Zimmer Spine, Inc.

Jack A Dant

Hugh D Hestad

Eric P Jerke

Eric J Lundequam

Deborah Lynn Hoch

Thomas O Viker

Emmanuel Zylber

Thomas Egli

Rosemary E Thompson

Markus Froehlich

Kevin R Ley

Giuseppe Cicerchia

Peter G Schulte

Rodney L Houfburg

Robert Garryl Hudgins

Reginald James Davis

David A Hanson

Daniel Carlson

David W Castleman

Andrew Olson

Christopher Bargsten

Brad Kessler

David Mowry

Christopher M Banick

Emmanuel Zybler

A spinal stabilization system generally comprises first and second anchor members configured to be secured to first and second vertebrae within a patient's body, a flexible element secured to the first anchor member, and a rigid element secured to the second anchor member. An end portion of the rigid element is coupled to an end portion of the flexible so that the system is able to provide both rigid and dynamic stabilization. The coupling is maintained even if the flexible element relaxes after a period of time within the patient's body.

Spinal stabilization system with rigid and flexible elements

An adjustable apparatus for guiding medical instruments used in attaching bone plates. The apparatus has a handle assembly, guide member, a spacer, and an actuation member. The actuation member extends from the handle assembly and actuates the spacer between a position adjacent the guide member and a position spaced from the guide member. The spacer has a through hole that may axially align with a lumen extending through the guide member when in the first position and which is moved out of axial alignment with the lumen in the second position. The spacer may function as a depth stop to control the maximum depth a drill bit can extend from the guide member.

Drill guide for installing a bone plate

A transverse connector for coupling between first and second elongate members of a spinal stabilization system. The transverse connector includes a connector arm, a first coupling assembly proximate a first end of the arm, and a second coupling assembly proximate a second end of the arm. The first and second coupling assemblies are secured to the connector arm through a plurality of mating engagement features, such as dovetail grooves.

Transverse connector

A polyaxial bone anchor including a housing and a bone screw. A bottom surface of the housing includes an aperture that defines an angulation limit of the bone screw for each azimuthal angle around a longitudinal axis of the housing. The aperture is V-shaped, with the V-shape having converging side walls that define a low-angulation direction near their intersection and a high-angulation direction opposite the low-angulation direction. In some cases, the angulation limit of the bone screw is generally constant over a range of azimuthal angles centered around the high-angulation direction. The housing may be modular, including tabs on one component that are plastically deformed to engage a lip on another component. During assembly, a mandrel advances longitudinally along a bore in the housing, and forces the tabs radially outward toward the lip to a radially outward plastically deformed state.

Polyaxial pedicle screw with increased angulation

An intervertebral or spinal implant having a spacer, a cage, and a locking mechanism, where the locking mechanism may be configured to facilitate a connection between the spacer and the cage. In some cases, the spacer may include a distal end wall, a proximal end wall, a first lateral wall, and a second lateral wall, where the locking mechanism may be situated at the proximal end wall adjacent a receiving opening in the proximal end wall. The implant may have one or more spikes extending from a top and/or a bottom of the spacer to facilitate stabilizing the implant between vertebrae after insertion of the implant in the spinal column.

Interbody spacer

A transverse connector for coupling between first and second vertebral anchors of a spinal stabilization system. The transverse connector includes a first coupling assembly proximate a first end, a second coupling assembly proximate a second end, a first fastener having external threading configured to threadably engage an internal threaded portion of a housing of the first vertebral anchor, and a second fastener having external threading configured to threadably engage an internal threaded portion of a housing of the second vertebral anchor. Each of the first and second fasteners includes a spherical upper surface, such as a spherically concave upper surface. A spherical surface of each of the first and second coupling assemblies mates with the spherical upper surface of the respective fastener to provide multi-axial rotation of the transverse connector relative to the housings to permit a desired orientation of the transverse connector.

An assembly for post-operatively treating an abnormal curvature of vertebrae of a spinal column. The assembly includes an elongate member extending in a generally vertical direction along a posterior side of the spinal column and a transverse member fastened to a vertebra of the spinal column with a plurality of fasteners and extending in a generally horizontal direction. The transverse member has a threaded region. The assembly further includes a coupler coupling the elongate member to the transverse member. The coupler includes a rotating member threadedly engaged with the threaded region of the transverse member. Rotation of the rotating member provides lateral movement of the transverse member relative to the elongate member, thereby moving the vertebra in a horizontal direction and applying a corrective force to the vertebra.

Adjustable assembly for correcting spinal abnormalities

The present invention relates to flexible members for stabilizing a spinal column and methods for making the flexible members. In one embodiment, a flexible member comprises an inner elastomeric member and an outer fabric layer situated securely around the inner elastomeric member. The inner elastomeric member has a first elasticity to provide the flexible member with a desired flexibility. In another embodiment, the flexible member includes an outer covering that defines an outer elastomeric member. The outer elastomeric member may be situated securely around the outer fabric layer with the inner elastomeric member, the outer fabric layer, and the outer elastomeric member having the common lengthwise axis and defining the body including the opposing first and second ends. The outer elastomeric member may have a second elasticity that is less than the first elasticity.

Flexible member for use in a spinal column and method for making

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Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Jack A Dant