Patents Assigned to Alphatec
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING SURGICAL RODS
    Publication number: 20130053888
    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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Eller TORRES
  • Bone screw assembly for limited angulation
    Patent number: 8382805
    Abstract: A limited angulation bone screw assembly adapted to couple a spinal rod with a vertebra including a bone screw, a bushing and a housing. The pedicle screw having a shaft and an upper head portion, the upper head portion comprising a spherical surface with flats disposed on opposite sides of the upper head portion. The bushing comprising a lower rounded surface for mating with the spherical surface and flats of the upper head portion to restrict the angular movement of the bone screw. The coupled bone screw and bushing are inserted into the housing in a first orientation and then rotated to a second orientation to secure the coupled bone screw and bushing to complete the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Wang, Srilakshmi Vishnubhotla
  • INSTRUMENT FOR REMOVAL OF MATERIAL FROM WITHIN A BODY
    Publication number: 20130018377
    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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence WILLIAMS
  • Stand-alone interbody fixation system
    Patent number: 8328870
    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. The anterior alignment boss and posterior alignment boss being rotatably coupled to each other and with a first opening and a second opening in the annular side wall opposite the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Nirali Patel, Yang Cheng, Fred Murrillo, Thomas Purcell, Jens Peter Timm
  • Variable angle spinal screw assembly
    Publication number: 20120303066
    Abstract: A spinal screw assembly providing an adjustable securement of a fixation rod across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion and a tool engagement surface in the head portion for use in driving the screw into a vertebrae. The head portion of the screw is positioned in a body member adjacent a curvilinear surface disposed about an aperture in the end of the body member such that the shaft portion of the screw extends therethrough and the curvilinear inner surface abuts and mates with the head portion of the screw so as to define a ball joint therewith. The body member additionally defines a pair of opposed parallel slots therein adapted to receive a portion of the fixation rod and a locking cap bears against the fixation rod to releasably secure the rod within the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Purcell, Don Hair, Tamas T. Frech
  • STAND ALONE INTERBODY FIXATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120277868
    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: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Carmen Walters
  • CONICAL INTERSPINOUS APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF PERFORMING INTERSPINOUS DISTRACTION
    Publication number: 20120265246
    Abstract: A conical interspinous apparatus comprising: an insertion portion with a proximal end, a distal end, and conical screw-shaped grooves configured to distract two adjacent spinous processes; a shaft portion, coupled to the distal end of the insertion portion, and having a smaller cross-section than a cross-section at the distal end of the insertion portion, such that the two spinous processes rest on the shaft portion; and a clamp portion being movable and securable along the shaft, and being configured to secure the two spinous processes between the clamp portion and the distal end of the insertion portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. YUE
  • SPINOUS PROCESS DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE
    Publication number: 20120253396
    Abstract: A spinous process device and method are disclosed. The device includes a first plate having a first part slidably coupled to a second part, a second plate having a third part slidably coupled to a fourth part, and first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Stern, Henry Elsner, Bret Abshire, Nirali Patel, Thomas Purcell
  • SCREW ASSEMBLY WITH DEFORMABLE BUSHING
    Publication number: 20120253408
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Jens Peter TIMM
  • EXPANDABLE INTERBODY SPACER
    Publication number: 20120245691
    Abstract: An expandable intervertebral spacer includes a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The body includes quadrants that form a substantially cylindrical shape in a first configuration and a substantially cuboidal shape in a second configuration. Each quadrant includes a ramp portion with a ramp and a landing and a sliding portion with a sliding side and a foot. The ramp portion of a first quadrant engages the sliding portion of a second quadrant. The proximal end and the distal end couple with the plurality of quadrants and transfer an actuating force to expand the body from the first configuration to the second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: William Reimels
  • INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR SPINAL COMPRESSION AND DISTRACTION
    Publication number: 20120239096
    Abstract: An instrument for multilevel compression and distraction of vertebrae in a spinal column includes a first arm, a second arm, a third arm, a linking member, and a coupler. The first arm includes a distal end with a first aperture for receiving a first screw extender that attaches to a first vertebra. The second arm includes a distal end with a second aperture for receiving a second screw extender that attaches to a second vertebra. The third arm includes a distal end with a third aperture for receiving a third screw extender that attaches to a third vertebra. The linking member pivotally links proximal ends of the first, second, and third arms. The coupler positions the distal ends of the first arm and the second arm relative to the third arm to compress and distract the first vertebra and the second vertebra relative to the third vertebra.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Gleeson, Clark Hutton, Nathan Meyer, Anand Parikh
  • Serratome vertebral cortical endplate cutter
    Patent number: 8262660
    Abstract: The invention relates to spinal fusion implants or grafts and to apparatus for the installation thereof. More specifically, the invention is a serrated cutting or abrading tool designed to be pushed into an intervertebral space and thereby remove and partially penetrate the cortical bone layer that defines the endplates of the respective mutually adjacent vertebral bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith E. Jansen, Andrew R. Sennett
  • APPARATUS FOR LINKING IMPLANTS AND REDUCING DEFORMITIES
    Publication number: 20120221056
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a pair of bone screws of a vertebral level includes a first end member, a second end member, and a transverse member. The first end member includes a track for removably attaching to a head of a first one of the bone screws. The second end member includes a track for removably attaching to a head of a second one of the bone screws. The transverse member connects the first and second end members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Clark Hutton
  • UNDERCUT SCREW FEATURE AND DRIVER
    Publication number: 20120216658
    Abstract: A driver including a handle, lever, swivel cap, shaft, and a tip mechanically connected to the lever configured to engage a screw. Engaging the lever causes the tip to either compress or expand so as to lock the screw to the driver. According to one exemplary embodiment, the cap can be translated releasing the lever, thereby releasing the screw from the tip. According to one embodiment, the cap is a swivel cap allowing for jeweler style use. Advantages of the present system and method, according to various embodiments, include a tip compressing a feature that is within an outer diameter of the screw allowing a driver, or a portion thereof, to have a maximum diameter equal to or smaller than the maximum diameter of a screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: David T. Hawkes, Michael D. Ensign
  • CURVILINEAR SPINAL ACCESS METHOD AND DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120215229
    Abstract: A system for performing a procedure on a spine of a patient includes a curved tissue distractor, a curved housing, and an exterior channel. The curved tissue distractor includes a first distractor ramp and a second distractor ramp. The curved housing is configured to slide between the first and second distractor ramps. The curved housing includes a distal end, a proximal end, and an interior channel disposed between the distal end and the proximate end. The exterior channel is disposed on an outside surface of the curved housing and between the distal end and the proximal end. The curved housing is configured to slide between the first and second distractor ramps to provide access through the interior channel to the spine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Javier Garcia-Bengochea, Jeffrey Allen Guyer, Thomas Purcell
  • SEMI-RIGID SCREW ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20120203281
    Abstract: A semi-rigid head for a bone screw comprising includes a first rigid portion, a second rigid portion, and a semi-rigid portion. The first rigid portion is configured to receive a fixation rod. The second rigid portion is configured for coupling with a bone screw. The semi-rigid portion links the first rigid portion with the second rigid portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc
    Inventors: Martin Bouliane, Thomas Purcell
  • SPINAL FIXATION ROD ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20120203291
    Abstract: An instrument for adjusting a fixation rod within a head member of a screw assembly includes a distal portion, a first arm, a first recess, and an actuation member. The distal portion includes a rod engagement surface that engages the fixation rod. The first arm extends from the distal portion towards the head member at a first angle. The first recess is disposed along the first arm at a first distance from the rod engagement surface. The actuation member extends proximally from the distal portion and positions the first recess relative to a first projection on the head member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Boulaine
  • MATERIAL DELIVERY APPARATUS FOR A BONE SCREW
    Publication number: 20120203287
    Abstract: A material delivery apparatus for a bone screw includes an attachment member having a lumen disposed therethrough and adapted to removably attach to the bone screw. The apparatus further includes a delivery cannula fixedly disposed through the lumen and adapted to extend into a central bore of the bone screw for the delivery of material thereinto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared ARAMBULA, Sri VISHNUBHOTLA, Andrew MAHAR
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CORRECTING SPINAL DEFORMITIES
    Publication number: 20120203279
    Abstract: An exemplary system for correcting a spinal deformity includes a plurality of transverse rods, a longitudinal rod, and at least one node. The plurality of transverse rods each includes a first end for coupling with an extension member of a spinal fixation system and a second end. The longitudinal rod extends transverse to the transverse rods. The at least one node receives the second ends of first and second transverse rods and the longitudinal rod within a receiving portion and an adjustment member selectively secures the second ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Carmen Walters, Ketchen Smith, Benjamin Wang
  • BONE FIXATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20120191141
    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: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan T. COSTABILE