Patents Examined by Nicholas Plionis
  • Patent number: 9636145
    Abstract: Systems and methods for flexibly stabilizing a vertebral motion segment by connecting a first vertebra and a second vertebra. The system includes an elongate connection element with end portions interconnected by a flexible coupling member. The system includes first and second attachment portions for connecting the connection element to the vertebrae. A first resilient member is positioned between the first end portion and the first attachment portion, and a second resilient member is positioned between the first attachment portion and the second attachment portion. The system is designed such that the second resilient member is compressed when the first and second attachment portions move towards each other, and the first resilient member is compressed when the first and second attachment portions extend away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Friedrich, Edward Karpowicz, Andrew Iott
  • Patent number: 9636159
    Abstract: The Multi-Thread Iliac Screw represents a novel way to embed fasteners in the ilium by improving fixation of said fasteners in the different parts of the iliac bone tissue. The screw consists of a saddle with a locking screw and fastener with three types of threads to provide a more mechanically stable embedding of the fastener in the iliac bone. The saddle receives a spinal stabilizing rod, which is part of another vertebral mechanical system, and, as such, the saddle provides an anchor point to the stabilizing rod. In another embodiment, the saddle is designed with an integrated rod on its side, which mates to another hollow rod integrated to a cube-shaped connector, thereby replacing the stabilizing rod. The connector provides the interface to the rest of the vertebral mechanical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Inventors: Octavio Cesar Silva, Fernando Emilio Silva
  • Patent number: 9636144
    Abstract: A uterine manipulator includes a shaft configured to be inserted into a cervix and a colpotomizer assembly configured to move along the shaft. The shaft includes multiple ruler markings printed along a portion of the shaft. The colpotomizer assembly includes a sleeve that includes a rotatable locking member configured to compress the shaft in a manner that locks the colpotomizer assembly in position along the shaft when the rotatable locking member is depressed against the shaft. The rotatable locking member includes a cam roller configured to compress the shaft when the rotatable locking member is depressed towards the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: CooperSurgical, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Parys, Daniel Giardina
  • Patent number: 9629661
    Abstract: The invention relates to an instrument set for percutaneous stabilization of the spinal column using rods (8) and pedicle screws (1) that have a screw head (3) and a screw shank (4) and a distally open recess (13) for receiving a rod (8), with a screw manipulator (2) through which a central cavity (11) passes axially and which comprises a cylindrical sleeve (20) and a slide (24), wherein the wall of the cylindrical sleeve (20) is divided into two first wall segments (27) by two diametrically opposite and axially extending windows (26) which open out in the proximal end face of the sleeve (20), the proximal ends of the first wall segments (27) form grip elements (28) which, during a screw manipulation, receive between them at least a longitudinal portion of the screw head (3), and the slide (24) is displaceable in the axial direction on the sleeve (20) and is connected to the first wall segments (27) such that it secures these against moving radially apart at least in a proximal end position (E) of displace
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: Kilian Kraus
  • Patent number: 9622788
    Abstract: An implant assembly and a method of assembling the same are provided, the implant assembly including a receiver extending along a central longitudinal axis between a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the receiver including a distal portion defining a receptacle opening at the distal end and a pair of arms extending from the distal portion along the central longitudinal axis on opposite sides of a passage with the passage opening at opposite sides of the receiver, a bone anchor including a distal bone engaging portion and a head at a proximal end of the distal bone engaging portion, the head being positioned in the receptacle with the bone engaging portion in a selected orientation relative to the central longitudinal axis of the receiver and a connector member configured to form a rigid interface between the receiver and the head of the bone anchor thereby providing torque transfer throughout the implant assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: William Alan Rezach, Harold S. Taylor, Andrew Taylor
  • Patent number: 9622798
    Abstract: A device and method of stabilizing a fracture of a bone is provided. The device includes an intramedullary rod having a shaped distal end, and an insertion jig detachably connectable to the proximal end of the rod and used with the rod to apply a compressive force to the fracture site. The jig may also be used to correctly place fixation screws in a proximal end of the rod. The device achieves both fixation of the rod to the bone regardless of rod or bone diameter and allows for compression at the fracture site. In addition, fixation of the rod to the bone is accomplished without requiring a precise alignment of a distal end fixation screw. The device uses headless fixation screws, which, when in place, are disposed below cortical surface of bone, reducing damage to overlying soft tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Gregory Merrell
  • Patent number: 9615864
    Abstract: An Intramedullary Distraction Osteotomy (IM DO) apparatus and corresponding methods are disclosed that allow for the patient or another to lengthen residual bone. The apparatus may be inserted into the intramedullary canal of the residual bone and may be lengthened through the application of a traction force. The apparatus protrudes from the body through a single percutaneous site. Lengthening of the amputated limb is achieved by the application of a controlled traction force that is generated by turning a lengthening knob external to the percutaneous site. One or more additional screw segments may be utilized to assist in limb lengthening. The traction force serves to separate a distal bone segment from a proximal bone segment at a specified, controllable rate, allowing new bone growth to fill in the resulting gap. Components of the apparatus provide support and alignment to the residual bone during both the lengthening and consolidation phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    Inventor: Todd Kuiken
  • Patent number: 9610172
    Abstract: A radially expandable spinal interbody device for implantation between adjacent vertebrae of a spine is deliverable to an implant area in a radially collapsed state having minimum radial dimensions and once positioned is then radially expandable through and up to maximum radial dimensions. The expanded radially expandable spinal interbody device is configured to closely mimic the anatomical configuration of a vertebral face. The radially expandable spinal interbody device is formed of arced, pivoting linkages that allow transfiguration from the radially collapsed minimum radial dimensions through and up to the radially expanded maximum radial dimensions once deployed at the implant site (i.e. between adjacent vertebrae). The pivoting linkages have ends with locking features that inhibit or prevent overextension of the linkages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Butler, Daniel Predick
  • Patent number: 9610107
    Abstract: Described is a rod insertion instrument for the insertion of a fixation rod in the tulips of adjacent pedicle screws in the context of a dorsal spinal column stabilization. It has a grip portion, a tube section adjoining it and a gripping head carried by the tube section, in which gripping head the fixation rod is rotationally fixedly and angularly stably receivable with its proximal end. In order to minimize accidental tissue compression during the fixing of the fixation rod into the pedicle screws, the gripping head is attached to the tube section exclusively via a lockable joint with which there is enabled an unconstrained pivoting movement of the tube section toward the fixation rod during the process of fixing the fixation rod to the pedicle screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Stephan Lindner, Peyman Pakzaban
  • Patent number: 9610174
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is a porous structure formed of a plurality of metal balls, and the intervertebral implant includes a bone support area and a bone growth area. The bone support area and the bone growth area each have a plurality of connecting holes, and a porosity of the bone support area is smaller than that of the bone growth area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: METAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
    Inventors: Wei-Ching Wang, Yen-Nien Chen, Tzyy-Ker Sue, For-Son Wang, Wei-Jen Shih, Wei-Te Chen
  • Patent number: 9610173
    Abstract: A vertebral body replacement apparatus includes an outer body member having a first end, a second end, and an opening, and an inner body member having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface defining an opening. The first end of the inner body member is received in the opening of the outer body member such that the inner body member and the outer body member are movable relative to one another. A support member has a first end secured within the inner body member and a second end extending a distance beyond the inner body member. The second end of the support member deflects relative to the first end of the outer body member in response to a force applied thereto and returns to a substantially non-deflected condition upon release of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Samantha Popa, Roman Randegger, Tom Overes
  • Patent number: 9603628
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Butler, Danish Siddiqui, Daniel Predick
  • Patent number: 9603623
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a retractor including an enclosure extending from a first open end to a second open end to form a lumen extending along an axis therebetween and that is accessible from the first open end and the second open end. The retractor further includes a first aperture formed at first angular position in the enclosure, and a second aperture formed at second angular position in the enclosure and opposing the first aperture to form a passage extending transverse to the axis from the first aperture, through the lumen, and to the second aperture. The first aperture and the second aperture are located proximate to the first open end and sized to arrange the passage along a spine of a patient to receive a trocar for delivering a graft material to the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Nathaniel P. Brooks, Meghan A. Anderson, Hannah O. Meyer, Hannah Pezzi, Andrea Schuster, Amy R. Slawson
  • Patent number: 9585703
    Abstract: An intramedullary compression screw device and method including a cannulated compression screw and a cannulated proximal module for enabling the joining and alignment of two or more phalanges at the proper compression to facilitate healing in a patient. The cannulated compression screw includes a smooth body portion, an external threaded portion, and a low profile head. The cannulated proximal module includes external self-cutting threads and internal threads complementary with the external threads of the cannulated compression screw. Means are provided for driving the proximal module into a proximal phalanx and for securing the compression screw into the proximal module. A proximal module sizing template provides a means for determining the proper diameter of proximal module for insertion in the proximal phalanx. A depth gauge is provides a means for determining the proper length of cannulated compression screw for attachment to the proximal module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Agent Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Jon Scott Munday, Earnest P. Sims Mawusi
  • Patent number: 9579128
    Abstract: A bone plate that is configured to operatively attach to bone includes a first segment, a second segment, and a locking mechanism. The first segment includes a compression notch. The first and second segments are positioned along a longitudinal axis and are movable relative to one another. The locking mechanism inhibits relative axial movement of the first and second segments along the longitudinal axis away from one another. The locking mechanism includes first and second grooves disposed on the second segment. The first and second grooves and the compression slot are configured to receive an instrument to move the first segment towards the second segment along the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean Jacques Abitbol, Gordon Donald
  • Patent number: 9579137
    Abstract: The present invention relates to minimally invasive graft delivery systems and devices. The systems and devices provide a means to deliver graft material minimally invasively, such as to a spacer within a disc space. A particular system can include a cannula, a syringe and an extrusion tool. The extrusion tool can be used to extrude material from the cannula and syringe, and can have multiple modes of operation to accommodate the extrusion of materials of different viscocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer Klimek, Allison Adams, Daniel Laskowitz
  • Patent number: 9572685
    Abstract: An instrument for attachment to and insertion of an implant device is provided. The instrument has a handle and a pair of retaining posts extending longitudinally from a distal end of the handle. Each of the pair of retaining posts have an end dimensioned to engaged a respective threaded bore of the implant device. Also, a post drive mounted to the handle and mechanically connected to each of the retaining posts so as to engage the retaining posts simultaneously is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Perry
  • Patent number: 9554832
    Abstract: An instrument for spinal rotation that aligns and holds direct vertebral rotation (DVR) lever arms relative to each other to achieve an initial axial alignment of a segment of vertebrae and allows the final DVR rotation by rotating the instrument and lever arms together. A method of direct vertebral rotation that allows rotating the vertebrae to be aligned relative to each other, and collectively rotating the vertebrae to be aligned relative to adjacent spinal segments by rotating the direct vertebral rotation instrument. A system for direct vertebral rotation having at least two pedicle screws. The system also includes at least two levers attachable to the pedicle screws and a clamping instrument configured to clamp the levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Andy Wonyong Choi, Michael L. Schmitz, Se-il Suk
  • Patent number: 9554829
    Abstract: Spine stabilization systems are disclosed. One spine stabilization system includes a bone screw assembly including a coupling member and a screw member received therein. The coupling member includes a pair of extension elements that form a pair of slots. The slots include bottom angled surfaces. An angled wedge member having a substantially horizontal bottom surface and an angled top surface is delivered on top of the screw member within the coupling member. A rod member can be delivered down the coupling member such that it rests on the slots and on top of the angled wedge member. A locking assembly comprising a cap member and set screw can be delivered down the coupling member to secure the rod member to the coupling member. The rod member and locking assembly components can be delivered through a single incision and at a same or similar angle as the screw member during surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Cahill, Andrew Iott, Khiem Pham, Edward Karpowicz
  • Patent number: 9539109
    Abstract: The present application generally relates to orthopedic systems, and in particular, to systems including independent plates and spacers. A plating system can include a spacer and a plate that is independent from the spacer. A number of locking mechanisms can be provided to secure the plate to the spacer. In some cases, the spacer includes a pair of notches that extend on an outer surface of the spacer. The plate can include a pair of lateral extensions that can engage the notches to secure the plate to the spacer. In other cases, the spacer includes an opening including a pair of inlets. The plate can include an enclosed posterior extension that can be received in the pair of inlets to secure the plate to the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Spangler, Samuel Petersheim, Jason Cianfrani, Aditya Ingalhalikar, Jennifer Klimek