Patents Assigned to Spray Venture Partners
  • Patent number: 6923811
    Abstract: Featured are a method and apparatus for fixing adjacent vertebrate of a spine that avoids the need and associated problems with prior cage or straight rod and screw systems. Methods and apparatus of the invention utilize a new implant member, which preferably is arcuate. Preferred methods of the invention for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae of the spine, include steps of providing a positioning apparatus including two guide sleeves, each guide sleeve having a long axis and locating the two guide sleeves with respect to the adjacent vertebrae such that a vertex formed by the long axis of each guide sleeve is located in the intervertebral space for the adjacent vertebrae. The method further includes forming an aperture in each of the adjacent vertebrae using the guide sleeves and inserting an implant into the apertures formed in each of the adjacent vertebrae so that the implant extends between the adjacent vertebrae and through the intervertebral space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Spray Venture Partners
    Inventors: Allen Carl, Ricky D. Hart, Josef K. Winkler