Other

Robert A Dixon

Donald J Hackman

Jeffrey G Rooney

Donald Hackman

A device and a method for stabilizing vertebrae in a human spine for the purpose of fixing one vertebra with respect to other vertebrae and with respect to other parts of the spinal column. This device comprises bone screws that clamp to a plate to maintain the plate in contact with the vertebrae. The device may be fabricated from non-metals, metal, alloys, or composite materials. A tapered screw head is pulled into the plate with the taper extending through the plate into the underlying bone. Extending the taper into the bone moves the screw thread stress raiser into an area of lesser deflection. This strengthens the fixation by increasing the rigidity and reducing the risk of screw breakage. Extending the taper into the underlying bone has also been shown to strengthen the taper lock.

Method and device for using extended interference fit screw shanks for spinal stabilization

Absorbable threaded bone cage implant

Bioabsorbable structural interbody vertebral implant

This invention comprises an apparatus and a method of spreading an intervertebral space to help guide tools that will prepare the vertebrae for accepting an implant. The spreader is a thin blade with cam surfaces forming a paddle on the proximal end, which spreads the vertebra when rotated 90 degrees about its axis. A stem between the paddle and a handle is notched to clear the vertebral protrusions so the vertebra will be distracted on the vertebral end plates. Since the spreader is in the center of the end plates, the centerline of the spreader shaft will coincide with the vertebral end plate centerline. The surgeon can monitor the spreading, stop and remove the spreader to make adjustments or to change the size of spreader as required at the time of the surgery. Once the vertebrae are distracted a tube may be placed over the handle and aligned with the vertebral end plates.

Cam action vertebral spreader

A device and a method for stabilizing cervical vertebrae in a human spine for the purpose of fixing one vertebra with respect to other vertebrae and with respect to other parts of the spinal column. This device comprises a plate and bone screws fabricated from non-metals. The bone screws maintain the plate in contact with the vertebrae. An interference fit screw head is pulled into a hole in the plate and into a machined hole in the vertebral bone, locking the screw to the plate and locking the screw to the bone. This locking reduces the screw bending within the plate and within the bone. The screw thread runout is threaded below the screw/bone interference fit area, protecting the runout stress raisers from bending and shear stresses. The interference fit is configured to create sufficient friction to eliminate the screw from backing out.

Method and apparatus utilizing interference fit screw shanks for nonmetallic spinal stabilization

A device and a method for stabilizing lumbar and thoracic vertebra or individual bones in human spine or bone column is provided for the purpose of fixing a vertebra or individual bone with respect to other vertebra or individual bones and with respect to other parts of the spinal or bone column. While providing spinal stabilization, the stabilizer allows axial load sharing or construct dynamized action. The device allows the vertebra or individual bones to be held in compression allowing subsidence along the plate axis or to be fixed with respect to the plate for rigid stabilization. The vertebra or individual bones will be prevented from distraction by a stop lock clamp. The device may be configured as a fully or partially rigid system.

Dynamized vertebral stabilizer using an outrigger implant

This invention relates to a method and materials in combination for bonding screws to a fixation plate or to a skeletal bone using chemical means. The chemicals include solvents, glues, or bonding agents, which act to improve the strength of bone screw to plate or the bone screw to skeletal bone interface. Interface refers to the contact area between the bone screw and either the plate or skeletal bone. The fixation device usually comprises a plate with bone screws implanted within the human skeleton. The bone screw maintains the plate in contact with the bone or maintains another structure such as a tendon in contact with the bony skeleton. The chemical bonding is in addition to or in place of a mechanical means to bond the bone screw to the fixation plate or to the skeletal bone. It provides for added strength to the bone screw interface with a plate or skeletal bone, reducing the probability of screw loosening and or migration.

Method utilizing chemical bonding to improve the bone screw fixation interface

This invention comprises a device and a method of maintaining distraction and providing tool guidance in the preparation of an intervertebral space for an implant. It provides a means for attaching a tube, to guide tools that will prepare the vertebra for accepting an implant. At any time during the procedure the tube may be removed to inspect or remove debris from the disc space and the vertebral end plates without disturbing the distraction. The system has multiple tube diameters which can be attached to a common flange to increase the dowel size during the procedure without redistracting.

Vertebral distraction stabilizer

A method and a device are provided for stabilizing vertebrae in a human spine for the purpose of fixing one vertebra with respect to other vertebrae and with respect to other parts of the spinal column. This device comprises a plate and bone screws fabricated from metals. The bone screw maintains the plate in contact with the vertebrae. A tapered screw head is pulled into a machined tapered hole, locking the screw to the plate. The taper is configured to be self-locking preventing the screw from backing out. The taper may be within the fixed structure of the plate, or within an insert placed into the plate.

Method and device utilizing tapered screw shanks for spinal stabilization

An improved device and a method for stabilizing lumbar vertebrae in a human spine for the purpose of fixing the vertebra with respect to other vertebra and with respect to other parts of the spinal column. This device comprises a plate, bone screws, bone screw clamp portion, spacers, and rigidizing stop locks. The bone screw clamps may be clamped firmly to the plate for a fully rigid system. Alternatively the screw clamp portions may be held apart, with clearance between them and the plate, which will allow for axial motion of the screw with respect to the plate for implant load sharing and dynamized motion.

Method and apparatus for dynamized spinal stabilization

Combination disc cutter and spinal vertebral spreader

A liquid pitcher with mixing device for quickly and easily stirring settled liquids or powdered mixes in the pitcher. The liquid pitcher with mixing device includes a container having a side wall, a bottom wall, an open top, a pouring spout disposed at a top of the side wall, and a handle member securely attached to an exterior of the side wall and being essentially diametrically opposed to the pouring spout; and also includes a lid having a main wall and a side wall depending from a perimeter of the main wall and having a pouring slot extending therethrough; and further includes a stirring device including a shaft having a top end and a bottom end with, the top end being rotatably extended through a central portion of the lid and with the shaft extending to near the bottom wall of the container and with the stirring device also including a pair of paddle members removably and securely attached to the shaft, and further including a crank securely attached to the top end of the shaft for rotating the shaft.

Liquid pitcher with mixing device

An internal combustion engine oil filter casing specially adapted for engagement by a standard hand tool and to an oil filter employing such a casing to assist an operator in removing the oil filter from an engine block. The casing comprises a generally tubular body and different structures that are rigidly affixed to the tubular body for engaging the tool to assist the operator in removing the oil filter from the engine block. The tubular body has a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first and second ends. The first end includes a closed top and the second end includes a threaded aperture. The structures that are rigidly affixed to the tubular body for engaging the tool may be a strap, a plurality of fins, a fin having a hole, or a cylindrical sidewall extending outward from the first end of the tubular body having a groove or opposing holes.

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Powell, OH, United States of America

Robert A Dixon