Sulzer Spine-tech Inc.

Zimmer Spine, Inc.

Richard A Erickson

Rodney L Houfburg

Douglas W Kohrs

Peter J Pohndorf

Steven L Griffith

Paul M Sand

The present invention is directed to expandable bone fusion devices and methods of use. In general, a fusion device according to the invention includes a first member and a second member which can be deployed and locked into an expanded configuration to stabilize the adjacent bone during fusion of the bone.

Expandable fusion device and method

The present invention is directed to intervertebral prosthetic devices and methods. The intervertebral prosthetic devices and methods of the invention provides a variable instantaneous axis of rotation. In general, the disclosed devices include two bearing surfaces, a first bearing surface being curved and a second bearing surface being planar. In some embodiments, the curved bearing surface provides at least three degrees of rotational freedom and the planar bearing surface provides at least two degrees of translational freedom and one degree of rotational freedom. Several embodiments with varying degrees of rotational or translational freedom are disclosed.

Intervertebral disc prosthesis and method

The present invention provides instruments and methods for insertion of multiple spinal implants into the intervertebral space between opposing vertebral bodies. Instrumentation according to the invention includes a multi-lumen guide, complimentary obturators, drill depth guides and other associated instruments. The methods of the invention provide for greater ease and accuracy in aligning multiple spinal implants in an intervertebral disk space.

Multi-lumen spinal implant guide and method

The disclosure provides a surgical method and apparatus for implanting a spinal fusion implant into an intervertebral disc space. In one embodiment, the invention includes an alignment guide having a distal end sized to be inserted into the disc space with the guide extending along a longitudinal axis from a distal end to a proximal end and a multi-lumen drill tube that can be passed over the alignment guide. Other tools and methods of use are disclosed.

Apparatus and method for spinal stabilization

An implantable device for affixing to the anterior side of cervical vertebrae for stabilizing the cervical vertebral column. A plate has an anterior surface and a posterior surface and a plurality of through holes open at the anterior surface and at the posterior surface. Each hole has an anterior portion having a first diameter and a posterior portion having a second diameter. The second diameter is smaller than the first diameter, and the anterior portion of the hole is internally threaded. A bone screw has a threaded shank having a major diameter smaller than the second diameter of the through hole of the plate. The bone screw also has a head having a major diameter greater than the second diameter of the through hole of the plate and smaller than the first diameter of the hole of the plate. A locking cap has an exterior thread and is sized to be threadedly received within the anterior portion of the through hole of the plate while the head of the bone screw is disposed within the through hole. The locking cap is provided for engaging and frictionally locking the head of the bone screw to the plate.

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Edina, MN, United States of America

Richard A Erickson