Patents by Inventor Christoph Hopf

Christoph Hopf has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6299613
    Abstract: A fusionless method of treating spinal deformities in the spine of a child or young adult involves attaching a tether to vertebral bodies on the convex side of the spine. Deformities are treated by using the tether to selectively constrain growth in a portion of the convex side of the spine. One device for tethering the spine is a combination of a strand threaded through channels defined in a set of blocks attached to the vertebral bodies on the convex side of the spine. Another device useful in the method is to attach spinal staples, preferably made of a shape memory alloy, to vertebral bodies, the staples spanning the intervertebral disc space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: James Ogilvie, Christoph Hopf, Michael C. Sherman, Troy Drewry, Jean Saurat
  • Patent number: 6296643
    Abstract: A fusionless method of treating spinal deformities in the spine of a child or young adult involves attaching a tether to vertebral bodies on the convex side of the spine. Deformities are treated by using the tether to selectively constrain growth in a portion of the convex side of the spine. One device for tethering the spine is a combination of a strand threaded through channels defined in a set of blocks attached to the vertebral bodies on the convex side of the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Hopf, Troy Drewry, Michael C. Sherman
  • Patent number: 5814046
    Abstract: The instrumentation comprises for each lumbar vertebra two pedicular screws having two screw threads, one of the screw threads corresponding to the region of penetration of the screw in the pedicle, two rods having asperities respectively associated with a pedicular screw and secured to the latter by connection elements provided with elements for clamping the rods. Each connection element is in one piece and the screw thread corresponding to the region of penetration of the screw in the pedicle terminates in an annular shoulder against which the connection element bears which is separated by a smooth part from the screw thread outside the region of penetration in the pedicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Sofamor S.N.C.
    Inventor: Christoph Hopf
  • Patent number: 5702395
    Abstract: The instrumentation comprises at least two blocks (1) adapted to transversely interconnect two rigid rods (2, 3) axially slidable in these blocks which are provided with bone anchorage screws (7, 8) suitable oriented and slides (4, 5) which are slidable in longitudinal recesses (6, 7) receiving the respective rods (2, 3) which may be in this way clamped by the slides after the latter have been completely closed. Each block (1) has in the transverse direction from the anterior part to the posterior part a curved general shape corresponding to the antero-lateral anatomy of the vertebral bodies, the interior surface being consequently concave while the exterior surface is convex. The instrumentation obtained by the assembly of two blocks (1), anchorage screws and stiffening rods (2, 3) forms a very stable rectangular structure restoring the axial continuity of the vertebral column, avoiding correction losses and facilitating the consolidation of the bone graft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Sofamor S.N.C.
    Inventor: Christoph Hopf