Patents Examined by Holly Joanna Lane
  • Patent number: 11957329
    Abstract: Retractor assemblies and methods of using them to retract tissue. A retractor assembly as described herein may include first and second arms pivotally coupled and each arm formed of a plurality of stacked and separated plates, spaced to define a gap therebetween, providing strength while affording a reduction in weight of the retractor assembly. The retractor assembly may also include a ratcheting locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Simple Innovative Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sutliff, Kris J. Cook
  • Patent number: 11951015
    Abstract: A spinal jack adapted for installation between first and second vertebral processes and includes a three dimensional and arcuate ergonomic main body constructed from a first and second portions, from which is displaceable an upper body between each of retracted and expanded positions. Each of the jack halves includes gripping portions adapted for engaging the vertebral processes. A worm gear mechanism includes a central horizontally arrayed and rotatable worm gear supported within the main body and accessible through an inlet aperture. A tool bit is engageable with a bit receiving location of the worm gear which is accessible through the inlet aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Linares Spinal Devices, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel A. Linares
  • Patent number: 11896268
    Abstract: A spinal jack adapted for installation between first and second vertebral processes, including a three dimensional and arcuate ergonomic main body constructed from first and second subset body portions, from which is displaceable an upper body between retracted and expanded positions. Each of the jack halves further includes gripping portions adapted for engaging the vertebral processes. A geared mechanism is provided for expanding or retracting the jack halves in order to establish a corrected adjusted orientation between the processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Linares Spinal Devices, LLC
    Inventor: Miguel A. Linares
  • Patent number: 11484350
    Abstract: An anchor extender can be couplable to a bone anchor and can include an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and a lock. The lock can be operable to translate the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve between a locked position and an unlocked position to secure the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve to a head of the bone anchor in the locked position and to release the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve from the head of the bone anchor in the unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Parker, Michael Funk, Randall G. Mast
  • Patent number: 11484353
    Abstract: A surgical instrument enables dispensing of a series of fasteners within a patient's body. The device includes a magazine sized and dimensioned to hold a series of fasteners, the series of fasteners insertable through an opening at the end of the magazine. A splined guide bore is rotatably supported within the magazine, and slidingly supports a shaft having an external surface mateable with the splined guide bore to restrict radial rotation of the shaft with respect to the support about said longitudinal axis. A biasing element is connected between the support and the shaft, to urge the shaft along a longitudinal axis towards a distal end of the instrument. A ratchet is connected to the shaft and engages the magazine to permit sliding of the shaft in a direction for dispensing fasteners only, unless disengaged with the magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Harper
  • Patent number: 11419695
    Abstract: A device (2) for an ophthalmological illumination system (1) comprising a light instrument (3) for illuminating the intraocular space of a human or animal eye (33) comprises a housing (4) having a proximal housing end (5), a distal housing end (6), and an opening (7) in the proximal housing end (5). The housing (4) delimits a receptacle space (8), which extends in a manner proceeding from the opening (7) in the proximal housing end (5) along a longitudinal direction (L) in the direction of the distal housing end (6). The receptacle space (8) is configured for receiving the light instrument (3) through the opening (7) in the proximal housing end (5). The housing (4) comprises at least one translucent material at least in the region (10) of the distal housing end (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: OERTLI-INSTRUMENTE AG
    Inventors: Lisa Kehren-Quitsdorf, Lothar Knünz, Michael Zürcher
  • Patent number: 11357552
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for inserting a vertebral stabilization member, such as a rod. The insertion device includes an outer guide tube, a pin assembly including a pin and a pusher member extending therethrough. The insertion device is configured to actuate a rod between a first orientation and a second orientation angled with respect to the first orientation in order to position the rod in an appropriate location for attachment to bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Cryder, Matthew Bechtel, Andrew Iott, Edward Karpowicz, Douglas Cahill, Robert Rightler
  • Patent number: 11350920
    Abstract: A modular retractor system may include a first annular retainer and a second annular retainer defining a central axis projecting through a first center point of the first annular retainer and a second center point of the second annular retainer. The modular retractor may further include a plurality of primary blades, pivotally coupled to the first annular retainer and an adjacent primary blade of the plurality of primary blades. In some embodiments, the first annular retainer may be configured to, selectively, radially contract towards the first center point such that each of the plurality of primary blades articulates with respect to the central axis. In some embodiments, the second annular retainer may circumscribe the outside of the plurality of primary blades and be configured to apply a biasing force against each of the plurality of primary blades towards the central axis. Additionally, a plurality of supplemental blades may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan M. Dewey
  • Patent number: 11317902
    Abstract: A radiolucent tissue retraction device (100), comprises a handle (106) extending along a handle axis (Lh) and a first paddle (102) coupled to a first end (103) of the handle (106), the first paddle (102) including a first portion (110) extending parallel to and offset from the handle (106) and a second portion (116) connecting the first portion (110) to the handle (106), the first portion (110) having at least one radiolucent feature extending into a surface thereof, wherein the first portion (110) is curved along a longitudinal axis (L1) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Guangliang Zheng
  • Patent number: 11311317
    Abstract: A spinal fixation device for securing two stabilizing rods to bone has a threaded shaft, a first rod coupling head connected to the threaded shaft and a secondary rod coupling head. The first rod coupling head has a side wall and a cavity with an open top for receiving a rod. In a neutral position of the first rod coupling head, the first rod coupling head extends symmetrically around the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft. The second rod coupling head is rotatably connected to the first rod coupling head, around an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is disposed at an angle that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft when the first rod coupling head is in the neutral position. This allows for two rods to be manipulated independently through different axis planes at any single point of bony fixation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: Stelios Koutsoumbelis
  • Patent number: 11278328
    Abstract: An instrument set for connecting vertebral bodies, comprising a screw which can be screwed into a pedicle, a head piece which can be connected polyaxially to the screw for coupling to a rod system and which has a sleeve-shaped tulip having an opening for insertion of the screw head in an insertion direction, and a tool, is developed. The head piece has a saddle in the tulip, with a receiving region for receiving the screw head in a first end region that faces the opening and a coupling region that can be coupled to the tool in a second end region opposite the receiving region. The saddle can be moved between a released position and a locked position. In the locked position, the screw head cannot be disengaged from the receiving region, and the saddle can be fixed in a released position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Signus Medizintechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Bas van der Pol
  • Patent number: 11241259
    Abstract: An anchor assembly can be couplable to a bone and can include an anchor and a housing. The anchor can include a shank securable to bone and a head coupled to a proximal portion of the shank. The housing can include a proximal portion including an anchor bore and a distal portion including a secondary bore configured to engage the anchor to limit angulation of the anchor relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Allison Christine Capote
  • Patent number: 11234829
    Abstract: The description relates to an expandable intervertebral spacer configured to engage an intervertebral disk. An example expandable spacer includes a main body, a first endplate, a second endplate, a driving member, a plurality of pins, and an actuation member. The expandable spacer is configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration by various structures (e.g., steps, faceted surfaces, curved surfaces, multi-faceted portions) defined on the first endplate, the second endplate, and the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: DeGen Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle Atwood
  • Patent number: 11219475
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a device for surgery to stabilize bone segments, which includes a screw assembly, a supporting member, an extending member, and a fastening member. The supporting member is connected with an arm of a receiver of the screw assembly. The extending member includes a connecting portion and an extending portion. The connecting portion is located at one end of the extending member opposite to the receiver. The extending portion is connected to the arm with the supporting member passing through a through hole of the extending portion, and a portion of the supporting member protrudes out of the extending portion to the connecting portion. The fastening member is sleeved on the connecting portion and has a pressing groove. The supporting member is located between the connecting portion and the pressing groove. The pressing groove includes a release position and a pressing position for the supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: WILTROM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chieh-Feng Lu, Yi-Chun Su
  • Patent number: 11219472
    Abstract: A fixation system includes an elongated rod, a fastener, a yoke, and an insert. The fastener includes a head with a truncated top portion. The yoke receives the rod and includes a yoke opening and a yoke cavity. The yoke cavity supports the head allowing for angular movement of the fastener. The insert is inserted into the yoke above the fastener and includes an insert base and a plurality of prongs. The insert base defines a base cavity that provides clearance for the head. The prongs extend away from the insert base and contact the head of the fastener below the truncated top portion. At least one set of the prongs has a length such that when the fastener is moved to a position of maximum angular movement within the yoke, at least one of the prongs is out of contact with the head of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Nexxt Spine. LLC
    Inventors: Alaedeen Abu-Mulaweh, Austin Clemens, Andrew Elsbury
  • Patent number: 11213286
    Abstract: Retractor assemblies and methods of using them to retract tissue. A retractor assembly as described herein may include first and second arms pivotally coupled and each arm formed of a plurality of stacked and separated plates, spaced to define a gap therebeween, providing strength while affording a reduction in weight of the retractor assembly. The retractor assembly may also include a ratcheting locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Simple Innovative Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Sutliff, Kris J. Cook
  • Patent number: 11202658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a connector for simultaneously fixing a screw head and a rod, wherein the connector can be firmly fixed to a screw head and a rod, which have been surgically inserted, without requiring disassembly of the screw head and the rod, thus minimizing damage to the affected region. The connector may comprise: a connecting block in which a head accommodation hole portion is formed on one side thereof to be able to accommodate at least a portion of a screw head installed in a vertebral body, and a rod accommodation groove portion is formed on the other side thereof to be able to accommodate at least a portion of a rod that extends from the screw head; a connecting rod formed in a shape extending from the connecting block; and a fixing device that fixes the connecting block to the screw head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventors: Byung Hak Choe, Won Youl Choi, Moon Kyu Kim