Patents Assigned to NuVasive
  • Electromyography system
    Patent number: 8958869
    Abstract: Methods for determining structural integrity of a bone within the spine of a patient, the bone having a first aspect and a second aspect, wherein the second aspect separated from the first aspect by a width and located adjacent to a spinal nerve. The methods involve (a) applying an electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (b) electrically monitoring a muscle myotome associated with the spinal nerve to detect if an onset neuro-muscular response occurs in response to the application of the electrical stimulus to the first aspect of the bone; (c) automatically increasing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus to until the onset neuro-muscular response is detected; and (d) communicating to a user via at least one of visual and audible means information representing the magnitude of the electrical stimulus which caused the onset neuro-muscular response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian S. Kelleher, James F. Marino, Corbett W. Stone, Robin H. Vaughn, Jeffrey H. Owens
  • Orthopedic screw insert
    Patent number: 8951293
    Abstract: An insert for receiving a bone screw includes an elongate sleeve having opposed proximal and distal ends and a wall defined by an outer peripheral surface configured for engaging bone and an inner peripheral surface configured for receiving a bone screw extended therethrough. At least one elongate slot is formed in the wall of the sleeve for promoting flexure of the insert. A tool for affixing an orthopedic screw insert within bone tissue includes a socket portion configured and adapted to engage a proximal section of an outer peripheral surface of an orthopedic screw insert. A driver extends distally from the socket portion. The driver is configured and adapted to engage a section of an inner peripheral surface of the orthopedic screw insert distal from the socket portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Andrew Glazer, Robert Jordan, John Haroutunian
  • Surgical access system and related methods
    Patent number: 8945004
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley
  • Spinal fixation system and related methods
    Patent number: 8940030
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices and methods for use in spinal surgery. In particular, the disclosed devices relate to a spinal fixation system and an intervertebral spinal implant assembly sized and dimensioned for the lumbar spine implantable via an anterior or anterolateral approach. The devices include an implant, bone screws, and an improved locking mechanism to prevent the back out of screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Stein, Chad Grant, Nathan Lovell, Ryan Donahoe
  • Surgical access system and related methods
    Patent number: 8942801
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley
  • Bi-cortical screw fixation
    Patent number: 8936626
    Abstract: Surgical systems and methods are disclosed for safe bi-cortical bone screw placement within a bone segment. Included is a method of measurement to control advancement of instruments and implants to repeatedly obtain bi-cortical screw fixation while minimizing protrusion of the lead end of the screw beyond the distal cortical wall therein reducing incidence of injury to adjacent soft tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoine G. Tohmeh, Fernando Olea
  • Methods and apparatus for performing spine surgery
    Patent number: 8920500
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for correcting sagittal imbalance in a spine including instruments for performing the controlled release of the anterior longitudinal ligament through a lateral access corridor and hyper-lordotic lateral implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Luiz Pimenta, Andrew Morris, Brian Snider, Michael Serra
  • Surgical access system and related methods
    Patent number: 8915846
    Abstract: A system for accessing a surgical target site and related methods, involving an initial distraction system for creating an initial distraction corridor, and an assembly capable of distracting from the initial distraction corridor to a secondary distraction corridor and thereafter sequentially receiving a plurality of retractor blades for retracting from the secondary distraction corridor to thereby create an operative corridor to the surgical target site, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert F. Kaula, Jeffrey J. Blewett
  • Cervical retractor
    Patent number: 8900137
    Abstract: An anterior cervical retractor comprises a retractor body having a base arm and a moving arm and a pair of retractor blades having a side loading blade and a top loading blade. The base arm includes a first track and a side loading connector. The first track extends perpendicularly from a proximal end of the base arm and the first track includes an articulating arm post and a gear teeth. The moving arm is located opposite to the base arm and includes a first track receptacle and a top loading connector. The moving arm is advanced along the first track by means of a knob extending from the base arm. The side loading blade includes a first blade portion and a first connection post and the top loading blade includes a second blade portion and a second connection post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Lovell, Michael Serra, Michael Brotman, Andrew Wolf, Kenneth Rich
  • Surgical access system and related methods
    Patent number: 8876904
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. The tissue retraction assembly has a plurality of blades which may be introduced while in a closed configuration, after which point they may be opened to create an operation corridor to the surgical target site, including pivoting at least one blade to expand the operative corridor adjacent to the operative site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Luiz Pimenta, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, Jared Arambula
  • Systems and methods for performing spinal fusion surgery
    Patent number: 8876851
    Abstract: A system and method for performing spine surgery, including a tissue distraction assembly. The tissue distraction assembly includes an initial dilator, a secondary dilator, a first expander, and a second expander. The tissue distraction assembly is provided with an overall generally oblong shape. The tissue distraction assembly provides for asymmetrical tissue distraction in a single direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy B. Woolley, Nathan Lovell
  • Polyaxial bone screw assembly
    Patent number: 8876869
    Abstract: The present invention involves a system and methods for assembling and implanting a polyaxial bone screw assembly. The polyaxial bone screw assembly includes, but is not necessarily limited to, a bone screw that can be initially secured to a bony structure and subsequently have a receiver assembly attached to the implanted bone screw. Additionally, a closure structure is a part of the polyaxial bone screw assembly and functions to secure an elongate member within the receiver assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Schafer, Robert German
  • Total disc replacement system and related methods
    Patent number: 8870960
    Abstract: A total disc replacement (TDR) system for lateral insertion into the spine, involving a first anchor plate having a first surface for engaging a first vertebra and a second surface including a cutout region, a second anchor plate having a first surface for engaging a second vertebra and a second surface including a cutout region, at least one pair of intradiscal inserts, each insert having a first surface for engaging with said anchor plates and a second surface for engaging with an intradiscal element, and an intradiscal element including a first articular surface having a generally arcuate cross-section for articulating with said first intradiscal insert, and a second generally planar surface for interacting with a second intradiscal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Curran, Luiz Pimenta, Scot Martinelli, G. Bryan Cornwall, Jonathan D. Spangler
  • Implant installation assembly and related methods
    Patent number: 8840622
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a guide assembly for guiding the installation of a spinal fusion implant to a surgical target site. The guide assembly includes a pair of arm members and a handle assembly that functions to clamp the arm members in locked and unlocked positions. The guide assembly interacts with an inserter to guide a spinal implant to the target site. Once the implant is inserted within the disc space, the guide assembly can be partially disassembled to facilitate removal from the surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Vellido, Nathan Lovell, Troy Woolley
  • Spinal implants, instruments and related methods
    Patent number: 8840668
    Abstract: A spinal fusion implant having a body dimensioned for use in the cervical spine. The body has an anterior height that is greater than the posterior height and a fusion aperture defined by an anterior wall, posterior wall and first and second lateral walls. The anterior wall includes a plurality of fastener apertures extending therethrough at oblique angles relative to the horizontal axis. The plurality of fastener apertures have an anterior diameter that is greater than the posterior diameter and include an annular groove dimensioned to retain the head of a bone fastener therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Donahoe, Shaeffer Bannigan, Benjamin Arnold, Andrew Schifle, Michael Brotman
  • SURGICAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20140275800
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley, James E. Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert F. Kaula, Jeffrey J. Blewett
  • Surgical access system and related methods
    Patent number: 8827900
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site. The tissue retraction assembly has a plurality of blades which may be introduced while in a closed configuration, after which point they may be opened to create an operation corridor to the surgical target site, including pivoting at least one blade to expand the operative corridor adjacent to the operative site. The surgical access system further includes pressure sensing technology to measure the pressure being exerted upon body tissues before, during, and/or after retraction and/or distraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventor: Luiz Pimenta
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING SURGICAL PROCEDURES AND ASSESSMENTS
    Publication number: 20140249446
    Abstract: The present invention involves systems and related methods for performing surgical procedures and assessments, including the use of neurophysiology-based monitoring to: (a) determine nerve proximity and nerve direction to surgical instruments employed in accessing a surgical target site; (b) assess the pathology (health or status) of a nerve or nerve root before, during, or after a surgical procedure; and/or (c) assess pedicle integrity before, during or after pedicle screw placement, all in an automated, easy to use, and easy to interpret fashion so as to provide a surgeon-driven system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Gharib, Allen Farquhar, Norbert F. Kaula, Jeffrey J. Blewett, Eric Finley, Scot Martinelli
  • Surgical access system and related methods
    Patent number: 8821396
    Abstract: A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue refraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Miles, Scot Martinelli, Eric Finley
  • Intervertebral implant
    Patent number: D721808
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventor: Nelson Oi