Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080287981 | DILATION INTRODUCER AND METHODS FOR ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY - A method is provided for a minimally invasive procedure utilizing the telescoping dilation introducer to insert a bone fixation device into a patient's spine for posterior spine fusion. The dilation introducer has a locked assembled configuration for placement of the dilation introducer against a patient's bone tissue to be treated, and an unlocked, collapsed configuration for dilating the patient's soft tissue down to the bone tissue to be treated to a desired degree of dilation to permit minimally invasive surgical procedures on the patient's bone tissue to be treated. Dilator tubes are successively released and advanced to progressively expand the patient's soft tissue down to the bone tissue to be treated. | 11-20-2008 |
20080306537 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL STABILIZATION - A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body, an inferior vertebral body, and an intermediate vertebral body that is disposed between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies of a patient. The method can comprise: advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the intermediate vertebral body; positioning a proximal portion of the stabilization device such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between the superior vertebral body and the intermediate vertebral body by contacting a surface of the superior vertebral body; and advancing a distal end of a fixation device into a facet of the intermediate vertebral body and into a facet or pedicle of the inferior vertebral body for stabilizing the intermediate vertebral body and the inferior vertebral body. | 12-11-2008 |
20090069813 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BONE FIXATION WITH SECONDARY COMPRESSION - Disclosed is a fracture fixation device, for reducing and compressing fractures in a bone. The fixation device includes an elongate body comprising a first portion and a second portion that are detachably coupled to each other. The first portion defines a helical cancellous bone anchor and the second portion defines a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device and is rotationally locked to the first portion. The device is rotated into position across the femoral neck and into the femoral head, and the proximal anchor is distally advanced to lock the device into place. The second portion is then detached from the first portion. | 03-12-2009 |
20100174314 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL STABILIZATION - A method of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body of a patient includes advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the inferior vertebral body. A proximal portion of the stabilization device is positioned such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebral body and an inferior vertebral body by contacting a surface of the superior vertebral body. | 07-08-2010 |
20100331891 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPINAL FIXATION - A system and method of bone fixation are provided for improving the bone growth and stability of the fixated bones. For example, a target site for a bone fixation procedure can be accessed at a facet of a first vertebra using a tissue dilator. Bone material can be disrupting from or at the target site, and a bone fixation device can be installed to fix the first vertebra relative to a second vertebra. The disruption and/or removal of the bone material, such as by rasping facets or a facet joint of the first vertebra and the second vertebra, can tend to promote bone growth. Further, it is contemplated that bone graft material can be inserted at the target site, such as into a joint space formed between facets of the first vertebra and the second vertebra. | 12-30-2010 |
20110040332 | SPINOUS PROCESS SPACER AND IMPLANTATION PROCEDURE - A spinal fixation procedure and system are provided for fixing the spacing of an inferior vertebra relative to a superior vertebra. The procedure for implanting a spinous process spacer can comprise decorticating and/or forming a notch in adjacent spinous processes, measuring the distance between the notches formed in the spinous processes, and inserting an interspinous process implant such that the implant is fitted into the notches of the spinous processes. Other fixation devices, such as bone screws, can also be used for fixing the position of the vertebrae and to create facet fusion. | 02-17-2011 |
20110152933 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL STABILIZATION - A method and apparatus of limiting at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae of a patient includes advancing a distal end of a stabilization device into a pedicle of the inferior vertebrae. A proximal portion of the stabilization device is positioned such that the proximal portion limits at least one degree of movement between a superior vertebrae and an inferior vertebrae by contacting a surface of the superior vertebrae. | 06-23-2011 |
20110218575 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL FIXATION - Fusion of cervical spinal vertebrae with one or more fixation devices can be accomplished with the described tools and methods. For example, a guidewire introducer can include a tubular introducer cannula and a handle. The handle can be angularly offset from the introducer cannula such that positioning of the introducer on the cervical spine does not interfere with a patient's head. A sheath assembly can include inner and outer sheath bodies and a handle. The handle is angularly offset from the sheath bodies such that the sheath assembly can be applied to the cervical spine without interference to the patient's head. The sheath body can be curved or straight. Various tools such as drills, tapping devices, compression tools, and pin release tools can be applied to the cervical spine through the sheath body to apply the fixation device. The tools can include elongate flexible shafts. | 09-08-2011 |
20120191136 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SPINAL FIXATION - Disclosed is a fixation device for spinal fixation. The fixation device includes an elongated body comprising a bone anchor at a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device. In one embodiment, the device is inserted through a first vertebra and the bone anchor is rotated into positioned within a second vertebra. The proximal anchor is distally advanced with respect to the bone anchor to provide compression across the first and second vertebra. In other embodiments, the device is used to secure stabilization devices across two or more vertebra. | 07-26-2012 |
20120215262 | SPINOUS PROCESS SPACER AND IMPLANTATION PROCEDURE - A spinal fixation procedure and system are provided for fixing the spacing of an inferior vertebra relative to a superior vertebra. The procedure for implanting a spinous process spacer can comprise decorticating and/or forming a notch in adjacent spinous processes, measuring the distance between the notches formed in the spinous processes, and inserting an interspinous process implant such that the implant is fitted into the notches of the spinous processes. Other fixation devices, such as bone screws, can also be used for fixing the position of the vertebrae and to create facet fusion. | 08-23-2012 |
20120277795 | DISTAL BONE ANCHORS FOR BONE FIXATION WITH SECONDARY COMPRESSION - Disclosed is a bone fracture fixation device, such as for reducing and compressing fractures in the proximal femur. The fixation device includes an elongate body with a helical cancellous bone anchor on a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device. The device is rotated into position across the fracture or separation between adjacent bones and into the adjacent bone or bone fragment, and the proximal anchor is distally advanced to apply secondary compression and lock the device into place. The device may also be used for soft tissue attachments. | 11-01-2012 |
20120283750 | MENISCUS REPAIR - Methods for repairing a meniscus, and particularly a torn meniscus. A method of repairing a meniscus may include using a suture passer to pass a suturing element from the region between the superior surface of the meniscus and the femoral condyle, through the meniscus tissue, into the region between the inferior surface of the meniscus and the tibial plateau, across the inferior surface of the meniscus, and back to the superior surface of the meniscus, without deeply penetrating the posterior capsular region of the knee. Equivalently, the suture element may be passed from the inferior surface of the meniscus to the superior surface and back to the inferior surface. | 11-08-2012 |
20140142629 | DISTAL BONE ANCHORS FOR BONE FIXATION WITH SECONDARY COMPRESSION - Disclosed is a bone fracture fixation device, such as for reducing and compressing fractures in the proximal femur. The fixation device includes an elongate body with a helical cancellous bone anchor on a distal end. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device. The device is rotated into position across the fracture or separation between adjacent bones and into the adjacent bone or bone fragment, and the proximal anchor is distally advanced to apply secondary compression and lock the device into place. The device may also be used for soft tissue attachments. | 05-22-2014 |
20150018891 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BONE FIXATION WITH SECONDARY COMPRESSION - Disclosed is a fracture fixation device, for reducing and compressing fractures in a bone. The fixation device includes an elongate body. An axially moveable proximal anchor is carried by the proximal end of the fixation device and comprises a tubular sleeve that includes a plurality of graduations positioned on an outer surface of the tubular sleeve. The device is rotated into position across the femoral neck and into the femoral head, and the proximal anchor is distally advanced to lock the device into place. In certain embodiments, the elongated body includes a distal anchor with a distal cutting tip. | 01-15-2015 |