Patents Examined by Jan Christopher L Merene
  • Patent number: 11684397
    Abstract: A rod reducer includes a shaft, a sleeve assembly defining a bore dimensioned to receive the shaft therethrough, a housing defining a bore dimensioned to receive the shaft, arm members operatively associated with the housing, and an anvil operatively coupled with the shaft. The sleeve assembly includes a locking tab. The housing includes a groove configured to selectively receive the locking tab of the sleeve assembly. The housing includes a locking ledge portion in registration with the groove. The anvil is transitionable between a proximal position, in which, the arm members are spaced apart, and a distal position, in which, the arm members are in an approximated position. The sleeve assembly is rotatable between an engaged state in which, the locking ledge portion inhibits relative axial displacement of the sleeve assembly with the housing, and a disengaged state in which, the sleeve assembly is axially movable relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Barrus
  • Patent number: 11678915
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are ratchet retracting handles and related methods for automatically retracting a stylet during insertion of a bone anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Naomi Kibrya, John Love, Matthew Tobias Jacobs, Ryan Woods, Megan Jeffords
  • Patent number: 11672563
    Abstract: A surgical access device includes a cannula body and a fixation mechanism. The cannula body includes a housing, and an elongated portion extending distally from the housing and defining a longitudinal axis. The fixation mechanism includes a flange, a fixation sleeve, and a proximal sleeve. The flange is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The fixation sleeve extends distally from the flange and radially surrounds a portion of the elongated portion of the cannula body. The proximal sleeve extends distally from the flange and radially surrounds a proximal portion of the fixation sleeve. Rotation of the flange causes a radially-expandable portion of the fixation sleeve to move between a first position defining a first gap between the radially-expandable portion and the elongated portion, and a second position defining a second, greater, gap between the radially-expandable portion and the elongated portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Astley C. Lobo, Oksana Buyda, Christopher A. Tokarz, Kevin Desjardin, Amanda M. Adinolfi, Douglas M. Pattison
  • Patent number: 11660122
    Abstract: A universal clamp apparatus for orthopedic external fixators is disclosed. Preferably, the universal clamp apparatus has two pin/rod clamps, each having seating grooves for attaching to a frame rod associated with a frame of the fixator and/or a bone pin for implantation in a bone fragment. A clamp screw extends through and connects the first and second pin/rod clamps. An ergonomically designed knob having at least one collapsible or non-collapsible turn lever acts as a torque amplifier when rotated by hand without tools to tighten and untighten the pin/rod clamps to the frame rod and/or bone pin by movement along the clamp screw. The pin/rod clamps have planar sides that are contiguous and have radial ratchet grooves that are in mating engagement and provide a ratcheting mechanism so that the rotation of the pin/rod clamps relative to each other occurs in incremental rotational steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: INFIX, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce H. Ziran, Patrick Kelly Capeheart, Christian Lutz, Ole Prien, Roman Rau
  • Patent number: 11654030
    Abstract: Disclosed is a standalone anterior lumbar interbody spacer that includes a lumbar spacer body and lumbar plate with a unique locking system to rigidly couple the spacer body and plate via a spring loaded lock tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Astura Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Valkoun, Thomas Purcell
  • Patent number: 11633180
    Abstract: A joint clamp for a surgical retractor system includes clamps, a cam bolt, and a cam lever. The cam bolt passes through the clamps. A cam lever comprising a cam head pivotally attached an upper portion the cam bolt to permit rotation between a locked position and an unlocked positions. The joint clamp may include springs which provide a scissors clamp of the clamps with a clip-on feature in which the scissors clamp may clipped-on and clipped-off an object such as a frame member, table post, or retractor handle. The springs may further prevent or reduce a rising movement of the clamps when the cam lever rotates from an unlocked state to a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Thompson Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve Nowak
  • Patent number: 11633211
    Abstract: A depth limiter that is configured to couple with a cannula of a surgical access device. The depth limiter includes first and second user contact portions and first and second biasing features. The first biasing feature includes a first resilient portion and a first gripping surface. The second biasing feature includes a second resilient portion and a second gripping surface. The first and second resilient portions are configured to move the respective first and second gripping surfaces from a fixed configuration to a movable configuration when the respective first and second user contact portions are actuated. In the fixed configuration, the first and second gripping surfaces collectively restrict axial movement of the depth limiter by directly contacting the cannula. In the movable configuration, the first and second gripping surfaces extend parallel to a longitudinal axis and allow for axial movement of the depth limiter relative to the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Arunachalam Muthuchidambaram, Arunkumar Radhakrishnan, Rushikesh Shrikant Suryawanshi, Dhivakar A, Cameron D. McLain, Lauren Valente, Matthew S. Corbin, Gregory G. Scott, Sajayesh Vijayachandran, Haribaskaran Nagarathinam, Giri Prasannakumar Mathivanan
  • Patent number: 11627991
    Abstract: A bone fixation clamp includes a first clamp assembly, a second clamp assembly, an inner locking member, and an outer locking assembly. The first and second clamp assemblies are transitionable between open and closed configurations. The inner locking member is transitionable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position the inner locking member engages the first clamp assembly substantially preventing the first clamp assembly from transitioning from the closed configuration to the open configuration. The outer locking assembly is transitionable between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position the outer locking assembly engages the first clamp assembly and the second clamp assembly substantially preventing both the first clamp assembly from transitioning from the closed configuration to the open configuration and the second clamp assembly from transitioning from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Todd J. Kent
  • Patent number: 11627997
    Abstract: A lumbar process static and dynamic stabilization device includes: an upper arm configured to receive and be affixed to a first spinous process of one vertebrae; and a lower arm configured to receive and be affixed to a second spinous process of another vertebrae. The upper arm and the lower arm are pivotally connected, such that the upper arm and the lower arm can pivot relative to each other to transition the device to a desired orientation. At the same time, the device can be selectively locked into either a static configuration by a locking mechanism or allowed to move dynamically, such that the upper arm and the lower arm of the device are allowed to move relative to each other in response to manipulation of the portion of the lumbar spine on which the device is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Jason Zook
  • Patent number: 11627995
    Abstract: A locking-cap module may include a locking-cap having a first connecting flange and a second connecting flange opposite the first connecting flange extending from a side surface of the locking-cap. The locking-cap may further include a first retaining rail and a second retaining rail opposite the first retaining rail. The locking-cap module may further include a set screw configured to engage with corresponding threads of the locking-cap. In some embodiments, the first connecting flange and second connecting flange are configured to engage with a connector such that the top surface of the locking-cap is generally flush with a top surface of the connector when the locking-cap is in a locked position relative to the connector. In some embodiments, the set screw is initially coupled to the locking-cap by a pre-loaded connection. In some embodiments, an end user may visually verify that the locking-cap module is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventor: William A. Rezach
  • Patent number: 11627998
    Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods for performing a medical procedure. The methods comprise: obtaining a surgical instrument that combines a head positioner and a driver into a single integrated part (the driver being at least partially inserted through an elongate aperture formed in the head positioner so as to extend from a proximal end of the head positioner to a distal end of the head positioner); using an actuable structure of the head positioner to limit an amount that the driver can linearly travel in a first direction within the elongate aperture formed in the head positioner; causing a screw to threadingly engage an object via rotation of the driver in at least a first direction around a central axis of the surgical instrument; and changing an orientation of a receiver via rotation of the head positioner about a portion of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Rezach, Brian A. Butler
  • Patent number: 11617603
    Abstract: A modular surgical instrument is provided that includes a tower having a first end, a second end and a ratchet segment between the first end and the second end. The instrument includes a ratchet reduction mechanism. The ratchet reduction mechanism includes a ratchet lever, a linear ratchet rack integrated into a ratchet segment of the tower at a location between the first end and the second end, and a ratchet collar coupled to the ratchet lever. The ratchet collar is configured to slide along the ratchet segment by application of an applied force. The instrument includes a reducer that may be affixed to the ratchet reduction mechanism. The reducer is configured to move in unison with the slide of the ratchet collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel P. Wall
  • Patent number: 11607252
    Abstract: A modular uniplanar pedicle screw assembly for use with a polyaxial bone fastener. The modular assembly comprises a uniplanar tulip assembly adapted to be coupled to a head of the polyaxial bone fastener, wherein the uniplanar tulip assembly includes a longitudinal slot. The modular assembly further includes an adapter having a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion is sized and shaped to be received in a recess of the bone fastener head. The upper portion extends from the lower portion and is adapted to slide along the longitudinal slot of the uniplanar tulip assembly to allow movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a first plane along a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the longitudinal slot, the longitudinal slot preventing movement of the uniplanar tulip assembly in a second plane lateral to the first plane relative to the bone fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: David Leff, Patrick Nolan, Liana Mari, Noah Gross, Khiem Pham, Aditya Ingalhalikar, Kurt Faulhaber
  • Patent number: 11602381
    Abstract: A spinal construct comprises at least one member that defines a first implant cavity and a second implant cavity oriented transverse to the first implant cavity. The at least one member has a surface that includes a lock disposed with the first implant cavity. Systems, implants, surgical instruments and methods of use are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenjiro Nakai, Koji Sato, Tetsuya Sumida
  • Patent number: 11602337
    Abstract: An assembly comprising a drive gear coupled to a shaft and a dial. The drive gear is configured to rotate along a first axis based on movement of the dial. The assembly includes a first linking member located along a second axis and configured to rotate about the second axis based on contact with the drive gear as the drive gear is rotated. The assembly includes a second linking member located along the second axis and configured to rotate about the second axis based on rotation of the drive gear and a coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member. The assembly includes a linking member selector configured to rotate about the first axis and for selecting at least a position corresponding to the first linking member that causes the coupling between the first linking member and the second linking member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron Riemhofer, Andrew Morris
  • Patent number: 11596453
    Abstract: This application describes surgical instruments and implants for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column. More specifically, the application describes instruments and methods for building a posterior fixation construct across one or more segments of the spinal column in a minimally invasive fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Fernando Olea, Andrew Schafer, Scott Lish, Robert German, Justin Doose, Derek Matteo, Garrett T. Offerman, James Coleman Lee, Conrad Tyler Hammann
  • Patent number: 11596525
    Abstract: According to one embodiment of the disclosure, an implant includes a body having a surface with a flexible pattern defined by a plurality of material segments including a first material segment and a second material segment. The first material segment abuts the second material segment. Further, the first material segment includes a first non-linear shape extending between a first end and a second end while the second material segment includes a second non-linear shape extending between a first end and a second end. The two material segments are interconnected such that one of the first end and the second end of the first non-linear shape is interconnected with one of the first end and the second end of the second non-linear shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Anne Moore, Todd M. Wallenstein, Clint Boyd, Jordan Floyd, Patrick Ayerle
  • Patent number: 11596450
    Abstract: A low-profile offset-type spinal fusion device includes a first screw, a connection base, a nut and a compression part. The first screw has an external thread and a flange. The connection base includes a penetration part and a connection part disposed no higher than the penetration part, and can sleeve the first screw through a first hole of the penetration part to contact the flange with opposite ends of the first screw protruding out of the first hole. The nut, used to engage the first screw, has a bottom surface to contact against the penetration part. When the first screw is installed by penetrating the first hole, the nut and the flange are located to opposite ends of the first hole. The compression part is to screw into a cavity of the connection part for depressing a connecting bar tightly in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Hsin-Hsin Shen, Pei-I Tsai, Chih-Chieh Huang, Kuo-Yi Yang, Yi-Hung Wen, Wei-Lun Fan, Fang-Jie Jang, Shih-Ping Lin
  • Patent number: 11596442
    Abstract: Dynamization tabs and methods of use are provided. Dynamization tabs may be used with an external fixation ring or other fixator device as part of a therapeutic treatment of bone fractures or malformations. The device forms a connection between one or more fixation struts and an external fixation ring so as to introduce controllable amounts of movement or dynamization to the arrangement of the struts and the fixator. By introducing controlled amounts of dynamization, therapeutic benefits can be derived in the enhanced, accelerated bone formation, mineralization and remodeling of the underlying bone. Dynamization tabs may comprise a strut connector, a mechanical biasing or dynamizing device, and a ring connector. Many different forms for introducing controlled amounts of dynamization are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: Texas Scottish Right Hospital for Children, Orthofix S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mikhail L. Samchukov, Alexander M. Cherkashin, John D. Ross, Karen D. Standefer, Daniele Venturini, Andrea Ottoboni
  • Patent number: 11589901
    Abstract: An external adjustment device for non-invasively adjusting an implant, the external adjustment device including a controller in communication with an actuator associated with the adjustable implant and a sensor configured to receive information from or about the adjustable implant. The external adjustment device may further comprise a power source and a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: NuVasive Specialized Orthopedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Shanbao Cheng, Everett Van Zuiden, Luke Bilger