Zimmer Spine, Inc.

Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.

Peter Thomas Miller

Charles R Forton

Bruce Anthony Riceman

Larry T Khoo

Brian Bergeron

Kameron Scott Ely

Emily King

Michael E Landry

Reginald James Davis

Jeremy Jon Lemoine

Brian J Bergeron

Michael Hisey

Ryan Carter Harvey

K Scott Ely

Craig Lee Ford

Michael A Landry

Michael Scott Hisey

In some embodiments, a spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient using quick-connect sleeve assemblies. Each quick-connect sleeve assembly can be coupled to a bone fastener assembly in a fast and intuitive way. In one embodiment, a quick-connect sleeve assembly has a detachable member and a movable member. Both members engage a collar of the bone fastener assembly. In one embodiment, the engagement can be locked via one or more locking features to facilitate screwing a bone fastener of the bone fastener assembly onto a vertebral body in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Each quick-connect sleeve assembly has a low profile and is particularly shaped for minimally invasive entry.

Spinal stabilization systems with quick-connect sleeve assemblies for use in surgical procedures

Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for vertebral reduction using sleeves detachably coupled to collars of bone fasteners. The reduction can be performed during a minimally invasive procedure for implanting spinal stabilization systems. A sleeve can include internal threads that match threads on the respective collar to form a continuous set of threads. Threads on a closure member can be engaged with the threads on the sleeve and the closure member turned to translate the closure member along the sleeve. The closure member can be used to push a rod relative to the collar to which the sleeve is attached to cause a vertebral body to move.

System and method for performing vertebral reduction using a sleeve

Embodiments disclosed herein provide compression/distraction methods and tools useful for fitting a spinal stabilization system in a patient through minimally invasive surgery. The spinal stabilization system may comprise screws anchored in vertebrae. The vertebrae may need to be compressed or distracted. One embodiment of an instrument disclosed herein may comprise a shaft for engaging one of the screws through an extender sleeve. A driver may engage another screw through an opening of the instrument. Through this engagement, a surgeon may use the rack and pinion of the instrument to compress or distract one or more levels of the vertebrae in a parallel motion, which can be advantageous clinically in certain situations.

Surgical instrument with integrated compression and distraction mechanisms

Embodiments of a surgical instrument disclosed herein can include mechanisms for reduction and distraction as well as compression. Some embodiments of the surgical instrument may comprise a reducer knob having a first passage through which a first shaft of a driver is acceptable, a connecting element coupled to the reducer knob and having a second passage through which the first shaft of the driver is acceptable, a compressor handle coupled to the connecting element at a first end and having a through hole, and a common handle coupled to the compressor handle via the through hole and pivots between the reducer knob and the compressor handle. With embodiments of a surgical instrument disclosed herein, surgical personnel can distract and hold vertebrae in a distracted state and perform a reduction without having to switch or add instruments. Some embodiments disclosed herein can be particularly useful for reducing spondylolisthesis during posterior fixation.

Surgical instrument with integrated reduction and distraction mechanisms

The disclosure relates generally to embodiments of systems and methods of spinal stabilization. Embodiments include methods that use a dilator to displace tissue proximate to a sleeve. An embodiment of a surgical system can comprise a dilator that may define a working channel from a first opening to a second opening. The dilator can be positioned to displace tissue proximate to the sleeve. The dilator may be shaped to allow a first end of an elongated member to enter the working channel through the first opening and exit the dilator through the second opening to be percutaneously moved to another assembly.

Stabilization system and method

Embodiments described herein provide tools and methods for spinal fusion procedures. One embodiment of a tool can be a pedicle access tool that performs the functions of targeting needle, cannula, tap and awl. The cannula of the tool can be used to guide various tools and bone graft or fusion promoting material to a surgical site for a spinal fusion procedure, such as a posterolateral procedure. In other embodiments, a k-wire can be used as the guide.

Fusion method and pedicle access tool

Embodiments include a system for manipulating a portion of the spine. A support body provides support for extender sleeves that are coupled to bone screws implanted in bone. The extender sleeves are coupled to the support body in a manner that allows translation and rotation of the extender sleeves relative to the support body. Movement and rotation of the extender sleeves in selected directions can be allowed while movement and rotation in other directions can be inhibited. The extender sleeves can be manipulated to move the bone.

Surgical instrument support system and method

A poly-axial bone fastener assembly having a collar and a bone fastener can be coaxially locked to prevent poly-axial movements of the collar relative to the bone fastener while permitting the collar to rotate about an axis of the bone fastener, thereby combining the functions and advantages of a poly-axial bone screw and a fixed angle bone screw. Some embodiments of a coaxial locking mechanism may include a c-clip with a locking pin, a c-clip with hooks, a split ring with square corners, a pin that spins inside the collar, pins that travel about a neck of the bone fastener, a coaxially locking top that screws into the collar over a head of the bone fastener, and a top nut that threads onto the head of the bone fastener inside the collar to trap a flange of the collar between a shoulder of the bone fastener and the top nut.

Coaxially lockable poly-axial bone fastener assemblies

The disclosure relates to systems and methods of spinal stabilization. Embodiments include minimally invasive methods of delivering a rod having a non-circular cross-sectional profile using a wire having an accommodating non-circular cross-sectional profile to inhibit movement of the rod relative to the wire. A rod or a segment of the rod having a non-circular cross-sectional profile may be aligned with the wire and advanced and coupled to bone fastener assemblies which are anchored in vertebrae. The rod is then securely seated in collars of the bone fastener assemblies to stabilize the spine.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Peter Thomas Miller