Patents Examined by Tara R Carter
  • Patent number: 10238450
    Abstract: A facet joint surgical tool for treating a facet joint synovial cyst includes rotatable members disposed side-by-side through a minimally invasive sheath and rotatable to reconfigure distal end portions between a facet joint penetration configuration with a tissue piercing tip and a facet joint retraction configuration. Facet joint synovial cysts located to an anterior side of the facet joint are treated by a posterior approach with access to the cyst through the facet joint retracted by the surgical tool. Facet joint synovial cysts located to a posterior side of the facet joint are treated by direct access from a posterior approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Thixos LLC
    Inventors: Murray David Solsberg, Douglas Preston Beall, Ryan Erich Dean
  • Patent number: 10238375
    Abstract: A surgical retractor assembly is provided having a frame that releasably couples two retractor blades. The retractor blades are coupled to the frame via a pair of mobile carriages that engage a track on the frame. A third retractor blade is configured to be independent of the frame with the first two retractor blades. The independent blade may be fixably positionable in the patient by a direct coupling to a rigid table mount. The retractor assembly may be utilized for creating anterior access to spinal target site while the patient is oriented in the lateral decubitus position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Casey O'Connell, Joel Kohn, James Coleman Lee, David Banks
  • Patent number: 10226360
    Abstract: A spinal implant formed from a hinged distractor having an upper and lower support body that is hinged by use of pinions. An insert body is constructed and arranged to slide between the section to expand both in height and width, and to maintain a space therebetween. The insert body includes a leading edge that is tapered to allow ease of insertion. A trailing edge that extends beyond a front edge of the upper support body will cause the insert body to be locked into position. A trailing edge engages the rear of the upper support body to prevent over insertion. A lower surface of the insert body may include locking surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Atlas Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew G. Baynham
  • Patent number: 10213233
    Abstract: An interspinous fusion device is described. The interspinous fusion device includes a spacer member and an anchor member. The spacer member has a ring with two or more anchor assemblies projecting laterally from substantially opposite sides of the spacer member ring. The spacer member further has a first zip lock flange and a second zip lock flange, each of the first and second zip lock flanges extends transversely from the spacer member ring wherein each of the first and second zip lock flanges each comprises a series of teeth protruding from it. The anchor member has a ring with two or more anchor assemblies projecting laterally from substantially opposite sides of the anchor member ring. The anchor member further has a barrel extending transversely from the anchor member ring. The barrel comprises a first column of recesses adapted to mate with the teeth of the first zip lock flange and a second column of recesses adapted to mate with the teeth of the second zip lock flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: AURORA SPINE, INC.
    Inventor: Trent James Northcutt
  • Patent number: 10206788
    Abstract: An interbody device may include a main body and an arm movably connected thereto. The device may have a first end, a second end opposite the first end in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the device, a first side, a second side opposite the first side in a direction of a first transverse axis of the device, a third side, and a fourth side opposite the third side in a direction of a second transverse axis of the device. An overall distance between the first side and the second side may increase along at least a majority of a length of the device in a direction from the first end toward the second end, and an overall distance between the third side and the fourth side may increase along at least a majority of the length in a direction from the second end toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Southern Spine, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Field, Mitchell Blenden, Hugh F. Smisson, III
  • Patent number: 10195305
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flowable bone graft material including an inorganic composition comprising calcium phosphate having a particle size of about 100 ?m to about 1,000 ?m, bioactive glass, and one or more biocompatible polymers comprising carboxymethyl cellulose and a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Orthovita, Inc.
    Inventors: Alice Bachert, Jeremy Mercuri
  • Patent number: 10194959
    Abstract: A multi-stage minimally invasive surgical procedure and associated instruments are disclosed. First, the surgical site is prepared. After preparation, the bone screws or anchors are attached to the bone. Subsequent to insertion of the screws, a rod or connecting member is positioned within the yoke portion of the bone screw. Caps are then placed in a pre-lock position within the yokes. The bone screws may be compressed together or distracted along the rod or connecting member, thereby setting the final spacing of the bones or bone segments. Finally the caps are moved to a final lock position to fix the screws to the rod or connecting member to maintain the bones in position relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew P. Gephart, Matthew N. Songer, Ernest N. Corrao, Phillip J. Berman
  • Patent number: 10194945
    Abstract: An electrical insulator is applied to a bone anchor, for instance of a bone implant, such as an external fixation frame, so as to prevent undesirable temperature increases in the bone anchor and surrounding anatomical tissue when subjected magnetic resonance imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John Disegi, Thomas Joseph Maughan
  • Patent number: 10194958
    Abstract: A surgical instrument comprises a first arm connected with a longitudinal element and a first spinal construct. The first arm is connected with the longitudinal element and includes a body engageable with a first spinal construct and rotatable relative to the first arm in a first orientation and a second orientation. A second arm is axially translatable relative to the first arm and includes a body engageable with a second spinal construct and is rotatable relative to the second arm in a first orientation and a second orientation. The bodies include locks. In some embodiments, spinal constructs, implants, systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Warsaw Othopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Dustin Bobbitt, David A. Mire
  • Patent number: 10172659
    Abstract: The present invention relates in certain embodiments to medical devices for treating vertebral compression fractures. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to instruments and methods for controllably restoring vertebral body height by controlling the flow of bone cement into the interior of a vertebra and the application of forces causes by the cement flow. An exemplary system utilizes Rf energy in combination a conductive bone cement for selectively polymerizing the inflow plume to increase the viscosity of the cement. In one aspect of the invention, the system utilizes a controller to control bone cement flow parameters to either allow or disallow cement interdigitation into cancellous bone. A method of the invention includes pulsing the flows of bone cement wherein high acceleration of the flow pulses can apply expansion forces across the surface of the cement plume to reduce a vertebral fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: DFINE, Inc.
    Inventors: Csaba Truckai, John H. Shadduck
  • Patent number: 10172646
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a clamp. The clamp can include a first clamp member, a second clamp member, and a lever. The first clamp member can include a first gripping surface. The second clamp member can include a second gripping surface. The lever can be connected to the first clamp member and can define a cam located proximate the first clamp member. The lever can be pivotable between a first position and a second position. A transition from the first position to the second position can cause the cam to move the second clamp member towards the first clamp member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Thomas Slagle
  • Patent number: 10149769
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes inserting a respective uncinate joint stabilizer into each uncinate joint along a medial-to-lateral direction starting from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment, and securing each uncinate joint stabilizer to the respective uncinate joint. A system for stabilizing a cervical spine segment includes a pair of uncinate joint stabilizers, each (a) elongated along a lengthwise dimension and configured for placement in the respective uncinate joint with the lengthwise dimension substantially oriented along an anterior-to-posterior direction of the cervical spine segment, (b) having height configured to define spacing of the respective uncinate joint, (c) and including a tapered portion for interfacing with superior and inferior surfaces of the respective uncinate joint and to enable insertion of the uncinate joint stabilizer into the respective uncinate joint from intervertebral disc space of the cervical spine segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: UNCINATE JOINT, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey John Larson, Theodore P. Bertele
  • Patent number: 10136994
    Abstract: A composite interbody device includes (a) a plastic core having a superior surface and an inferior surface, (b) a superior endplate and (c) an inferior endplate. Each of the superior and inferior endplates includes (i) a bone interface side for interfacing with bone and having a plurality of pores permitting bone growth therein, and (ii) a core interface side, opposite the bone interface side, having a plurality of voids that accommodate material of the plastic core to couple the endplate to a respective one of the superior and inferior surfaces, wherein the voids are isolated from the pores to prevent the material of the plastic core from entering the pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: SB Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Theodore P. Bertele, Scott K. Stanley
  • Patent number: 10123829
    Abstract: The present subject disclosure provides a novel design for devices and methods for straightening a curved spine by using a reduction tool to move the spine with respect to an attached bone plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Brotman, Gregory M. Mundis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10117678
    Abstract: A screw insertion instrument includes a housing, a knob, a drive shaft, and a screw alignment post. The housing includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, and the proximal portion includes a proximal body portion defining a channel extending longitudinally therethrough along a longitudinal axis of the housing. The knob is coupled to the proximal portion of the housing and defines an aperture therethrough that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing. The drive shaft extends through the aperture of the knob and the proximal portion of the housing. The screw alignment post is coupled to the distal portion of the housing and is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventor: Olivia Angus
  • Patent number: 10111691
    Abstract: Intramedullary systems, expandable intramedullary nails, expandable anchors, and methods of using the same. The intramedullary system may include an expandable intramedullary nail configured to extend into an intramedullary canal of a long bone and/or one or more expandable anchors configured to extend at an angle transverse to the intramedullary nail. The intramedullary nails and/or anchors may include one or more integrated expansion mechanisms that allow for insertion in a contracted configuration and expansion into a deployed configuration to lock the relative position and prevent axial rotation and translation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Jansen, Kurt Faulhaber, Todd Peterson
  • Patent number: 10098751
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for restoration of human or animal bone anatomy, which may include introduction, into a bone of an expansible implant capable of expansion in a single determined plane, positioning the expansible implant in the bone in order to correspond the single determined plane with a bone restoration plane and opening out the expansible implant in the bone restoration plane. A first support surface and a second support surface spread tissues within bone. The embodiments of the invention may also include injecting a filling material around the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Oglaza, Christian Renaud, Alain Leonard, Gildas Huet
  • Patent number: 10092333
    Abstract: Intramedullary systems, expandable intramedullary nails, expandable anchors, and methods of using the same. The intramedullary system may include an expandable intramedullary nail configured to extend into an intramedullary canal of a long bone and/or one or more expandable anchors configured to extend at an angle transverse to the intramedullary nail. The intramedullary nails and/or anchors may include one or more integrated expansion mechanisms that allow for insertion in a contracted configuration and expansion into a deployed configuration to lock the relative position and prevent axial rotation and translation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: David Jansen
  • Patent number: 10092328
    Abstract: Hydraulically expandable spinal rods and methods of use thereof are disclosed. The spinal rod may include a piston rod, a static rod, and a hydraulic pressure chamber for accepting hydraulic fluid and causing the piston rod to move in an expansion direction relative to the static rod. Upon connection of the piston and static rods to a patient's spinal column, the hydraulic spinal rod may be expanded to aid in correction of an underlying spinal deformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Amir Ali Sharifi-Mehr, Oliver Buchert
  • Patent number: 10092326
    Abstract: A device (10) for locking unicortical pins, comprising: a pin-locking arm (101) provided with two seats (101a, 101b) suitable for locking a corresponding number of unicortical pins (100); and a connection base (102), intended to couple with a connecting body (11) of an anchoring group (20) for an external fixator (1), locking means (103) configured to act simultaneously on the seats (101a, 101b), locking in position two unicortical pins (100) inserted therein, wherein said locking means (103) comprise deformable spheres (103a, 103b) which are passed through by an insertion channel (1031) for the unicortical pins (100), and a pressure plate (103c) acting on the seats (101a, 101b) for compress both said deformable spheres (103a, 103b) locking in position the unicortical pins (100) inserted in the respective insertion channels (1031).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Orthofix S.R.L.
    Inventors: Enrico Zandona′, Andrea Ottoboni, Daniele Venturini, Michele Coati