Spineology Inc.

Other

The Spineology Group LLC

Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation

Pigtail Fastener Company

Stephen D Kuslich

Francis C Peterson

Joseph E Gleason

James W Ahern

Todd Bjork

Arthur A Gertzman

Moon Hae Sunwoo

Karen Roche

Steven J Wolfe

Rodney Rogstad

Patricia Kuslich, Legal Representative

Leon J Grobler

The invention provides a method of correcting numerous bone abnormalities including bone tumors and cysts, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, tibial plateau fractures and compression fractures of the spine. The abnormality may be corrected by first accessing and boring into the damaged tissue or bone and reaming out the damaged and/or diseased area using any of the presently accepted procedures or the damaged area may be prepared by expanding a bag within the damaged bone to compact cancellous bone. After removal and/or compaction of the damaged tissue the bone is stabilized.

Expandable porous mesh bag device and methods of use for reduction, filling, fixation and supporting of bone

A pliable band or hoop that is flexible to normal handling, but cannot stretch circumferentially once it has reached the limits of its circumferential length. The band may have a structural portal to be used for filling, or it may simply be constructed of a fabric-like material that allows a fill tube to perforate its walls to allow for filling. In the latter case, the perforated wall tends to self-seal once the fill tube is withdrawn. The band may be flat or tubular in cross-section. However, unlike a balloon, the band does not require either a bottom or a top, as we found that a top and bottom are unnecessary when using a band or hoop to enclose material injected into a reamed out intervertebral space.

Annulus-reinforcing band

The present invention is a kit and a method of using a kit for treating bone including a fill material mixture made of osteoconductive material, osteoinductive material and a lubricating carrier, a porous container to receive the fill material mixture and a tool that flowably introduces the fill material mixture into the porous container.

Method kit for treating bony defects

An expandable reamer for forming a space within a vertebral disc includes a pair of opposing blades which have a expanded state and a retracted state. The blades being pivotally positioned at the distal end of a shaft assembly. A shaft housing being substantially disposed about the shaft assembly. The proximal end of the shaft assembly being operatively engaged by a control device which when rotated allows the blades to be fully retracted for insertion into a pre-bored hole and then to be expanded incrementally until the cavity is bored as desired.

Expandable reamer

The present invention is a system for a partially biological disc replacement that stimulates natural fibrous, cartilaginous or other tissue growth in the DDD cavity, resulting in a partial biological disc replacement. Multiplicities of fibronous pieces of fibro-cartilaginous tissue promoting material are inserted into the DDD cavity inducing tissue growth.

Semi-biological intervertebral disc replacement system

The invention provides a method of correcting numerous bone abnormalities including bone tumors and cysts, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, tibial plateau fractures and compression fractures of the spine. The abnormality may be corrected by first accessing and boring into the damaged tissue or bone and reaming out the damaged and/or diseased area using any of the presently accepted procedures or the damaged area may be prepared by expanding a bag within the damaged bone to compact cancellous bone. After removal and/or compaction of the damaged tissue the bone must be stabilized.

Expandable porous mesh bag device and methods of use for reduction, filling, fixation, and supporting of bone

A fill tool for directing bone replacement material into an expandable bag within a reamed out disc includes a deflector at its distal end which deflects the flow of such material to a one or more side openings at the distal end of the fill tool. This allows the tool to be used without being ejected when filling the bag under pressure and greatly increases the distraction forces possible when filling the bag.

Tool to direct bone replacement material

An apparatus for releasably securing a line having a cross sectional thickness and at least one free end. The fastener has a shaft dimensioned for wrapping the line around the shaft. The shaft has a pair of ends at least one of which includes: an insertion structure extending from the end that defines an insertion opening and a retaining structure extending from the end a distance greater than the cross sectional thickness of the line. The retaining structure defines a retention aperture operably dimensioned smaller than the cross sectional thickness of the line. When the free end of the line is inserted through the opening, positioned adjacent the shaft, wrapped around the shaft and positioned in the retention aperture, the line is thereby releasably secured.

Pigtail fastener

A spinal fixation system employing bone anchors, several generally parallel rods stacked together and running through each bone anchor, a mechanism for attaching the anchors to the stacked rods and a mechanism for hold the stacked rods together to form a compressed, multi-rod unit.

Stacked intermedular rods for spinal fixation

An instrument for filling cavities in a body, such as a cavity within a reamed out spinal disc, with beads includes a cyclical agitator that functions to prompt the introduction of one bead at a time through the fill tube to prevent clogging and to promote compaction within the cavity.

Device for inserting fill material particles into body cavities

A tool for processing an supplying bone graft material in individual tubes for later extrusion into the surgical site includes a pneumatic press and plunger to morselize and fill a plurality of fill tubes. The fill tubes are then used at the surgical site by pressing the bone material out with a push rod.

Tools and method for processing and injecting bone graft

The present invention includes an inventive pigtail fastener and the associated method of attaching line thereto. The pigtail fastener is comprised of an elongated shaft at the proximal end of the device and a tightly coiled portion of the shaft at the distal end of the device. The pigtail fastener is constructed and arranged in such a manner so as to provide an amount of tension sufficient to pinch and thereby secure a quantity of line between the coiled portion and the shaft. The tension being provided as a result of the narrow confines of the space between the shaft and the coiled portion or alternatively as a result of the coiled portion being biased against a portion of the shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Stephen D Kuslich