Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Depuy Spine, Inc.

Depuy Spine Sarl

Dupuy Spine, Inc.

Erasmo A Lopez

Amie R Borgstrom

Ramon Alberto Ruberte

John Riley Hawkins

SeungKyu Daniel Kwak

Christopher W Sicvol

Kristina Snyder

Charles M Bartish

Paul Joseph Birkmeyer

Michael Zajack

Douglas R LaSota

Christopher L Ramsay

Benjamin Arnold

Douglas Raymond

Sean P Selover

Bryan S Jones

Jonathan Bellas

Missoum Moumene

Anwar M Upal

Seungkyu Daniel Kwak

William L Dunbar, Jr

James J Roveda

Seung Kyu Daniel Kwak

Seung-kyu Daniel Kwak

Brian Murphy

Dylan Jones

Robert Coughlin

Timothy Nicoletti

A bone plate having at least one variable angle locking hole is described. The variable angle locking hole allows a bone anchor having a threaded head to be driven into underlying bone while oriented at an angle with respect to a central hole axis of the hole that is within a range of angles at which the head is configured to threadedly mate with the at least one thread of the bone plate. Accordingly, the bone anchor can be driven into the underlying bone until the threaded head threadedly purchases with the bone plate inside the variable angle locking hole.

Variable angle bone plate

Variable angel bone plate

A spine stabilization system includes at least one bone anchor assembly, the bone anchor assembly including a bone engaging member and a receiver member, wherein the receiver member includes a connecting member cavity, and an elongated connecting member inserted into the connecting member cavity and connected to the receiver member, wherein the connecting member comprises locking features configured to secure the connecting member to the receiver member without the use of a fixation screw extending through a top portion of the receiver member.

Spinal anchoring screw

A spinal fixation element is provided having a feature formed thereon that facilitates placement of the spinal fixation element through an access device, thus allowing the spinal fixation element to be positioned in relation to a spinal anchor that is coupled to the access device and that is implanted in a vertebra in a patient's spine. The feature also optionally facilitates placement of the spinal fixation element in relation to spinal anchors implanted in adjacent vertebrae. In particular, the spinal fixation element is adapted for use with an access device that has at least one slot or opening formed therein and having a width that is less than a width of the feature, thus preventing the feature from passing therethrough. The spinal fixation element can therefore be inserted through the access device, and a portion of the fixation element can be passed through the slot or opening in the access device while the feature is retained in the access device. As a result, the feature is seated within a spinal anchor that is coupled to the access device, and the remaining portion of the spinal fixation element can extend through the slot, preferably to be positioned within a spinal anchor disposed within an adjacent vertebra.

Spinal fixation element and methods

An intervertebral disc prosthesis comprises a left prosthesis component and a symmetric right prosthesis component positioned in an intervertebral space. Each prosthesis component includes a superior vertebra facing surface, an inferior vertebra facing surface, and a substantially spherical bearing surface. The bearing surface is positioned between the superior vertebra facing surface and the inferior vertebra facing surface. The superior vertebra facing surface is provided on a superior endplate and the inferior vertebra facing surface is provided on an inferior endplate. The superior endplate is operable to rotate relative to the inferior endplate upon the bearing surface. Each prosthesis component further comprises an elastic member positioned between an endplate and the bearing surface. The elastic member may be substantially cylindrical with a plurality of resilient ribs. Flexion/extension, lateral bending, and torsional movement are allowed by a combination of endplate rotation upon the bearing surface and compression of the elastic member.

Intervertebral disc prosthesis having multiple bearing surfaces

An artificial disc replacement implant is provided that includes an implantable body having a superior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to an endplate of a superior vertebra, and an opposite inferior surface adapted to be positioned adjacent to an endplate of an adjacent inferior vertebrae. The implantable body includes at least one wall formed therein and extending between the superior and inferior surfaces. The wall(s) can be adapted such that, when the implantable body is disposed between the endplates of adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae, the wall(s) will buckle by moving laterally and shorting in height under a load applied thereto by movement of the adjacent vertebrae. The implantable body can also include at least one opening formed adjacent to the wall(s) and extending between the superior and inferior surfaces of the implantable body.

Buckling disc replacement

A percutaneous access device includes an inner tube and an outer tube disposed about at least a portion of the inner tube. The outer tube may be sized to span from a skin incision in a patient to a site proximate the spine of the patient. The distal end of the outer tube may be adapted to releasably engage a bone anchor. The inner tube may be adjustable relative to the outer tube between a first position and a second position in which the distal end of the inner tube contacts the bone anchor. A bone anchor assembly includes a bone anchor having a distal bone engaging portion and a receiving member having a recess for receiving a spinal fixation element. The proximal end of the receiving member may have an arcuate groove formed on an exterior surface thereof to facilitate connection of an instrument to the receiving member.

Percutaneous access devices and bone anchor assemblies

Various exemplary instruments for introducing an implant using a posterolateral approach are also provided, as well as various exemplary methods for using such instruments. In general, the instruments are configured to interconnect to an implant and/or to a guide member such that the components are all docked relative to one another. This allows the various components of a multi-piece implant to be mated intraoperatively within the disc space, and in particular to be guided into alignment with one another.

Methods and instrumentation for disc replacement

Methods and devices are provided for replacing a spinal disc. In an exemplary embodiment, artificial disc replacements and methods are provided wherein at least a portion of a disc replacement can be implanted using a posterolateral approach. With a posterolateral approach, the spine is accessed more from the side of the spinal canal through an incision formed in the patient's back. A pathway is created from the incision to the disc space between adjacent vertebrae. Portions of the posterolateral annulus, and posterior lip of the vertebral body may be removed to access the disc space, leaving the remaining annulus and the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments in tact. The disc implant can be at least partially introduced using a posterolateral approach, yet it has a size that is sufficient to restore height to the adjacent vertebrae, and that is sufficient to maximize contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.

Artificial disc replacement using posterior approach

Various methods and devices are provided for a facet replacement device. In one embodiment of the invention, a facet replacement device is provided and includes an elongate member matable to a first vertebra and a housing. The housing can have a connector formed thereon and matable to an adjacent second vertebra and an inner lumen formed therein. The housing can also include a deformable member disposed within the inner lumen and having an opening formed therein for slidably receiving at least a portion of the elongate member such that the elongate member can be angularly oriented relative to a longitudinal axis of the lumen.

Facet joint prosthesis

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Erasmo A Lopez