Patents Assigned to Life Spine, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12653693
    Abstract: An expandable implant. The expandable implant includes a base member having a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an adjustable member adjustably coupled to the base member and movable between a first, collapsed position, and a second, expanded position. The adjustable member has a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The top surface of the adjustable member and the bottom surface of the base member form a first angle while the adjustable member is in the first, collapsed position, and the top surface of the adjustable member and the bottom surface of the base member form a second angle while the adjustable member is in the second, expanded position. The first angle is different from the second angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: LIFE SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Predick
  • Patent number: 12629262
    Abstract: An installation tool comprising a tool body, a control shaft disposed at least partially within the tool body, a tool interface coupled to the tool body, and a control plate housed within the tool interface. The tool comprising a body member coupled with the tool interface, the body member including a channel to receive a barb, a retention member to engage the barb to position the barb within the channel, and an interface to engage a surface of an implant to align the implant relative to the body member. The tool comprising a first arm and a second arm that are movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, where in the first configuration the first and second arms extend laterally away from the tool interface, and in the second configuration the first and second arms engage the tool interface and are configured to secure the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Nowak, Paul Christopher Zakelj
  • Patent number: 12564395
    Abstract: A micro retractor for tissue retraction during surgery has a head with an opening extending from an upper surface of the head to a lower surface of the head with a first leg fixed to a first side of the head opening and extending downward relative to the lower surface, and a second leg fixed to a member movable in the head opening and extending downward relative to the lower surface, together defining a channel allowing various medical instruments to be inserted therein during retraction. A distal first leg end and a distal second leg end meet, forming a pivot point wherein the dimension of the channel remains nearly fixed and tissue retraction at the pivot point remains constant, while the proximal second leg end is movable via the member to vary the dimension of the channel opening which also varies the dimension of the channel opening and the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2024
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Publication number: 20260007418
    Abstract: A method for decorticating a vertebral endplate material from spinal vertebrae using a decorticating tool having height adjustable blades at a distal end of a shaft assembly, translates axial movement of a control rod of a shaft assembly of the vertebral endplate preparation tool with height adjustable blades into radial blade height change (extension and retraction) through a controller of a handle assembly. The blades may also be configured for collecting and removing shaven vertebral endplate material. The blades controllably move outward radially from the distal end of the shaft assembly and controllably move inward radially into the distal end of the shaft assembly upon manipulation of the controller. Radial blade extension and retraction from the distal end is accomplished via mutual angled dovetail features of the blades and the distal end, or via pins of the distal end of the shaft assembly situated in angled slots of the blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Applicant: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Publication number: 20250381043
    Abstract: A method for installing an expandable interbody (intervertebral) spine implant with a two-piece medical instrument via an endoscope, the two-piece medical instrument having a handle assembly and a shaft assembly configured for extension through the endoscope, the shaft assembly holding an expandable interbody spine implant when the shaft assembly is fully received by a head of the handle assembly, and releasing the spine implant upon retraction of the shaft assembly from the head of the handle assembly. The shaft assembly has a rod with a longitudinal bore and a sleeve situated on the rod that axially moves relative to the rod in response to the reception into and retraction from the handle assembly head, with the sleeve controlling capture and release of the implant by the rod. The distal end of the rod has a clamp formed by jaws that flex to capture and release the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2025
    Publication date: December 18, 2025
    Applicant: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Publication number: 20250331880
    Abstract: A pituitary rongeur medical instrument has jaws that can controllably articulate radially along a 90° arc in a single radial direction from a longitudinal axis of a shaft assembly of the pituitary rongeur and beyond a perimeter of a cannula during use. The pituitary rongeur has a handle, a shaft assembly defining a proximal end extending from the handle, and a distal end, with the jaws pivotally connected to the distal end for limited articulating radial movement of the jaws relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly, a jaw controller associated with the shaft assembly and configured to controllably close and open the jaws, and an articulation controller associated with the shaft assembly and configured to controllably articulate the jaws. The handle has a handgrip portion configured to receive a palm of a user and a lever portion with a finger loop for receiving fingers of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2025
    Publication date: October 30, 2025
    Applicant: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Patent number: 12427033
    Abstract: An implant includes a first support, a second support rotatably coupled to the first support along a distal end of the implant, and a control assembly configured to move the implant between at least a first, collapsed orientation and a second, expanded orientation, the control assembly includes a control driver coupled to the first support and comprising a head and a shaft, the control driver configured to control relative movement between the first support and the second support, a control member configured to move along the shaft of the control driver, and a first linkage hingedly coupled to the control member and the second support, wherein movement of the control member causes the first support to move relative to the second support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Christopher Zakelj
  • Patent number: 12414860
    Abstract: An implant includes an interbody device having a front, a rear, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a central cavity, and a plurality of bores extending into the rear of the interbody device, each arced bore being configured to receive an arced anchoring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Shoshtaev, Paul Christopher Zakelj
  • Patent number: 12414864
    Abstract: A two-piece medical instrument for installing an expandable interbody (intervertebral) spine implant via an endoscope, has a handle assembly and a shaft assembly configured for extension through the endoscope, the shaft assembly holding an expandable interbody spine implant when the shaft assembly is fully received by a head of the handle assembly, and releasing the spine implant upon retraction of the shaft assembly from the head of the handle assembly. The shaft assembly has a rod with a longitudinal bore and a sleeve situated on the rod that axially moves relative to the rod in response to the reception into and retraction from the handle assembly head, with the sleeve controlling capture and release of the implant by the rod. The distal end of the rod has a clamp formed by jaws that flex to capture and release the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Patent number: 12414780
    Abstract: A vertebral endplate preparation (decorticating) tool has height adjustable blades at a distal end of a shaft assembly for decorticating/shaving vertebral endplate material from spinal vertebrae, translates axial movement of a control rod o the shaft assembly of the vertebral endplate preparation tool with height adjustable blades into radial blade height change (extension and retraction) through a controller of a handle assembly. The blades may also be configured for collecting and removing shaved vertebral endplate material. The blades controllably move outward radially from the distal end of the shaft assembly and controllably move inward radially into the distal end of the shaft assembly upon manipulation of the controller. Radial blade extension and retraction from the distal end may be accomplished via mutual angled dovetail features of the blades and the distal end, or via pins of the distal end of the shaft assembly situated in angled slots of the blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Publication number: 20250241661
    Abstract: A medical instrument for collecting spinal disc material from outside a perimeter of a tube has a handle, a shaft assembly defining a proximal end extending from the handle, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis, and an articulated scoop assembly at the distal end of the shaft assembly that provides for swiveling movement of a scoop of the scoop assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft assembly to provide movement of the scoop beyond the perimeter of the tube. The shaft assembly includes a controller coupled to and actuated by the handle and configured to manipulate swiveling of the scoop. The handle is formed by a handgrip portion configured to receive a palm of a user and a lever portion with a loop configured to receive one or more fingers of the user. The handle is biased so the scoop is normally coaxial with the shaft assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2025
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Applicant: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Predick
  • Patent number: 12364610
    Abstract: An expandable implant includes a lower support; an upper support pivotally coupled to the lower support and including a control channel; and a control assembly. The control assembly includes a control shaft coupled to the lower support and a control member coupled to the control shaft and configured to move along the control shaft. The control member includes a base member and a pivot member pivotally coupled to the base member, the pivot member configured to move within the control channel. Movement of the control member along the control shaft causes the pivot member to pivot relative to the base member, and the upper support to pivot relative to the lower support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett Lauf, Brett Nowak, Daniel Predick, Paul Christopher Zakelj
  • Patent number: 12336917
    Abstract: A steerable expandable implant having a lower support member and an upper support member, the upper support member movable relative to the lower support member between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The implant also includes a first control member coupled to the lower support member, where manipulation of the first control member causes the lower support member to move relative to the upper support member. The implant further includes a pivot member configured to receive a tool, the tool and the pivot member rotatable relative to the lower support member between a first position and a second position, where the pivot member includes an aperture and an axis of the aperture is angularly offset from an axis of the first control member in the first position and the axis of the aperture is angularly aligned with the axis of the first control member in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett D. Lauf, Daniel P. Predick, Madeline Wolters, Michael S. Butler
  • Patent number: 12318087
    Abstract: A medical instrument for shaving, collecting, and removing vertebral disc material from a vertebral disc space of a spine, has a shaft defining a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end, and an auger at the distal shaft end. The auger has a plurality of helical cutting flutes configured to shave and collect vertebral disc material from the vertebral disc through rotation of the auger. Each helical cutting flute has a cutting apex that together define a cutting tip, and a radially inward helical slot that collectively define an internal cavity for collection of cut vertebral disc material. The plurality of cutting apexes converge at the cutting tip, defining a point. The medical instrument includes a connector to allow attachment of a handle. A notch in the proximal shaft end that receives a flange of the handle prevents rotation of the handle relative to the auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Mehl
  • Patent number: 12193948
    Abstract: An expandable implant includes an upper portion configured to engage a first portion of bone, a bottom portion configured to engage a second portion of bone, a control assembly coupled to the upper portion and the bottom portion and configured to control relative movement between the upper portion and the bottom portion, wherein the control assembly includes a front portion and a control member, wherein the front portion has an aperture configured to receive the control member, wherein the control member includes a head, and wherein a portion of the head is positioned outside of the aperture as the implant is expanded between a first, collapsed orientation and a second, expanded orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Butler, Madeline Wolters, Daniel Predick, Garrett D. Lauf, Katrina Robin Keller
  • Patent number: 12178717
    Abstract: An implant includes a body, a cavity extending into the body and defined by a first interior lateral wall, a second interior lateral wall opposite the first interior lateral wall, a first interior end wall, and a second interior end wall, a blade guide positioned in the cavity, a blade configured to translate along the blade guide between a first position and a second position, wherein the blade is positioned between the first interior lateral wall, the second interior lateral wall, the first interior end wall, and the second interior end wall in the first position, and an opening extending into the cavity, the opening configured to receive a portion of a rod such that movement of the rod into the opening causes the blade to translate from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Zeshan Hyder
  • Patent number: 12159404
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting regions of interests (ROIs) in biomedical images are described herein. A computing system may identify a biomedical image having an ROI. The computer system may apply an object detection model to the biomedical image. The object detection model may generate a feature map using the biomedical image. The object detection model may generate an anchor box corresponding to a portion of the pixels in the feature map. The computing system may apply an instance segmentation model to identify a segment of the biomedical image within the anchor box corresponding to the ROI. The computer system may provide an output based on the segment to identify the ROI in the biomedical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Butler, Vishnu Nallani, Sridhar Jayaraman, Rupesh Kumar Badam
  • Publication number: 20240382195
    Abstract: A medical instrument for shaving, collecting, and removing vertebral disc material from a vertebral disc space of a spine, has a shaft defining a proximal shaft end and a distal shaft end, and an auger at the distal shaft end. The auger has a plurality of helical cutting flutes configured to shave and collect vertebral disc material from the vertebral disc through rotation of the auger. Each helical cutting flute has a cutting apex that together define a cutting tip, and a radially inward helical slot that collectively define an internal cavity for collection of cut vertebral disc material. The plurality of cutting apexes converge at the cutting tip, defining a point. The medical instrument includes a connector to allow attachment of a handle. A notch in the proximal shaft end that receives a flange of the handle prevents rotation of the handle relative to the auger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2024
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: David T. Mehl
  • Patent number: 12144523
    Abstract: A connector assembly includes a bone screw including a head, a first holder assembly configured to receive the head of the bone screw from a bottom of the first holder assembly, an extension set screw including a head and a threaded portion, the threaded portion configured to be received from a top of the first holder assembly, a second holder assembly configured to receive the head of the extension set screw, and an end fastener configured to be received by the second holder assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Palagi
  • Patent number: 12138179
    Abstract: An expandable implant includes a base member, an adjustable member adjustably coupled to the base member and movable between a first, collapsed position, and a second, expanded position, a control assembly including a control shaft, wherein manipulation of the control shaft causes relative movement of the adjustable member relative to the base member, wherein the base member and the adjustable member are coupled together at least in part via the control assembly such that the control shaft is rotationally fixed relative to the base member and the adjustable member, and the adjustable member is resiliently compressible relative to the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Predick, Madeline Wolters, Michael S. Butler