Vertiflex, Inc.

Ingeniumspine, LLC

Coalign Innovations, Inc.

Howmedica Osteonics Corporation

Auctus Surgical, Inc.

Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation

Murali P Kadaba

Daniel Huan Kim

Moti Altarac

John E Ashley

Joey Reglos

Yang Cheng

Philip Simpson

Walter Dean Gillespie

Rudy A Pretti

George Albert Mansfield

Thomas Grotz

Dennis Crandall

Shawn Tebbe

David G Matsuura

B Thomas Barker

Damien Shulock

Damien J Shulock

David L Brumfield

Philip J Simpson

George A Mansfield, Jr

John Barrett

Jason Datta

Joey Camia Reglos

Lyle M Young

Daniel H Kim

George A Iii Mansfield

George A Mansfield

Walter D Gillepie

Thomas R Grotz

Spinal curvature modulation systems, methods and related devices and instrumentation are disclosed, which include a flexible tether, a tether tensioning unit and bone anchors for the flexible tether that allow the tether to be secured across multiple vertebrae in a region of treatment. When the flexible tether is attached to multiple vertebrae, it can be used to correct spinal deformities. Tension in the flexible tether is adjustable transcutaneously without invasive surgical procedures by use of remotely driven actuators, such as a magnet-driven motor, or by a small tool insertable through a small incision. Disclosed systems and methods thus allow for multiple adjustments of tether tension, and spinal curvature, over time without repeated, highly invasive, spinal surgeries.

Spinal curvature modulation systems and methods

An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes in a spinal motion segment is provided. The spacer includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and passageway. A first arm and a second arm are connected to the body. Each arm has a pair of extensions and a saddle defining a U-shaped configuration for seating a spinous process therein. Each arm has a proximal earning surface and is capable of rotation with respect to the body. An actuator assembly is disposed inside the passageway and connected to the body. When advanced, a threaded shaft of the actuator assembly contacts the earning surfaces of arms to rotate them from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the distracted adjacent spinous processes are seated in the U-shaped portion of the arms.

Interspinous spacer

A sterile holder for sterile surgical implants. The implant holder is an ergonomically shaped body of deformable material having an implant-receiving cavity similar in size and shape to the implant. To remove the implant from the holder, the surgeon mates a sterile tool to the implant and gently pries the implant out of the holder by deforming the body. Preferably the tool used to pry the implant out of the body is an insertion tool mated to the implant which is also used to insert the implant in a patient. In this way the surgeon retrieves the implant from its container without touching the container and directly inserts the implant in the patient without risking contamination: sterility is maintained for both the surgeon and the implant. In a preferred embodiment, the implant holder is configured to hold two pedicle screws and their set-screws.

Sterile surgical implant holder

An expandable intervertebral spacer system having a cage formed by a top plate and a bottom plate which are held apart a changeable distance. An expansion mechanism within the cavity is configured to force the top plate apart from the bottom plate a desired distance. One expansion mechanism is an expansion spring that is held in a compressed state with a removable trigger wire that temporarily secures the top and bottom plates together. Once the spacer is implanted in a patient, the trigger wire is removed permitting the expansion spring to relax, in a single motion, to the farthest extent possible in an intervertebral space. The top plate and the bottom plate are locked apart using a locking mechanism made of two saw-toothed posts that cooperate to lock the top plate a desired distance from the bottom plate. The saw-tooth posts are biased against each other with a spring.

Lordotic intervertebral spacer with ratchet locking mechanism and integral expansion mechanism

An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes in a spinal motion segment is provided. The spacer includes a body defining a longitudinal axis and passageway. A first arm and a second arm are connected to the body. Each arm has a pair of extensions and a saddle defining a U-shaped configuration for seating a spinous process therein. Each arm has a proximal caming surface and is capable of rotation with respect to the body. An actuator assembly is disposed inside the passageway and connected to the body. When advanced, a threaded shaft of the actuator assembly contacts the caming surfaces of arms to rotate them from an undeployed configuration to a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the distracted adjacent spinous processes are seated in the U-shaped portion of the arms.

Expandable intervertebral spacer system having a top plate and a bottom plate which are separated and held apart a changeable distance forming a cage. The plates are held apart by four locking mechanisms in the cage at or near the corners or the periphery of the plates, leaving the cavity of the cage substantially unobstructed. Each locking mechanism is made of two saw-toothed posts that cooperate to lock the top plate a desired distance from the bottom plate. The saw-tooth posts are biased against each other with a spring. Once the spacer is implanted in a patient with a removable insertion tool, the top and bottom plates are forced apart incrementally, one saw tooth at a time, in a ratchet-like motion, using a removable expansion mechanism. Optionally, each stanchion is surrounded by a sheath to prevent bone particles and other debris from interfering with the mating of the saw teeth.

Expandable vertebral spacer with four locking mechanisms

An expandable intervertebral spacer system having a top plate and a bottom plate forming a cage. The top, bottom, and sides of the cage have openings to receive bone graft material. At least one ramp extends into the cage from the top plate or bottom plate. The top plate and bottom plate are connected together at the proximal end of the cage at a hinge. The cage is expanded by inserting a pushrod into the proximal end of the cage against the ramp and forcing the top and bottom plates apart at a desired angle. A locking mechanism at the distal end of the cage locks the plates apart using a ratchet-like mechanism in which a torsion spring biases a movable post against a stationary post, such that the saw teeth of the movable post and stationary post cooperate to lock the top and bottom plates apart.

Intervertebral spacer with ramped integral expansion mechanism and stepped locking mechanism

A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system having a plurality of linked locking elements that work in unison to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.

Adjustable distraction cage with linked locking mechanisms

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Murali P Kadaba