal rod is defined by a multi-component system which includes an inner spring rod and an outer rod tube. An angulation ring is threadedly attached to an end of the spring rod and provides controlled adjustment of the angle or curvature of the spinal rod through axial compression of the spring rod relative to the outer tube. Locking prevents the increase and/or decrease of angulation of the spinal rod. A titanium spacer ring may be provided that is situated between the spring rod and the outer rod tube in order to prevent and/or hinder over angulation. One or more spacer rings may be situated between the spring rod and the outer rod tube axially adjacent each side of the titanium spacer ring that act as an additional spring force in bending, and act as a shock absorber in the axial compression of the of the spinal rod. The rings may be made of various durometers. | 02-26-2009 |
20090069897 | Spinal Interbody Device - A spinal interbody or intravertebral device is provided for fusion and non-fusion spinal applications. The spinal interbody device allows for limited motion between adjacent vertebrae to help preserve normal motion between adjacent vertebrae (superior/inferior vertebrae) relative to the implanted spinal interbody device and limited rotational motion of the spinal interbody device, once implanted. Limitation of motion is achieved through one or more protrusions incorporated into the spinal interbody device. The protrusions preferably, but not necessarily, extend radially from a hub or ball-shaped body of the interbody device. In one form, a single protrusion extends radially about the hub of the interbody device to form a continuous band, ring or base about the hub. In this form, portions of the band may extend radially further from the hub than other portions of the band. Preferably, but not necessarily, in this form the band extends radially a greater distance from the hub in the posterior and anterior directions. In another form, a first protrusion extends radially from one side of the hub while a second protrusion extends radially from another side of the hub. Anchoring means may also be provided for attachment to upper and lower vertebrae. | 03-12-2009 |
20090082808 | Expandable Spinal Spacer - A spinal spacer or stenotic device is expandable, inflated and/or filled in situ or ex vivo through the addition of a biocompatible fill material into the spinal implant once inserted or implanted in like manner to an angioplasty bag. Once implanted, expansion or inflation of the present expandable spinal spacer distracts the spine (creates spacing). The present expandable spinal spacer can operate as an interspinous, interspinous process, or intralaminar spinal spacer. In general the present expandable spinal space creates and/or maintains spacing between vertebrae or components of vertebrae. The present expandable spinal spacer is formed of a generally pliable biocompatible material that is collapsible and expandable/fillable. Preferably, but not necessarily, the biocompatible material is a mesh or weave type material, although other materials may be used. | 03-26-2009 |
20090088765 | Spinal Interbody Distractor - A spinal interbody distractor is provided that is configured to provide distraction of adjacent vertebrae after implantation within a spinal disc cavity through manual rotation of the distractor once implanted. Such implantation is preferably, but not necessarily, through minimally invasive surgical techniques. In one form, the distractor is configured to be rotated 90° to 180° after implantation to provide distraction of adjacent vertebrae. The distractor has a lateral side to lateral side height of a first length and a superior end to inferior end height of a second length that is greater than the first length. This configuration allows the distractor to be inserted into a spinal disc cavity having an opening with a height that is smaller than an end height of the spinal disc cavity after implantation thereof, thereby providing distraction of adjacent vertebrae. The spinal interbody distractor may have one or more cavities, areas, openings and/or bores for spinal fusion material when the distractor is used as a fusion body. The spinal interbody distractor is made from a biocompatible material such as a thermoplastic (e.g. PEEK), a polymer, metal, combination thereof or otherwise, such as desired and/or is appropriate. | 04-02-2009 |
20090177234 | Spinal Cross-Connector With Spinal Extensor Muscle Curvature - A spinal cross connector is configured for connection between spinal rods and provides allowance or space for spinal extensor muscles once the spinal process has been removed. The cross connector has curved first and second connection members that are adjustable in length and rotation relative to one another. A first clamping member is provided on the first connection member and defines first and second arcuate jaws that are adapted to clamp onto a first spinal rod. A second clamping member is provided on the second connection member and defines first and second arcuate jaws that are adapted to clamp onto a second spinal rod. Both the first and second clamping members are rotatable and thus provide the rotational adjustment. The cross-connector also provides easy in situ sizing and adjustability. | 07-09-2009 |
20090182431 | Spinal Interbody Fusion Cages Providing Variable Anterior/Posterior Profiles - A spinal interbody fusion cage has a body whose anterior/posterior profile may be varied through angular positioning of one or more articulating segments of the body without changing the superior/inferior height of the body. The present spinal interbody fusion cage has N segments or sections wherein at least one segment is articulated relative to another segment via a connection point, pivot or pivot structure such that the anterior/posterior profile is variable through angular positioning of one or more of the segments. The pivot structure may be configured so as to allow unidirectional movement between the connecting segments thereby allowing articulation in one plane or to allow omni-directional movement between the connecting segments thereby allowing articulation in multiple planes. The various forms of the present interbody fusion cage include superior and inferior sides or bone abutment surfaces that have serrations, teeth or similar functioning structures (teeth). The teeth extend between the anterior end and the posterior end. The teeth may take different shapes but are configured to allow insertion of the spinal interbody fusion cage in an anterior-first manner while preventing and/or inhibiting the spinal interbody fusion cage from backing out posteriorly. | 07-16-2009 |
20090240292 | Spinal Rod Guide For A Vertebral Screw Spinal Rod Connector Assembly - A spinal rod guide and/or guide assembly is provided for mounting a spinal rod onto a spinal rod holder/connector of a vertebral bone screw. The spinal rod guide is configured to extend between an opening in a patient's body and the spinal rod holder of the vertebral bone screw assembly, to receive a spinal rod therein, and thereafter accurately guide the spinal rod into the spinal rod holder. The spinal rod guide is defined by a first elongated arc portion and a second elongated arc portion to define a guide tube for the introduction and placement of additional spinal rod components onto the spinal rod connector, particularly, but not necessarily, for securing the spinal rod into the spinal rod connector. The elongated arc portions are mountable or initially attached onto a top of a spinal rod holder of a spinal rod bone screw assembly. The elongated arc portions (tube) define first and second longitudinal slots extending from a top of the elongated arc portions to a bottom of the elongated arc portions. The two longitudinal slots are situated such as to be diametrically opposite one another. Each longitudinal slot aligns with a spinal rod slot of the spinal rod holder to thereby allow easy placement of the spinal rod into the spinal rod holder. Thereafter, the defined elongated tube provides direct communication and alignment with the top of the spinal rod holder in order to receive a spinal rod connector drive screw for securing the spinal rod into the spinal rod holder. | 09-24-2009 |
20100082065 | Spinal Facet Fastener - A spinal implant in the form of a spinal facet fastener is configured to hold, restrict and/or limit flexion and/or extension of a spinal facet joint and/or immobilize movement thereof. The spinal facet fastener is formed with leg segments configured for reception in, on and/or about vertebral bone of a spinal facet joint and a connecting segment that holds the leg segments apart a spaced distance. The spinal facet fastener has surfaces that are configured to abut vertebral bone surfaces of a spinal facet joint to hold, restrict and/or limit flexion and/or extension of the spinal facet joint and/or immobilize movement thereof. In one form, the spinal facet fastener has members that are configured for reception in vertebral bone of the vertebral bone portions that form the spinal facet joint. In this form, the spinal facet fastener may include an anchoring element that is configured for reception between the vertebral bone portions that form the spinal facet joint. In one form, a first leg is configured to abut a surface of an inferior articular process of a first vertebra while a second leg is configured to abut a surface of a superior articular process of a second vertebra that is adjacent the first vertebra. The spinal facet fastener is formed of a biocompatible material such as PEEK (polyetheretherketone) but may be formed of other biocompatible materials such as a biocompatible metal (e.g. titanium or stainless steel). | 04-01-2010 |
20100228291 | Single-Sided Dynamic Spine Plates - A dynamic spine plate is formed with only a single row of bone screw bores that extend along a generally superior/inferior axis of the spine plate, providing a single-sided dynamic spine plate. The single-sided dynamic spine plate is formed from a plurality of spine plate components that are coupled dynamically to one another. This provides a modular, single-sided dynamic spine plate. The spine plate components are coupled dynamically to one another via socket and projection interfaces, the socket and projections interfaces incorporating resilient coupling and retention structures that allow limited movement of the spine plate components relative to one another. This provides for dynamic extension of the spine plate components relative to one another. The resilient coupling structure connects the spine plate components, providing a self-biased, snap fit coupling of spine plate components. Rotation stabilizers may be provide on the present single-sided dynamic spine plate that provide rotational stability to the spine plate in addition to the bone screws that will attach the spine plate to the vertebrae. | 09-09-2010 |
20100318092 | Instruments For Installing Multi-Section Intervertebral Spinal Implants - Instruments are provided for delivering and installing a multi-section spinal implant in-situ one section at a time by sequential deployment and assembling of the multi-section spinal implant sections into an intervertebral space. An advancement mechanism provides controlled deployment of individual implant sections from the instrument. Each instrument accepts a plurality of implant sections that are stacked on a deployment rod. Activation of the advancement mechanism advances a pusher against a rearward implant section of the implant section stack. This, in turn, advances all or some of the implant sections such that the forward most implant section exits the instrument. As the advancement mechanism is further activated, additional implant sections are deployed from the instrument. In this manner, a multi-section spinal implant of any number of implant sections may be delivered and assembled in situ. In one form, the advancement mechanism comprises an indexing mechanism. In another form, the advancement mechanism comprises a ratchet device provided on and between a trigger and an advancement tube. | 12-16-2010 |
20110029021 | Spinous Process Spacer - A spinous process spacer that is designed to maintain a desired spatial relationship between adjacent vertebrae, is configured for introduction into a spinal implant site in a compressed state and then expands in situ. Once expanded, formations of the present spinal spacer form areas, pockets or spaces that receive at least one bony portion of each adjacent vertebra. The present spinous process spacer has a changeable circumferential profile wherein a first circumferential profile is smaller than a second circumferential profile in order to provide/achieve its compressed and expanded states. The first circumferential profile defines the collapsed position or state while the second circumferential profile defines the position or state. Upon implantation, the present spinous process spacer is not fixed to any bony structure of the vertebrae but provides support. In this regard, use of the spinous process spacer, by itself, will not result in vertebral fusion. However, fusion can result with the use of bone graft packed about the spinous processes (and the spinous process spacer) or in conjunction with the use of an intervertebral body spacer. | 02-03-2011 |
20110178560 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPINAL ROD INSERTION AND REDUCTION - A guide assembly includes a spinal screw assembly having a bone screw and a spinal rod holder; and a spinal rod guide having first and second elongated arc portions defining a pair of longitudinal slots extending along the first and second arc portions, each of the first and second arc portions further defining at least one recess extending transversely from each of the longitudinal slots, the at least one recess configured to receive at least a portion of a reduction tool to enable reduction of a spinal rod received within the spinal rod holder. | 07-21-2011 |