Sdgi Holdings, Inc.

Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Spine Wave, Inc.

Danek Medical

Other

Palmetto Biomedical Inc.

Dow Corning Wright Corp.

Sofamor Danek Group, Inc.

Orthoclip LLC

Lawrence M Boyd

Eddie F Ray, Iii

Mingyan Liu

Charles L Branch

Bradley T Estes

Loic Josse

John A Pafford

Thomas A Zdeblick

Jeffrey Kozak

Andrew James Carter

Mark D LoGuidice

Kevin Thomas Foley

Thomas Wilson

Keith Collins

Jared W Walkenhorst

Harald Ebner

Dennis Lee

Lance M Middleton

Gary Karlin Michelson

George A Frey

Thomas V McGahan

J Kenneth Burkus

John D Dorchak

Maureen L Upton

John J Ratcliffe

Jean-Charles Moreau

Jean-Louis Chevalier

Louis-Marie Rabbe

William F McKay

Tim E Adamson

James E Van Hoeck

Richard M Salib

Kenneth A Pettine

Samuel Scott Adams

Tyler Lipschultz

Daniel T Robbins

Joshua M Morin

Shresta Marigowda

Thomas J Barbieri

Mark W Bender

Paul John Grata

Douglas Kirven

Lance Middlelton

Upton L Maureen

Louis Marie Rabbe

Matthew Penny

Eddie F Ray

John J Ratcliffe, Jr

Samuel B Adams, Jr

Matthew R Penny

Cody Blazek

Bradely T Estes

An apparatus is provided herein for dilating bodily tissue and for monitoring neural activity in the distracted bodily tissue. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a first dilator having a tubular body with a distal end, a proximal end, and at least one electrode mounted about a circumference thereof; and, a second dilator having a tubular body of electrically-insulative material, the tubular body having a distal end, a proximal end, and a lumen extending therebetween sized to permit the second dilator to subsequently telescopically slide over the first dilator and come into overlapping coaxial alignment with the first dilator. A discrete window is formed through the tubular body, at or near the distal end, in communication with the lumen. With the second dilator being in overlapping coaxial alignment with the first dilator, the window is located to come into registration with at least one electrode such that, upon rotation of the second dilator relative to the first dilator, the window is positionally adjustable about the circumference of the first dilator. Advantageously, in addition to detecting the proximity of a nerve to the first dilator, the apparatus permits determination of the direction of the nerve from the first dilator. This facilitates more efficient re-positioning of the apparatus for avoidance of nerves, if a new path is necessary.

Apparatus for dilating bodily tissue and for monitoring neural activity in the dilated bodily tissue

An adjustable light for a medical environment comprises a first housing adapted for engagement with a handle of an overhead light, a second housing including a lamp operatively connected to a power source for generating illuminating light, and a flexible shaft extending between and interconnecting the first housing at a proximal end of the shaft and the second housing at a distal end of the shaft. The first housing is adapted to be releasably coupled to the handle of the overhead light over a work area such that the flexible arm and the second housing are selectively movable relative to the first housing toward a target in the work area for illuminating the target.

Adjustable surgical light device and system

Adjustable surgical light device

A percutaneous system in which tubular retractors are utilized as a means of access, visualization, and a controlled orientation for preparation of posterior spinal elements and delivery of graft material for posterior spinal fusion. The tubular retractors are affixed to screw extensions to rotate and articulate relative to multi-axial screws percutaneously inserted into respective pedicles of vertebral bodies. The procedure is done bilaterally, although it could be performed unilaterally in cases where the anatomy or surgeon preference dictates. A number of different deployable graft concepts are disclosed, the primary features being to allow for creation of a graft space volume and a means for delivery of the graft material preferred by the surgeon.

Minimally invasive posterolateral fusion

In one aspect, an instrument for placing a graft, implant and/or graft material at a target site for enhancing posterolateral fusion between two or more vertebrae is provided which includes a housing and an actuable trigger associated with the housing. A curved rigid access tube extends from the housing, the access tube terminating at a distal end. A sheath is disposed about, and moveable relative to the access tube, and a transmission is disposed in the housing. In an initial state, the sheath extends distally past the distal end of the access tube, a space being defined within the sheath distally of the distal end of the access tube to accommodate the graft, implant and/or graft material. The transmission is configured to cause an incremental displacement of the sheath relative to the distal end of the access tube upon an actuation of the trigger.

Instrument and system for placing graft, implant and graft material for minimally invasive posterolateral fusion

A device is provided for use with a medical implant for delivering an agent to a designated site of action in a body of a patient. The agent-delivery device comprises a body member having an inner surface and a projection on the inner surface of the body member. An agent-delivery medium is associated with the body member. The agent-delivery medium includes a therapeutic agent for treating the body of the patient. The body member is adapted to be secured to the medical implant such that the projection operatively engages the medical implant for spacing the inner surface of the body member from the implant, and the agent-delivery medium is configured to release the therapeutic agent after implantation in the body of the patient. In alternative embodiments, the agent-delivery device comprises a first body member having an inner surface and a second body member having an inner surface. When connected, the inner surfaces of the first body member and the second body member define a cavity adapted to receive the medical implant. The body member may also define an opening therethrough, the opening configured to receive an anchor member for fixing the body member in a body of a patient.

Device and method for delivery of therapeutic agents via internal implants

A plate of biocompatible material is provided having curvature in two planes such that it conforms to the curvature of the L5 vertebral body and to the patient's lordotic curve. Holes are provided receiving screws for anchorage in the vertebral body and sacrum. A flange or foot portion on the plate provides a wider base end area for support in the L5-S1 interspace. The foot portion is also arranged for appropriate entry angle of screws into the sacrum such as to improve anchorage in the sacrum. Anti-backout and low profile features are incorporated. The anterior lumbar plate is situated to maintain the anterior interbody bone graft in compression by resisting tensile forces during extension.

Anterior lumbar plate and method

A method for the pre-treatment of an intervertebral disc prior to the introduction of a disc prosthesis or implant includes removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc to expose at least a portion of the endplate of an adjacent vertebra to the disc. A fluent treatment material is then injected into the disc space to come into contact with the portion of the endplate. The fluent treatment material is operable to prepare the portion of the endplate to accommodate a disc prosthesis, implant or graft subsequently introduced into the disc space. Different fluent treatment materials are provided that depend upon the condition of the vertebral endplates.

System and method for the pretreatment of the endplates of an intervertebral disc

A method for treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc comprises the steps of: (a) providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus; (b) removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space; (c) determining the size of the intradiscal space; and (d) sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through the annulus directly into the intradiscal space. The step of determining the size of the intradiscal space may be accomplished by expanding a compliant balloon within the intradiscal space using a contrast medium capable of visualization under fluoroscopy. The curable material is sealably introduced through a vented needle inserted through the opening. The curable biomaterial is introduced until a quantity of the material flows into the vent.

Methods for injecting a curable biomaterial into an intervertebral space

Intervertebral spacers and methods of promoting fusion bone growth in the space between adjacent vertebrae are provided. The spacers include an elongated body having a first end, a second end and an outer surface. Side walls connect the first and second ends. The elongated body also defines an interior cavity. The side wall defines an opening to the interior cavity in a side of the elongated body. At least one of the first and second ends has a discontinuity, such as a concave surface, for nesting with an adjacent spacer. The methods of promoting fusion bone growth include utilizing the inventive spacers described herein.

Intervertebral spacers with side wall accessible interior cavity

This invention relates to implants formed from donor bone for use in lumbar interbody fusion procedures and instruments for performing such procedures. The implants are formed to include a concave surface formed from a portion of the medullary canal of a long bone. The concave surface defines a recess in the implant that serves as a depot for osteogenic material. Specific instruments for inserting the implants prepared according to this invention and for preparing the intervertebral space to receive the implants are also provided.

Interbody fusion grafts and instrumentation

Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.

Expandable intervertebral spacers

Spinal spacersare provided for fusion of a motion segment. The spacers include a load bearing memberhaving a wallsized for engagement within a space between adjacent vertebrae to maintain the space and an effective amount of an osteogenic composition to stimulate osteoinduction. The osteogenic composition includes a substantially pure osteogenic factor in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In one embodiment the load bearing member includes a bone graft impregnated in an osteogenic composition. In another embodiment, the osteogenic compositionis packed within a chamberdefined in the graft. Any suitable configuration of a bone graft is contemplated, including bone dowels, D-shaped spacers and cortical rings.

Bone grafts

This invention relates to devices and instruments for implant insertion through a posterior lateral opening to the disc space. The instruments include an implant inserter, and the devices include a spinal fusion implant engageable by the implant inserter. The implant provides bilateral support of the adjacent vertebrae when inserted into the disc space from a postero-lateral approach.

Devices and techniques for a posterior lateral disc space approach

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Lawrence M Boyd