Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Application
Filed:
March 1, 2004
Publication date:
August 26, 2004
Applicant:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: Insertion instruments and a main body assembly and a universal wing to be inserted are provided, along with methods of using these instruments for the insertion of the spinal implants in patients to relieve the symptoms of, for example, spinal stenosis, injuries, and degenerative diseases of the spine. The instruments are simply designed and can be disassembled, making cleaning and sterilization easy and convenient. The instruments are designed to engage with and disengage from spinal implants easily, and use of the instrument in spinal implant surgery can be carried out with minimal surgical intervention and does not require general anesthesia. The main body assembly and the universal wing are designed to conveniently be secured to the insertion instruments. In an alternative embodiment the instrument can be nested and at least one instrument can include a handle provided at an angle.
Type:
Application
Filed:
February 2, 2004
Publication date:
August 19, 2004
Applicant:
ST. FRANCIS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, John Flynn
Abstract: An implant that is implanted between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The device has a spacer to distract apart the adjacent spinous processes. To minimize trauma to the patient, the device has a tapered tissue expander to distract a previously created opening between the adjacent spinous processes. The device also has two wings. The position of one wing is adjustable to allow for ease of assembly in a patent.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 29, 2003
Publication date:
August 5, 2004
Applicant:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Henry A. Klyce, John Flynn
Abstract: This invention relates to tools for preparing vertebral bodies in the spine for the implantation of an artificial vertebral disk replacement and related method. A first tool is disclosed that prepares the vertebral bodies for implantation by cutting offset channels in the vertebral bodies. The second tool holds two plates of the implant during the implantation process. This invention also relates to an artificial vertebral disk replacement, a method of operation, and a method of implanting.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 14, 2003
Publication date:
July 22, 2004
Applicant:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Scott A. Yerby, Steve Mitchell, John Flynn
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device that can be placed between two vertebrae. The implant is characterized by having a first plate and a second plate with a spacer therebetween. The spacer fits within cavities on each of the first and second plate.
Abstract: An artificial vertebral disk replacement implant is disclosed along with its method of operation and a method of implanting. The implant has first and second plates that each mate with a vertebral body. Each plate has one side for mating with a vertebral body. The first plate has a socket on one side, and the second plate has an elongated ball on one side. The ball of the first plate and the socket of the second plate form a ball-and-socket joint when the two plates are in contact with each other. The implant achieves a range of motion equivalent to a natural range of motion.
Type:
Application
Filed:
October 14, 2003
Publication date:
July 15, 2004
Applicant:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Scott A. Yerby, Steve Mitchell, John Flynn
Abstract: Insertion instruments and a main body assembly and a universal wing to be inserted are provided, along with methods of using these instruments for the insertion of the spinal implants in patients to relieve the symptoms of, for example, spinal stenosis, injuries, and degenerative diseases of the spine. The instruments are simply designed and can be disassembled, making cleaning and sterilization easy and convenient. The instruments are designed to engage with and disengage from spinal implants easily, and use of the instrument in spinal implant surgery can be carried out with minimal surgical intervention and does not require general anesthesia. The main body assembly and the universal wing are designed to conveniently be secured to the insertion instruments. In an alternative embodiment the instrument can be nested and at least one instrument can include a handle provided at an angle.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 2001
Date of Patent:
March 30, 2004
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, John Flynn
Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 26, 2001
Date of Patent:
March 2, 2004
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 26, 2001
Date of Patent:
March 2, 2004
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: An implant that is implanted between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The device has a spacer to distract apart the adjacent spinous processes. To minimize trauma to the patient, the device has a tapered tissue expander to distract a previously created opening between the adjacent spinous processes. The device also has two wings. The position of one wing is adjustable to allow for ease of assembly in a patent.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 26, 2001
Date of Patent:
February 24, 2004
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Henry A. Klyce, John Flynn
Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the space between adjacent spinous process. A trial implant instrument contains a trial sizer and an elongated body. The trial sizer and elongated body are pivotally mounted so that as the trial sizer is urged between adjacent spinous process, a physician may rotate the elongated body through a range of motion and not place any torsional forces upon the trial sizer. The method comprises several steps whereby a physician inserts and removes trial implant instruments with sizers of varying diameters to determine the space between adjacent spinous process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 16, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 25, 2003
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Scott Yerby, John Flynn
Abstract: The implant device is a minimally invasive device for assisting in the fusing together of vertebral bodies of the spine. The implant device immobilizes the vertebral bodies by immobilizing the respective spinous process extending from the vertebral body. The implant device has at least one spacer and hook to immobilize adjacent spinous processes. The spacer and hook are fastened to connection rods. Each connection rod can individually traverse through a range of motion, allowing each hook to engage the respective spinous process.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 18, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 25, 2003
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Steve Mitchell, Scott Yerby, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: The present invention is a device and method that immobilizes the vertebral bodies by immobilizing the respective spinous process extending therefrom. The device contains a spacer extending from a body with the spacer adapted to be positioned between adjacent spinous processes so that the spacer may be located close to the spine. A strap connected with the body is designed to engage the spinous processes, such that the device may be adjusted to be positioned about the spinous processes. The device ensures that the spacer remains positioned between adjacent spinous processes. The method to insert the device minimizes destruction to body tissue, thus it is less traumatic to the patient and allows for the patient to recover from the procedure faster than conventional methods.
Abstract: The present invention is a interspinous process device with a deflectable spacer which can be placed between adjacent spinous processes to limit the movement of the vertebrae. The device limits the range of motion of the spinous processes.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 29, 2002
Publication date:
April 3, 2003
Applicant:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, John J. Flynn
Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2001
Date of Patent:
February 4, 2003
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, T. Wade Fallin, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 27, 1999
Date of Patent:
December 31, 2002
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, T. Wade Fallin, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Application
Filed:
April 26, 2001
Publication date:
December 5, 2002
Applicant:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James Zucherman, Ken Hsu, Charles Winslow, Henry Klyce
Abstract: A spine distraction implant alleviates pain associated with spinal stenosis and facet arthropathy by expanding the volume in the spine canal and/or neural foramen. The implant provides a spinal extension stop while allowing freedom of spinal flexion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2001
Date of Patent:
November 12, 2002
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, T. Wade Fallin, Henry A. Klyce
Abstract: A supplemental spine fixation device and method is used in association with a primary spine fixation device. The supplemental spine fixation device includes a guide and spacer for distracting apart adjacent spinous processes and the device has hook members which hook about the first and second spinous processes. With the spinous processes distracted and the hook members about the spinous processes, the hook members can be rigidly secured to a hub in order to rigidly affix the spinous processes about the spacer. With such an arrangement, additional force is placed on vertebral bodies in order to encourage fusion. In additional, the rigidity between the spinous processes assures that the vertebral bodies will be held rigidly in place in order to promote bone growth and fusion.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 26, 2000
Date of Patent:
September 17, 2002
Assignee:
St. Francis Medical Technologies, Inc.
Inventors:
James F. Zucherman, Ken Y. Hsu, Charles J. Winslow, Henry A. Klyce