Life Spine, Inc.

Kara A Bucci

Michael S Butler

Madeline C Wolters

Brian D Hartsell

Daniel P Predick

Michael Joseph Milella, Jr

Howard S An

Interspinous/inter-laminar spinal spacers are configured to be placed between bony structures of adjacent vertebrae. In one form, a spinal spacer includes a body including a first plate having a first wing configured to engage a first vertebra and a second wing configured to engage a second vertebra, and a post extending from the first plate to define a longitudinal axis, the post having a bullet nose; a second plate slidably coupled to the post of the body, the second plate including a first wing configured to engage the first vertebra; and a second wing configured to engage the second vertebra; wherein the second plate defines a first bore configured to receive the post, and wherein the bullet nose is designed to pierce through an interspinous ligament between the first vertebra and the second the vertebra so that the interspinous ligament can hold the implant in place.

Flexible and static interspinous/inter-laminar spinal spacers

Interspinous/inter-laminar spinal spacers are configured to be placed between bony structures of adjacent vertebrae. In one form, spinal spacers are defined by a unitary body comprising a first contoured plate and a second contoured plate. The first contoured plate comprises first and second wings configured to engage first and second vertebra, and a post extending from the contoured plate and having a bullet nose and an outer surface with a curved portion and a planar portion. The second contoured plate is slidably coupled to the post of the body and comprises first and second wings configured to engage first and second vertebra, a rear portion extending between the first wing and the second wing, and a front portion extending between the first wing and the second wing. The first wing, second wing, rear portion, and front portion define a first bore configured to receive the post.

A laminoplasty rod and rod system that allows for variable angulation, translation (distraction and/or compression) and rotation of a spinal lamina bone portion associated with a laminoplasty. The laminoplasty rod is used with a polyaxial spinal rod bone screw assembly anchored to the vertebra associated with the laminoplasty, and is attachable to the spinal lamina bone portion. The laminoplasty rod system provides positional attachment of the rod to the spinal components and fixation thereof in various orientations. The laminoplasty rod system includes a configured laminoplasty rod that fits into or onto the head of a polyaxial spinal rod bone screw assembly. A bone screw boss, defining a bone screw attachment configuration, is formed at one end of the laminoplasty rod. Preferably, but not necessarily, the bone screw boss is situated at an angled end of the rod having a pre-defined bend that provides for greater variation in rod orientation.

Laminoplasty rod system

A spinous process spacer that is designed to maintain a desired spatial relationship between adjacent vertebrae, is configured for introduction into a spinal implant site in a compressed state and then expands in situ. Once expanded, formations of the present spinal spacer form areas, pockets or spaces that receive at least one bony portion of each adjacent vertebra. The present spinous process spacer has a changeable circumferential profile wherein a first circumferential profile is smaller than a second circumferential profile in order to provide/achieve its compressed and expanded states. The first circumferential profile defines the collapsed position or state while the second circumferential profile defines the position or state. Upon implantation, the present spinous process spacer is not fixed to any bony structure of the vertebrae but provides support. In this regard, use of the spinous process spacer, by itself, will not result in vertebral fusion. However, fusion can result with the use of bone graft packed about the spinous processes (and the spinous process spacer) or in conjunction with the use of an intervertebral body spacer.

Spinous process spacer

A spinal implant assembly combines a spinal interbody spacer with a spine plate. The combined spacer and plate assembly provides stabilization and torsional resistance to promote fusion of adjacent vertebrae. The spacer is configured for placement within an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae previously occupied by a spinal disc. The plate is configured for attachment to anterior sides of the adjacent vertebrae. Translation of the spinal plate allows it to be affixed to the vertebrae in various positions and/or allow movement post installation. In one form, the plate is defined by first and second spine plate or plate portions that are coupled to one another to allow rotation about each other. Ends of the first and second spine plates are received in/by the interbody spacer, while a pin extends through the interbody spacer to fix the first and second spine plates to the interbody spacer.

Combined spinal interbody and plate assemblies

A multi-axial spinal cross-connector is configured for connection between spinal fixation devices such as spinal fixation rods. The cross-connector has first and second connection members that are joinable at a fixable pivot junction. The pivot junction allows the connection members to assume various positions relative to one another. A clamp is provided on each end of the first and second connection members whose open and closed states are controlled by fixation of a pivot structure which also fixates the positions of the first and second connection members relative to each other. The cross-connector provides single and/or multi-step locking of both end clamps at the pivot joint. The cross-connector also provides easy in situ sizing, positioning and adjustability.

Multi-axial spinal cross-connectors

A spinal implant assembly combines a spinal interbody spacer with a spine plate. The combined spinal interbody spacer and spine plate assembly provides stabilization and torsional resistance to promote fusion of adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The interbody spacer is configured for placement within an intervertebral space between the adjacent vertebrae previously occupied by a spinal disc. The spinal plate is configured for attachment to anterior sides of the adjacent vertebrae (either on or within the vertebrae). The spinal plate may translate relative to the interbody spacer or it may be fixed relative to the interbody spacer. Translation of the spinal plate allows it to be affixed to the vertebrae in various positions and/or allow movement post installation. In one form, the spinal plate is defined by first and second spine plate or plate portions that are coupled to one another to allow rotation about each other. Ends of the first and second spine plates are received in/by the interbody spacer, while a pin extends through the interbody spacer to fix the first and second spine plates to the interbody spacer. In another form, the spinal plate is defined by first and second spine plates or plate portions that are movably retained by the interbody spacer. In call cases, the first and second spine plates each have one, two or more screw holes for accepting a bone screw for fixing the spine plates to the adjacent vertebrae.

An orthopedic implant such as a spinal implant is made from a elastic biocompatible material (e.g. polyetheretherketone or PEEK) to provide a hinge that allows portions of the orthopedic implant to be folded into a closed position and to inherently deploy into an open position upon release of a folding bias. Hence, the orthopedic implant can accommodate a minimally invasive surgical procedure since the orthopedic implant can be introduced into the disc space in the closed position through a small-diameter insertion tube and then deploy to a particular height once the implant is released from the insertion tube (i.e. from release of the folding bias). The present implant is preferably, but not necessarily, made by injection molded PEEK. In this manner, the implant components are molded in the open position to cause the open position to be its innate position or form, thus allowing the implant to self-deploy (self-expand) when it is released from the folding bias.

Foldable orthopedic implant

A spinal cross-connector is configured for adjustable connection between spinal fixation devices such as spinal fixation rods and allows for adjustment in length or distance between adjacent spinal rod clamping members and provides independent rotational adjustment of the two spinal rod clamping members for individual and independent attachment thereof to adjacent spinal rods of a spinal rod assembly. The cross-connector has first and second connection members that are adjustable in length and rotation relative to one another. A first spinal rod clamping member is provided on an end of the first connection member and defines first and second arced jaws that are adapted to clamp onto a first spinal rod. A second spinal rod clamping member is provided on an end of the second connection member and defines first and second arced jaws that are adapted to clamp onto a second spinal rod. Both the first and second clamping members are rotatable relative to the connection arms and thus provide the rotational adjustment. The individual and independent rotational adjustment of the spinal rod clamping members allows the present cross-connector to adjust to variations in skew between adjacent spinal rods as well as provide the ability to attach to the adjacent spinal rods at various angles between the adjacent spinal rods.

Spinal cross-connector

Interspinous/inter-laminar spinal spacers (spinal spacers) are configured to be placed between bony structures (i.e. transverse and spinous processes) of adjacent vertebrae of a spine. In one form, flexible spinal spacers are defined by a unitary body that is configured to be placed between bony structures of adjacent vertebrae of a spine. The unitary body has a flex portion that provides for motion between the adjacent vertebrae to which it is coupled. The flex portion is configurable to provide for various degrees of angulation, flexion, extension and/or compression of the present flexible spinal spacer. In another form, static spinal spacers are defined by a unitary body that is configured to be placed between bony structures of adjacent vertebrae of a spine. The unitary body has saddle-shaped ends each defining a pocket that is configured to receive a bony structure of a vertebra. The pockets may or may not be textured and/or may or may not include teeth, serrations or ridged surfaces to secure the spinal spacer to the bony structure.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Kara A Bucci