Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Sdgi Holdings, Inc.

Ohio Medical Instrument Company, Inc.

Stephen M Papadopoulos

Robert A Farris

Regis W Haid

Jeffrey Wade Poyner

Kevin Thomas Foley

Gary S Lindemann

Ricardo C Sasso

Volker K H Sonntag

Iain H Kalfas

Larry Gause

Rick C Sasso

Volker Sonntag

Greg C Marik

Mark Christopher Dace

Bradley J Coates

James E Van Hoeck

Vincent C Traynelis

Stephen E Heim

Stephen Edward White

Brian Jewell

Volker K Sonntag

Vince Traynelis

The present application is directed to instruments and methods for preparing a space between vertebral members. One embodiment of the instrument may include an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end. A blade may be positioned at an end of the shaft and may rotate about an axis. The blade may include one or more teeth that include a height and/or contour. During rotation of the blade, the teeth contact and cut into one of the vertebral members. The instrument may also include a depth stop that limits a depth that the teeth can cut into the vertebral member. In some embodiments, the instrument includes a second blade that is configured to cut into the second vertebral member.

Endplate preparation instruments and methods of use

A retention system for maintaining a screw to a vertebral plate is described herein. One or more screws extend through apertures within the vertebral plate. A cavity is positioned adjacent to and overlaps into the aperture. A ring is positioned within the cavity and held in position by a cap. The cap attaches to the plate to prevent removal of the ring. The ring is deflectable between a first shape to allow the screw to be inserted and removed from the aperture, and a second shape to prevent screw back-out from the aperture.

Method and apparatus for retaining screw in a plate

A posterior fixation system includes a saddle member, an anchoring member, an occipital plate, an occipital rod, and a cross-link connector. The anchoring member anchors the saddle member to bone. The saddle member includes a pair of upright portions that define a channel. The channel is adapted to receive an orthopedic rod, and the saddle member can include a hole to receive the anchoring member. The saddle member and the anchoring member can be coupled so as to allow multi-axial movement of the members. The anchoring member in one embodiment is a screw coupled to the hole of the saddle, and in another embodiment, the anchoring member is a hook. The offset member may be coupled to the saddle member to allow for offset connection of rods. Connection of individual rods can be accomplished by connecting the rods with the cross-link connector. The cross-link connector has an integrally formed cylindrical member that couples a pair of coupling portions together. The cylindrical member can be bent along multiple axes. The occipital plate secures the rods to the occipital bone of the skull. The occipital plate has a cross-shaped plate with a plurality of apertures defined in the plate and at least one saddle member coupled to the plate. Alternatively, the occipital rod can be secured to the occipital bone.

Posterior fixation system

An anterior fixation system includes a plate defining a plurality of screw holes, a number of screws and a number of locking assemblies for fixing the screws to the plate. The system includes two bone screws, a fixed angle screw and a variable angle screw, that are configured to extend through the same screw openings in the fixation plate. The surgeon can select either the fixed or variable angled screws to be implanted with a single plate and can place either type of screw into any of the screw holes along the plate. The fixation plate can include several screw holes in various patterns that provide the surgeon with great flexibility in the placement of bone screws depending upon the spinal anatomy and pathology. Also contemplated is a locking assembly to lock one or more bone screws within a respective screw hole.

Anterior cervical plating system

An orthopedic bone fixation device including an anchor member having a cavity and an insert member. The anchor member retains the insert member at least partially or entirely in the cavity. The insert member has an insert aperture for accommodating part of a screwdriver or other device.

Hybrid bone fixation apparatus

A retention system for maintaining a screw to a vertebral plate. One or more screws extend through apertures within the vertebral plate. A cavity is positioned adjacent to and overlaps into the aperture. A ring is positioned within the cavity and held in position by a cap. The cap attaches to the plate to prevent removal of the ring. The ring is deflectable between a first shape to allow the screw to be inserted and removed from the aperture, and a second shape to prevent screw back-out from the aperture. A method of using the system is also included and comprises positioning the ring within a cavity in the plate, maintaining the position of the ring to the plate by attaching a cap, inserting a screw through the aperture and attaching the plate to a vertebral member, and positioning the ring over the screw head and preventing the screw from backing-out.

Method and apparatus for retaining screws in a plate

In one embodiment of the invention, an anterior fixation system includes a plate defining a plurality of screw holes, a number of screws and a number of locking assemblies for fixing the screws to the plate. The system includes two bone screws a fixed angle screw and a variable angle screw, that are configured to extend through the same screw openings in the fixation plate. The surgeon can select either the fixed or variable angled screws to be implanted with a single plate and can place either type of screw into any of the screw holes along the plate. The fixation plate according to the invention can include several screw holes in various patterns that provide the surgeon with great flexibility in the placement of bone screws depending upon the spinal anatomy and pathology. The invention further contemplates a locking assembly to lock one or more bone screws within a respective screw hole. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is held to the plate by a staked locking screw. The washer includes an outer surface that overlaps one or more screw holes. The washer is initially loosely held to the plate by the locking screw so that various tools and bone screws can be passed through the screw holes. In one embodiment of the washer, the washer includes cut-outs corresponding to the screw holes, along with a notch and key configuration for setting the locking washer in its locked configuration.

A guide and method of using the guide for positioning within a patient between vertebral members for contouring each of the members. The guide comprises a first section and a second section. A first edge is positioned along an edge of the first section, and a second edge is positioned along an edge of the second section. One or more elongated rods extend through the sections. One or both of the sections are movable along the rods to adjust a spacing between the first edge and the second edge. When positioned within the patient, the first edge is aligned along a first vertebral member and the second edge is aligned along a second vertebral manner. A manner of locking the sections is included for preventing the sections from moving relative to each other once the first and second edges are aligned within the patient.

Adjustable surgical guide and method of treating vertebral members

In one embodiment of the invention, an anterior fixation system includes a plate defining a plurality of screw holes, a number of screws and a number of locking assemblies for fixing the screws to the plate. The system includes two bone screws, a fixed angle screw and a variable angle screw, that are configured to extend through the same screw openings in the fixation plate. The surgeon can select either the fixed or variable angled screws to be implanted with a single plate and can place either type of screw into any of the screw holes along the plate. The fixation plate according to the invention can include several screw holes in various patterns that provide the surgeon with great flexibility in the placement of bone screws depending upon the spinal anatomy and pathology. The invention further contemplates a locking assembly to lock one or more bone screws within a respective screw hole. In one embodiment, the locking assembly includes a washer that is held to the plate by a staked locking screw. The washer includes an outer surface that overlaps one or more screw holes. The washer is initially loosely held to the plate by the locking screw so that various tools and bone screws can be passed through the screw holes. In one embodiment of the washer, the washer includes cut-outs corresponding to the screw holes, along with a notch and key configuration for setting the locking washer in its locked configuration.

For cervical surgery, the neck of the patient is lifted and arched slightly upwardly with the head being supported beyond the end of an operating table. The anterior spacing between the vertebrae of the patient's cervical spine is increased, thereby affording better surgical access.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Stephen M Papadopoulos