Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Depuy Spine, Inc.

Medos International Sarl

Other

Chrysler Group LLC

Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp.

Michael Mahoney

Sara Dziedzic

Christopher L Ramsay

Ronald Garner

Ramon Alberto Ruberte

Nicholas Pavento

David Greg Anderson

William J Frasier

Paul Joseph Birkmeyer

Steven C Ludwig

Timothy Beardsley

Dale W Frank

Ron Naughton

Michael Wang

Michael J O'Neil

John Riley Hawkins

Michael Alan Fisher

Shawn D Stad

SeungKyu Daniel Kwak

Sean P Selover

Christopher Mickiewicz

Jonathan P Fanger

Charles M Bartish

John S Thalgott

Katherine Herard

Holly Brideau

Erin Dupak

Robert P Smith

Tina Easterbrooks

Ramon Roberte

Jayson Varghese

Prudence A McIntosh

D Paul Stannard

Joan B Rabaut

Danny L Laethem

Holly R Brideau

A clinch fastener with a single-element, unitary construction that does not require the preassembly of parts. The fastener provides a clamp load after installation and is fully formed by stamping the part from sheet metal. The fastener provides the necessary rigidity for a clinch attachment shank with the resilience of a head that will provide a residual clamp load to the attached panels. The fastener attaches two panels face-to-face by extending through aligned apertures in the panels. A shank undercut receives the cold flow of material from the second bottom panel while the panels are clamped against a resilient dome-shaped head of the fastener. The fastener may include a central axial well that receives the tip of a press punch during installation.

Clamping clinch fastener

The present invention provides a device and methodology for use in spinal fusion surgeries. An implant is proved for forming a rigid structure between adjoining vertebrae in a patient. The implant is a cage defined by at least a first end, second end, first side, and second side surface, wherein first and second side surfaces extend substantially parallel to each other to span a space between adjoining vertebrae and first and second ends interconnect said first side surface and second side surface. The cage incorporates one or more flexible joints that allow the cage to be deformed for insertion into a patient. The ability to deform the cage allows a greater ease and flexibility in inserting and positioning the implant.

Spinal fusion implant

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae during surgical procedures for implanting spinal prostheses. In an exemplary embodiment, a distractor is disclosed that maintains the empty space between adjacent vertebrae following a discectomy, and that can removably mate with other surgical instruments, such as, for example, a filler bar, an implanting tool, or a funnel. In other embodiments of the present invention a distractor is disclosed having various features to assist in implanting a spinal prosthesis, such as, for example, an angled distal end and/or an expandable paddle. In another embodiment of the present invention, an articulating inserter is disclosed. Moreover, various implants and funnels are also disclosed herein.

Systems and methods for spinal surgery

Embodiments of the present invention provide an implant having a protrusion. The protrusion aids in the insertion and placement of the implant as well as the spinal fixation element. In certain embodiments the protrusion may be configured as a guide for the insertion of the spinal fixation element as well as closure mechanisms for connecting the spinal fixation element to the implant.

Implants for securing spinal fixation elements

A spinal implant with at least one flexible elongated extension element is provided. The spinal implant has a profile that is lower than standard spinal implants. The spinal implant includes a bone anchor with a head portion and a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the bone anchor. A head plate is coupled to the bone anchor. The head plate includes a first elongated extension element and a second elongated extension element. The first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element may be formed as a single monolithic element that is attached to the head plate by passing through a pair of openings provided on the head plate. At least one of the first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element is flexible.

Spinal implant with a flexible extension element

A minimally invasive fixation system and installation method is provided. The system includes a rod having an anchor fixation head, an anchor system for anchoring the rod using the anchor fixation head, and a guide system configured to attach to the anchor fixation head of the rod for the insertion of the additional anchor systems. In one embodiment, a method for placing a spinal fixation element relative to a vertebra is provided. The method includes inserting the spinal fixation element relative to the vertebra; connecting the spinal fixation element to a first vertebra with a first anchor; manipulating the spinal fixation element relative to the first anchor to align the spinal fixation element with a second vertebra; fixing the position of the spinal fixation element relative to the first bone anchor; determining an anchor site on a second vertebra using a guide system connected to the spinal fixation element; inserting a second anchor at an anchor site on second vertebra; and connecting the second anchor to the spinal fixation element to fix the spinal fixation element relative to the first vertebra and second vertebra.

Minimally invasive guide system

Growing community of inventors

Middletown, RI, United States of America

Michael Mahoney