Patents Examined by Jerry Cumberledge
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Patent number: 8771318Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Stryker SpineInventors: Daniel Triplett, T. Wade Fallin, Karen Mohr, Thierry Millard
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Patent number: 8771180Abstract: A single port entry surgical instrument has an elongated structure with lumens through which surgical tools and an image capturing device may be inserted and controllably extended out of its distal end for performing a medical procedure, a tubular-shaped balloon disposed around the elongated structure, and an expandable retractor disposed around the balloon so that when the balloon is inflated, the retractor expands and locks in an expanded configuration to retract extraneous tissue. The port entry may be secured using the expandable retractor or sealed using another inflatable balloon disposed around the proximal end of the elongated structure and centered in the port entry.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.Inventor: Catherine J. Mohr
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Patent number: 8771179Abstract: A surgical retention port particularly useful as an arthroscopic port for shoulder surgery is provided. The surgical retention port has an inner cannula defining a throughbore, a plurality of rotatable fingers coupled to the inner cannula, and an outer cannula extending around the inner cannula. Rotation of the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula causes the rotation of the fingers from a first position where the fingers assume a collapsed configuration to a second position where the fingers assume an extended or open configuration.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Joint Product Solutions, LLCInventors: Phillip R. Lozman, Scott L. Jahrmarkt, Jerry S. Sher, Jeremy Louis Hemingway, David Charles Perdue, Paul J. Grata
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Patent number: 8764752Abstract: A system for inserting an intramedullary nail into a bone includes (a) a handle extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured to couple to an intramedullary nail only in a desired orientation and (b) an aiming device extending from a proximal end to a distal end configured for attachment to the proximal end of the handle. The aiming device includes a guide opening extending therethrough sized and shaped to accommodate a protective sleeve therein. The guide opening is located and oriented so that, when the aiming device and the handle are coupled to one another, a bone fixation receiving hole in an intramedullary nail coupled to the handle is aligned with the guide opening. The aiming device further includes a locking pin fixedly mounted thereto. The locking pin extends into the guide opening to engage a protective sleeve inserted therein.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products, LLCInventors: Markus Buettler, Simone Volzer, Andreas Baeriswyl
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Patent number: 8764754Abstract: A guide assembly includes a spinal screw assembly having a bone screw and a spinal rod holder; and a spinal rod guide having first and second elongated arc portions defining a pair of longitudinal slots extending along the first and second arc portions, each of the first and second arc portions further defining at least one recess extending transversely from each of the longitudinal slots, the at least one recess configured to receive at least a portion of a reduction tool to enable reduction of a spinal rod received within the spinal rod holder.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Life Spine, Inc.Inventors: Michael S. Butler, Brian D. Hartsell, Thomas J. Wegrzyn, III
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Patent number: 8758345Abstract: An interlocking nail having an hour-glass geometry is used for repair of bone fractures. The hour-glass interlocking nail includes a proximal section, a mid section, and a distal section. Each section of the hour-glass interlocking nail has a diameter. The proximal and distal sections each have a diameter larger than the mid section so that the interlocking nail has an hour-glass geometry. The hour-glass interlocking nail comprises at least one fixation aperture located within either the proximal or distal section of the hour-glass interlocking nail. Preferably, the fixation aperture has a tapered locking design adapted to receive a screw-cone peg. The hour-glass geometry utilized by the interlocking nail is better suited to address a larger population of bone canal geometries, stressing the fracture site with known values within the healing process and preventing inadvertent perforation of the nail through the cortex of the bone.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Inventor: Christopher G. Sidebotham
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Patent number: 8758408Abstract: An implantable spinous process fixation device includes a k-shaped component comprising an elongated plate and top and bottom deformable plates extending at first and second angles from a first surface of the elongated plate, respectively, thereby defining first and second spaces between the elongated plate and the top and bottom deformable plates and a compression element configured to compress and move the first and second deformable plates toward the elongated plate and to change the first and the second angles, respectively. The first and second spaces are configured to receive first and second spinous processes, respectively. Compressing and moving the first and second deformable plates toward the elongated plate results in engaging the first surface of the elongated plate and first surfaces of the top and bottom deformable plates with lateral surfaces of the first and second spinous processes, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Spinefrontier IncInventors: Kingsley Richard Chin, Daniel R. Baker, Daniel F. Justin
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Patent number: 8758441Abstract: A vertebral body replacement includes first and second end plates, and a compliant connector section between the end plates having one or more helical cuts to provide limited compliance between the end plates. The compliant connector section can be provided in a separate spacer that fits between the end plates or directly in one or more of the end plates. The adjoining end plate surfaces, and/or adjoining surfaces of the spacer, include a rotational interlock to inhibit rotational motion between the surfaces and allow a modular stacking assembly of the vertebral body replacement to accommodate a wide range of patients.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2008Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: David Hovda, Yves Arramon
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Patent number: 8753343Abstract: A bone fixing device includes an intramedullary nail (1) with a distal end part (2), a proximal end part (3), a center line (4), and a bore (5) that extends perpendicular to the center line (4) in the proximal end part (3) and is provided with a bore axis (6). The bone fixing device further includes a bone plate (10) with a top face (11), a bottom face (12) that is to be in contact with the bone, a continuous, central opening (13) which is located in the central portion of the bone plate (10) and connects the top face (11) to the bottom face (12), and several plate holes (14) that are also continuous and are disposed peripherally around the central opening (13).Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Inventor: Hans Ulrich Staeubli
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Patent number: 8747405Abstract: A bone fixing system useful for holding bone in position, and a method for installing the same are disclosed. The ends of a conformable ligature are passed around bones, bone grafts, tendons, plates, rods, fasteners, or other anatomical or implanted structures, and the like to form a loop extending from a first portion of the blocking body. The ends of the conformable ligature are passed through the blocking body and extend out a second portion of the body. The ends may be attached to a tensioning tool and a selected tension may be applied. A closure member may engage an engagement portion of the blocking body to create a friction force to hold the conformable ligature in place without significant movement relative to the blocking body.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Zimmer SpineInventor: Karl Pierre Belliard
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Patent number: 8740941Abstract: A fasterner and rod fusion device with extensions to support an adjacent vertebral body is provided. The extensions are connected to the fasterner and rod fusion device. The extensions include flexibly connected rods, bands, spacers, or the like to resist extension and/or flexion of the vertebral body(ies) adjacent a fusion site. Alternatively, the extensions may be coupled to a cross link between multiple rods.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Lanx, Inc.Inventor: Jeffery Thramann
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Patent number: 8734336Abstract: A wound retractor device comprises a distal member for insertion into a wound opening, a proximal member for location externally of the wound opening, a connecting member extending at least between the distal member and the proximal member. At least part of the connecting member is movable relative to the proximal member to shorten the length of the connecting member located between the distal member and the proximal member and thereby retract laterally the sides of the wound opening. At least part of the connecting member is movable relative to the proximal member by a guide slot through which the connecting member changes its direction to substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wound retractor device.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Atropos LimitedInventors: Frank Bonadio, Trevor Vaugh, John Butler
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Patent number: 8734446Abstract: A clamping device for an external fixation system includes a first clamp having an opening for receiving an external fixation element, the first clamp having an axle seat. A first base component includes a concave first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface. The concave first surface is in selective engagement with the clamp. A swivel element comprises an axle component and a post component. The axle component is disposed on the axle seat of the first clamp. The post component extends from the axle component and has a length sized to extend from the axle component through a second external fixation clamp. The post component is arranged to swivel relative to the axle seat. Methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.Inventor: Stephen T. Miller
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Patent number: 8734489Abstract: A pedicle screw assembly including a bone fastener having a lower end for engaging bone and an upper end remote from the lower end; a head having a rod-receiving channel attached to the upper end of said bone fastener; a spinal rod insertable into the rod-receiving channel of said head, said spinal rod having an outer surface extending between first and second ends thereof, wherein at least one of the first and second ends has a reduced diameter section. A spinal rod having an outer surface extending between a first end and a second end thereof; wherein the outer surface of said spinal rod has a reduced diameter section at least one of the first and second ends.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Stryker SpineInventors: Daniel Triplett, T. Wade Fallin, Karen Mohr, Thierry Millard
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Patent number: 8734487Abstract: A including a selectively applied bone growth promoting agent is disclosed. The types of spinal fixation systems which may include a selectively applied bone growth promoting agent include systems comprised of rods, plates, screws, and hooks as well as other types of prostheses.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: JMEA CorporationInventors: Jack Y. Yeh, Sudarshana Sona Bhatnagar
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Patent number: 8728163Abstract: An artificial disk replacement device includes opposing plate members with a pivoting assembly disposed therebetween. The pivoting assembly allows the plate members to pivot relative to each other in a first direction, but inhibit movement of the plate members in a second direction. The plate members may be installed prior to installing the pivoting assembly. An installation tool for use with the artificial disk replacement device is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2012Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: K2M, Inc.Inventors: Charles Theofilos, George England
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Patent number: 8721538Abstract: A surgical distractor for distracting tissue of a patient to access structure underlying the tissue of the patient. The distractor includes a tube having a distal end adapted for insertion in tissue, a proximal end opposite the distal end, an exterior surface adapted for contacting the tissue, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface defining a hollow interior extending between the distal end and the proximal end for accessing structure underlying the tissue when the distal end is inserted in the tissue. The distractor is adjustable from a reduced configuration, in which the tube has a reduced width sized for inserting the distal end in the tissue, and an expanded configuration, in which the tube has an expanded width greater than the reduced width sized to provide the hollow interior with a size sufficient for accessing the structure underlying the tissue.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: St. Louis UniversityInventor: Richard D. Bucholz
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Patent number: 8721645Abstract: A bone fixing system useful for holding bone in position, and a method for installing the same are disclosed. The ends of a conformable ligature are passed around bones, bone grafts, tendons, plates, rods, fasteners, or other anatomical or implanted structures, and the like to form a loop extending from a first portion of a body. The ends of the conformable ligature are passed through the body and extend out a second portion of the body. The ends may be attached to a tensioning tool and a selected tension may be applied. A closure member may engage an engagement portion of the body to create a friction force to hold the conformable ligature in place without significant movement relative to the body.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Zimmer SpineInventor: Karl Pierre Belliard
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Patent number: 8721644Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosure, an intramedullary (IM) apparatus for treating a fractured bone of an animal includes an IM nail elongated along a longitudinal axis and having at least three locking holes equally distantly defined thereon along the longitudinal axis, and a positional reference member having a longitudinal vernier scale thereon. The IM nail is configured to be inserted to a medullary cavity of a bone fragment, such that the IM nail is fixable to the bone fragment by a locking member correspondingly inserted into one of the locking holes through the bone fragment. The positional reference member is configured to be detachably mounted to the IM nail by two positioning members inserted into two of the locking holes such that the longitudinal vernier scale is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the IM nail, and each of the locking holes is locatable by the longitudinal vernier scale.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Inventor: Ta-Lun Tan
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Patent number: 8715324Abstract: A fixation plate with a base section including apertures for fixation to one bone segment and a leg section extending from the base section and including apertures for fixation to another bone segment. The expanse of the base section tapers gradually to smoothly cojoin with the leg section.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2012Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Securos, Inc.Inventor: Harold M. Wotton, III