Patents Assigned to AlphaTec Spine, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9468474
    Abstract: An instrument for correction of spinal deformities includes an inner member with a proximal portion configured to receive a corrective force and a distal coupling portion configured to transfer the corrective force to a spinal implant in a vertebra. A slot extends transversely through the coupling portion and is configured to guide a fixation rod into the spinal implant. A threaded sleeve includes an external thread and a thru-bore that slides relative to the proximal portion. An outer member couples with the proximal portion and threadably engages the external thread to apply a reduction force as the outer member rotates relative to the inner member. A reduction blade includes a proximal interlocking portion that removably couples with the threaded sleeve and a distal rod engagement feature configured to engage the fixation rod and transfer the reduction force to reduce the fixation rod into the spinal implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Parikh, Garrett Gleeson, Carmen Walters, Jens Peter Timm, Jonathan Costabile, Wally Gillespie, Clark Hutton
  • Patent number: 9408643
    Abstract: A polyaxial screw head remobilizer for remobilizing a screw body member relative to a head of a polyaxial bone screw includes a barrel body, a handle assembly, an inner shaft, a slide assembly, and a lever. The barrel body includes proximal and distal ends. The distal end includes a plurality of prongs for releasably engaging a plurality of yokes of the polyaxial screw body member to center the inner shaft over the head of the screw. The handle assembly couples to the proximal end of the barrel body. The inner shaft, disposed within the barrel body, includes proximal and distal ends. An engagement feature of the inner shaft mates with pockets of a bushing of the screw body member. The slide assembly is operably coupled to the barrel body and effect translations of the inner shaft. The lever extends from the slide assembly and rotates to actuate the slide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Tara Stevenson, Wally Gillespie, Clark Hutton
  • Patent number: 9402662
    Abstract: A spinal instrument with a set screw loading and retention mechanism includes a first tube, a screw slot, and a retention mechanism. The first tube includes an inner lumen disposed concentric and proximate to a head portion of a bone screw. The screw slot is disposed along a portion of the first tube at a distance from the head portion of the bone screw and is configured for loading of a set screw for locking a spinal rod within the head portion of the bone screw. The retention mechanism is disposed along at least a portion of the inner tube configured to selectively retain the set screw. In other features, the first tube includes either an internal rod reduction tube or a screw extender tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Todd Mahar
  • Patent number: 9402736
    Abstract: An interbody fusion implant system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a base member, a first guide, a second guide, and a closure member with a first thru-bore and a second thru-bore. The base member includes a first side wall, a second side wall, and an end wall to define an open trailing end and an interior bounded by the side walls and the end wall. Each guide includes length and has a first portion attached to the proximal end of the first side wall and a second portion extending freely away from the first portion. The closure member includes a first thru-bore configured to be received by the first guide to align the closure member with the first side wall and a second thru-bore configured to be received by the second guide to align the closure member with the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohammad Etminan
  • Patent number: 9320550
    Abstract: A spinal stabilization system, method, and a surgical kit having a surgical extender apparatus for implanting a surgical screw are disclosed. The extender includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end, a hollow interior passageway disposed between the distal end and the proximal end, a channel disposed along an exterior surface of the housing at least partially between the distal end and the proximal end and configured to at least partially expose the hollow interior passageway, an interior locking mechanism disposed on an interior surface of the housing and substantially adjacent the proximal end, wherein the interior locking mechanism is configured to allow attachment of at least one surgical tool, and at least one flexible member disposed substantially adjacent the distal end. The housing is configured to accommodate placement of a surgical screw implant. The surgical screw implant is secured to the housing using a mating feature in the surgical screw implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark Hutton, Ketchen Smith
  • Patent number: 9308028
    Abstract: A polyaxial screw body includes a side wall defining a lumen having a first end and a second end. An opening disposed at the first end of the lumen, includes an interior surface disposed in the side wall thereabout. The interior surface is adapted to accommodate a head portion of a pedicle screw. A transverse channel extends from a first aperture through the side wall to a second aperture and is adapted to accommodate a portion of a fixation rod therebetween. A lateral connector extending integrally from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC
    Inventors: Thomas Purcell, Darren Reimers
  • Patent number: 9271770
    Abstract: A bone fixation plate includes a first opening formed in a plate that is configured to receive a first fastener; a second opening formed in the plate that is configured to receives a second fastener, and a retention member that extends into a third opening formed in the plate between the first opening and the second opening, wherein the retention member is elastically deformable between at least three positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC
    Inventor: Jonathan T. Costabile
  • Patent number: 9233008
    Abstract: An implant for performing interbody fusion within a human spine, inserters for such an implant, and associated methodology. The implant is preferably formed in situ from at least two separate but lockable members (a base member and a closure member). The base member may be implanted into an interbody space first, after which the end plates may be finally prepared and the base member packed with fusion promoting substances before engaging and locking the closure member. The closure member provides structural support for the adjacent vertebral bodies (along with the base member) and may be selected after implantation of the base member having a specific length, width, height, taper, etc. . . . to ensure an optimal sizing of the implant for desired restoration of disc height, coronal taper, sagittal taper, etc. . . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Mohammad Etminan
  • Patent number: 9204896
    Abstract: An instrument for removing material from within the body includes a distal portion that includes an adjustable length relative to a proximal portion and a flexible member that circulates through the distal portion. The exposed portion of the flexible member extends from the distal portion to remove the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence Williams
  • Publication number: 20150230835
    Abstract: An interspinous process spacer includes a main body, a first wing, and a screw. The main body includes a first securing member extending from a top portion of the main body that engages a first vertebra and a bottom portion of the main body that engages a second vertebra. The first wing pivotably couples to a distal portion of the main body and includes a second securing member extending parallel to the first securing member to form a first clamp. The screw is positionable within the main body and includes a distal end that positions the first wing between a first position and a second position. The first clamp includes a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: WILLIAM REIMELS
  • Patent number: 9107703
    Abstract: An exemplary apparatus for connecting surgical rods according the principles of the present disclosure includes an elongate first arm, an elongate second arm, and a clamping assembly. The elongate first arm includes a first end that couples with a first rod and a second end with a first engagement portion. The elongate second arm includes a first end that couples with a second rod and a second end terminating in a second engagement portion. The clamping assembly includes a passageway that slidably receives the first engagement portion and that retains the second engagement portion and an adjustment member offset from the passageway that adjusts a clamping force to restrict positioning of the second engagement portion relative to the first engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Eller Torres
  • Patent number: 9107760
    Abstract: An interbody spacer system includes a cage and at least one first fixation blade. The cage includes an anterior wall and a posterior wall connected by a pair of side walls. The at least one first fixation blade partially extends around an outer surface of a first of the pair of side walls and is positionable between a first configuration for insertion into a disk space between two vertebrae and a second configuration for attachment to a first of the vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC
    Inventor: Carmen Walters
  • Patent number: 9078718
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for bone fixation, and in particular, systems and methods for fusion of human cervical spine from the anterior aspect. To that end, some of the embodiments of the invention are directed to plate systems for aligning and maintaining adjacent cervical vertebrae in a selected spatial relationship during spinal fusion of such vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher M. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9060825
    Abstract: A spinal stabilization system, method, and a surgical kit having a surgical extender apparatus for implanting a surgical screw are disclosed. The extender includes a housing having a distal end and a proximal end, a hollow interior passageway disposed between the distal end and the proximal end, a channel disposed along an exterior surface of the housing at least partially between the distal end and the proximal end and configured to at least partially expose the hollow interior passageway, an interior locking mechanism disposed on an interior surface of the housing and substantially adjacent the proximal end, wherein the interior locking mechanism is configured to allow attachment of at least one surgical tool, and at least one flexible member disposed substantially adjacent the distal end. The housing is configured to accommodate placement of a surgical screw implant. The surgical screw implant is secured to the housing using a mating feature in the surgical screw implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC
    Inventors: Clark Hutton, Ketchen Smith
  • Patent number: 9060812
    Abstract: A bushing for a bone screw assembly includes a distal portion, a receiver portion, and a proximal portion. The distal portion includes a distal engagement surface that engages with a head of a bone screw. The receiver portion receives a fixation rod. The proximal portion includes a proximal engagement surface that engages with a locking member and a deformable portion that deforms from a first configuration to a second configuration based on a force applied by the locking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Jens Peter Timm
  • Patent number: 9039770
    Abstract: A spinal fixation device includes a housing and a plurality of blades. Each blade includes a body having a central opening configured to rotate on a shaft within the housing. Control openings on opposing sides of the central opening are sized to engage prongs of a rotating tool. At least one cutting extension with a sharp leading edge extends from the body in an orientation about an axis of the shaft. Upon rotation of the blade by the rotating tool about the shaft in a direction in which the at least one cutting extension is oriented, the at least one cutting extension will break an endplate of a vertebra and hook into the vertebra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Aferzon, Joshua Aferzon
  • Patent number: 8986319
    Abstract: An apparatus for provisionally locking a polyaxial head on a fixed head of a bone screw using a locking bushing includes an elongated housing with a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having couplers for releasably coupling with the polyaxial head; an inner shaft slidably engaged within the housing and including a distal portion, a middle portion, and a proximal portion; and an actuator that selectively positions the inner shaft within the housing to engage at least one of the distal portion, the middle portion, and the proximal portion with at least one of the couplers and the bushing disposed between the distal portion and the fixed head of the bone screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Ketchen Smith
  • Publication number: 20150081026
    Abstract: A spinal spacer assembly is provided. The spinal spacer assembly includes a spinal spacer having a wall configured to enclose a hollow interior, wherein the wall is further configured to have a top portion and a bottom portion. The top and bottom portions are configured to include a plurality of protrusions configured to protrude away from the top and bottom portions. The wall is further configured to have a variable degree curvature and include a plurality of grooves and an opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventors: Fred Murrillo, Mark Melton
  • Patent number: 8979933
    Abstract: A stand-alone interbody fixation system having a cage, anterior fixation blade and posterior fixation blade. The cage includes an annular side wall with an open interior and upper and lower surfaces, the cage being configured to fit between end plates of adjacent vertebrae. The anterior fixation blade includes an anterior alignment boss with two opposing outward extending anterior blades with end plate penetrating tips configured to fit within the open interior of the cage. The posterior fixation blade includes a posterior alignment boss with two opposing outward extending posterior blades with end plate penetrating tips configured to fit within the open interior of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Sri Vishnubholta, Yang Cheng, Leopoldo Castillo
  • Patent number: 8974501
    Abstract: A distal loading receiver for a polyaxial bone screw includes a body member having a circumferential wall defining a bore disposed longitudinally through the body member. A skirt depends from a distal end of the body member. The skirt defines one or more distally opening slots and an abluminal surface of the skirt includes one or more transverse ribs proximate to a distal end of the skirt. A retaining ring includes a luminal surface having one or more transverse recesses proximate to a distal end of the luminal surface and one or more walls extending inwardly from the luminal surface. The slots accommodate the walls and the recesses accommodate the ribs to attach the body member to the retaining ring when the distal end of the skirt is inserted into a proximal end of the retaining ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Dikeman