Patents Assigned to DePuy Spine
  • Methods and kits for aseptic filling of products
    Patent number: 7993578
    Abstract: This invention relates to new methods & kits that minimize the risks and challenges associated with sterilization of multi-component medical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Sudhakar Kadiyala
  • Spinal rod approximator
    Patent number: 7988698
    Abstract: Spinal implants, spinal rod approximators for seating a stabilizing rod in a rod-receiving portion of a spinal implant, and methods for using the same are provided. In one embodiment, a spinal rod approximator is provided including an elongate member having a grasping member formed on a distal end thereof, and a rod pusher member slidably mated to or mounted on the elongate member. The grasping member is effective to grasp a portion of a spinal implant, and the pusher member is effective to grasp and engage a stabilizing rod and push the rod into a rod-receiving portion of the spinal implant being grasped by the grasping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Rosenberg, Thomas V. Doherty, Mark C. Boomer, Bryan S. Jones
  • Posterior dynamic stabilizer devices
    Patent number: 7985244
    Abstract: A posterior stabilization device is provided for controlling movement between adjacent vertebrae. In one exemplary embodiment, the stabilization device can include one or more joints that rely on rotational or sliding movement to allow flexion of adjacent vertebrae, and that control extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, and anterior-posterior shear, preferably by providing one or more flexible connectors and/or a flexible central spacer for connecting to the adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Amie Borgstrom, SeungKyu Daniel Kwak, Missoum Moumene, William Dunbar, John Riley Hawkins
  • Bone plate and screw system allowing bi-directional assembly
    Patent number: 7981142
    Abstract: Bone screws and bone plates are provided that offer the surgeon the ability to either assemble the screws to the plate, or the plate to the screws, depending on the surgeon's preference and the patient's circumstances. The bone screws and bone plates of the present invention include a combination of geometric configurations that allow the screws and plates to fit together from different assembly directions. Additionally, the bone screws and bone plates can include material resilience features to allow expansion/contraction during assembly to allow bi-directional attachment to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Konieczynski, Thomas V. Doherty
  • Screw placement guide
    Patent number: 7981117
    Abstract: A screw placement guide tool for use in minimally invasive surgery has a proximal handle portion, an extension member extending distally from the handle portion, and an alignment element connected transversely to a distal portion of the extension member and having a screw placement guide located thereon. In this aspect of the invention, the tool is configured so that a surgeon may operate the tool using the handle portion external to a patient's body to align the alignment element with implanted screws so that the screw placement guide indicates a desired position for implantation of an additional screw. Systems and methods for placing a rod receiving screw are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Newton, Mark Gracia, Michael S. Varieur, Carrie A. Breech
  • Surgical access devices and methods of minimally invasive surgery
    Patent number: 7981031
    Abstract: A surgical access device includes a proximal frame of fixed construction and a plurality of tissue engaging blades connected to the frame. The plurality of tissue engaging blades may include a first blade that is rotatable, independent of other blades, about an axis that is oriented approximately parallel to a plane defined by the proximal frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Depuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: William Frasier, Anne Drzyzga, Connie Marchek, Sara Dziedzic, Holly Brideau, Thomas Runco, Nicholas Pavento
  • Locking Bone Screw and Spinal Plate System
    Publication number: 20110172719
    Abstract: A bone plate system including a bone plate and a bone screw with an integrated locking mechanism is disclosed. The bone screw includes an elongate member having a threaded shank and a bone screw head that is radially deformable. The integrated locking mechanism sits within the bone screw head and can rotate between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. When the bone screw head is seated within an aperture in the bone plate, rotating the integrated locking mechanism into the locked condition helps to prevent bone screw backout.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gorhan, Michael Jacene, Eric D. Kolb
  • Break-off screw extension removal tools
    Patent number: 7967821
    Abstract: The present invention provides minimally invasive devices and methods for delivering a spinal connector to one or more spinal anchor sites in a patient's spinal column. In one embodiment, a spinal implant and access device is provided that includes a U-shaped receiver member, a bone-engaging member, and an extension member. The U-shaped receiver member can have a recess formed therein that is adapted to seat a spinal connector. The bone-engaging member can extend distally from the receiver member and it can be adapted to engage bone to thereby mate the receiver member to bone. The extension member can extend proximally from the receiver member and it can include a frangible portion formed thereon that is adapted to break when a predetermined force is applied thereto thereby allowing at least a portion of the extension member to be separated from the receiver member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Sicvol, Shawn D. Stad, Timothy Beardsley, Douglas Bireley, James J. Roveda, Anthony R. Carlone
  • Head-to-head connector spinal fixation system
    Patent number: 7967845
    Abstract: A spinal fixation system comprising at least two bone anchors, a rod connecting the bone anchors and a connecting plate extending from a proximal surface of at least one of the bone anchors. A method of fixing vertebrae relative to each other comprising the steps of: implanting bone anchors in two adjacent vertebrae, each bone anchor having a rod receiving portion; placing a rod in the rod receiving portions, thereby connecting the bone anchors; threadably engaging set screws in the rod receiving portions of at least a portion of the bone anchors, thereby fixing the rod to the bone anchors; mating one end of a connecting plate to a proximal bearing surface of at least a portion of the bone anchors; and engaging a cap with at least a portion of the set screws, thereby fixing the connecting plate to the bone anchors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Lauryssen, Raymond F. Murphy, David D. Konieczynski, Bryan S. Jones, Mark T. Hall, Thomas V. Doherty, Steven Ludwig, Iain H. Kalfas, Michael O'Brien
  • Multi-level posterior dynamic stabilization systems and methods
    Patent number: 7967844
    Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing the posterior elements of the spine, and more preferably methods and devices are provided for sharing the load with the intervertebral disc, the facet joints, the ligaments, and the muscles of the spinal column. In certain exemplary embodiments, methods and devices are provided for substantially controlling or providing resistance to movement, e.g., flexion, extension, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation, of the adjacent vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Labrom, Amie Borgstrom, William Dunbar, SeungKyu Daniel Kwak, John Riley Hawkins, Missoum Moumene, Ian Burgess, Lutz Biedermann, Wilfried Matthis
  • Instrumentation for insertion of an inter-vertebral prosthesis
    Patent number: 7963971
    Abstract: An instrument for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis, comprising two prosthesis holders which are connected by a parellel guide and can be spread apart from one another and are intended to receive a pair of prosthesis plates. The first prosthesis holder is arranged fixedly on an elongate instrument body. The second prosthesis holder is held from the instrument body by means of a parallel guide. The parts connecting the second prosthesis holder to the instrument body or to the first prosthesis holder delimit on both sides a central through-opening which extends like a channel in the longitudinal direction of the instrument body and whose width corresponds at least to the transverse dimensions of a prosthesis core, to be inserted between the prosthesis plates, and of the prosthesis core holder provided for this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Arnold Keller
  • Non-rigid surgical retractor
    Patent number: 7955257
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-rigid retractor for providing access to a surgical site, such as a patient's spine, during a surgical process. When used in spinal surgery, the non-rigid retractor allows a surgeon to operate on one or more spinal levels. The non-rigid retractor includes at least one flexible strap anchored at a first end to the spine or other internal body part at the surgical site. The body of the at least one flexible strap extends from a skin incision and is anchored at a second location external to the body to retract skin and muscle from the surgical site, allowing adequate visualization of the surgical site and providing access for implants and surgical instruments to pass through the retractor and into the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Frasier, Timothy Beardsley, Connie P. Marchek
  • Posterior dynamic stabilization cross connectors
    Patent number: 7951169
    Abstract: Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing the posterior elements of the spine, and more preferably methods and devices are provided for sharing the load with the intervertebral disc, the facet joints, the ligaments, and the muscles of the spinal column. In certain exemplary embodiments, methods and devices are provided for substantially controlling or providing resistance to movement, e.g., flexion, extension, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation, of the adjacent vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Labrom, Amie Borgstrom, William Dunbar, SeungKyu Daniel Kwak, John Riley Hawkins, Missoum Moumene, Ian Burgess, Lutz Biedermann, Wilfried Matthis
  • Constrained motion bone screw assembly
    Patent number: 7951172
    Abstract: A bone screw assembly includes an anchor portion and a head portion, such as a rod-receiving portion, movably mounted to the anchor portion to allow for controlled angulation between the anchor portion and the head portion. The anchor portion is pivotable in one or more selected directions about an axis relative to the head portion. A restriction member, which may be a rod seat, prevents the anchor portion from pivoting in one or more different directions about another axis relative to the head portion and/or a spinal fixation element received in the head portion. The restriction member may be inserted in the head portion to control direction that the anchor portion pivots relative to the head portion. The restriction member may also serve as a compression member and/or rod seat for seating a spinal rod coupled to the bone screw assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine Sarl
    Inventors: Nam T. Chao, Simon Siu, Ronald Sacher, Jerold P. Gurley, Randal Betz
  • Instruments and methods for manipulating vertebra
    Patent number: 7951168
    Abstract: A method for manipulating a vertebra includes connecting a first bone anchor to a first vertebra, connecting a second bone anchor to a second bone anchor, positioning a spinal rod in a receiving member of the first bone anchor and in a receiving member of the second bone anchor, connecting a first instrument to the receiving member of the first bone anchor, and manipulating the first instrument to rotate first bone anchor and the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Nam T. Chao, Dennis Hubbard, Chris Rybicki, Ronald Sacher, James R. Donahue, Simon Siu, Randal Betz
  • Instruments and methods for manipulating a vertebra
    Patent number: 7951175
    Abstract: A method for manipulating a vertebra includes connecting a first bone anchor to a first vertebra, connecting a second bone anchor to a second bone anchor, positioning a spinal rod in a receiving member of the first bone anchor and in a receiving member of the second bone anchor, connecting a first instrument to the receiving member of the first bone anchor, and manipulating the first instrument to rotate first bone anchor and the first vertebra relative to the second vertebra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Nam T. Chao, Dennis Hubbard, Chris Rybicki, Ronald Sacher, James Donahue, Simon Siu, Randal Betz
  • Adjustable bone screw assembly
    Patent number: 7951174
    Abstract: A bone screw assembly includes a screw body, including anchor portion and rod-receiving portion, and a rod seat movably mounted in the screw body to allow for controlled angulation between a spinal connection element disposed in the rod seat and the screw body. The rod seat is pivotable in one or more selected directions about one or more axes relative to the screw body. The rod seat may include a first lower rod seat element disposed in a recess of the screw body having a cylindrical bottom surface to facilitate pivoting in a first direction. A second lower rod seat element is stacked on the first lower rod seat element and has a conical bottom surface abutting a top surface of the first lower rod seat element to facilitate pivoting in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Kyu Daniel Kwak, Nam T. Chao, Andrea Burke
  • Adjustable length implant
    Patent number: 7942908
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an adjustable length surgical implant is provided, wherein the surgical implant is readily adjustable by a surgeon using a surgical tool sized for use with the surgical implant. Adjustment of the surgical implant further requires a small incision through the skin prior to the adjustment of the length of the implant, such that the potential for infection is greatly reduces and the associated trauma of surgery is lessened for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Sacher, Christopher Ramsay, Richard Techiera
  • Locking bone screw and spinal plate system
    Patent number: 7935137
    Abstract: A bone plate system including a bone plate and a bone screw with an integrated locking mechanism is disclosed. The bone screw includes an elongate member having a threaded shank and a bone screw head that is radially deformable. The integrated locking mechanism sits within the bone screw head and can rotate between a locked condition and an unlocked condition. When the bone screw head is seated within an aperture in the bone plate, rotating the integrated locking mechanism into the locked condition helps to prevent bone screw backout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Gorhan, Michael Jacene, Eric D. Kolb
  • Cannula and sizing insertion method
    Patent number: RE42525
    Abstract: A relatively inexpensive cannula is sized by including indica on a cannulated dilator that is used to measure the depth of a body cavity, and in one embodiment with the use of a cuttable fixture inserted into an initially enlarged dilator retractor made from a cuttable material the excess of the dilator retractor is snipped by a commercial cutter. A tool engaging the end of the cannulated dilator provides leverage on the cannulated dilator for rotation as it is forced into the body cavity, a pusher tool provides leverage on the dilator retractor for inserting the dilator retractor into the body cavity. A clamp that fits the top of the dilator retractor serves to support the dilator retractor through an arm to a rigid structure. In an alternate embodiment one of a series of sized dilator retractors are selected commensurate with the measurement attained by the scaled cannulated dilator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: DePuy Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Simonson