Depuy Spine, Inc.

Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Depay Spine, Inc.

Depuy Actomed, Inc.

William Dunbar

Amie R Borgstrom

John Riley Hawkins

SeungKyu Daniel Kwak

Missoum Moumene

Ian Charles Burgess

Robert Labrom

Lutz Biedermann

Wilfried Matthis

Charles M Bartish

Katherine Torres

Dominique Verhulst

Hassan A Serhan

Michael Andrew Slivka

Ronald Sacher

Frank S Bono

Andrea Burke

Seungkyu Daniel Kwak

Chris Rybicki

Chris Fair

Ron Sacher

Various methods and devices are provided for implanting a motion segment repair system. In particular, exemplary methods and devices are provided for implanting a spinal disc implant and/or a PDS device using a posterior surgical approach, including methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae using a posterior surgical approach, methods and devices for posteriorly introducing a spinal implant into a disc space between adjacent vertebrae, and methods and devices for coupling a PDS device to the adjacent vertebrae to provide a complete motion segment repair system that is implanted using a posterior surgical approach.

Motion segment repair systems and methods

Various methods and devices for replacing damaged, injured, diseased, or otherwise unhealthy posterior elements, such as the facet joints, the lamina, the posterior ligaments, and/or other features of a patient's spinal column, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the methods and devices are effective to mimic the natural function of the spine by allowing flexion, extension, and lateral bending of the spine, while substantially restricting posterior-anterior shear and rotation of the spine.

Artificial facet joint

Various methods and devices for replacing damaged, injured, diseased, or otherwise unhealthy posterior elements, such as the facet joints, the lamina, the posterior ligaments, and/or other features of a patient's spinal column, are provided. In certain exemplary embodiments, a four bar linkage mechanism can be used to construct spinal stabilization devices and methods for restoring function to adjacent vertebrae. In particular, spinal stabilization devices can be provided that kinematically form a four-bar linkage mechanism with adjacent vertebrae and a disc or other element disposed between the adjacent vertebrae.

Methods and devices for posterior stabilization

Facet joint replacement

Methods of implanting a motion segment repair system

A posterior stabilization device is provided for controlling movement between adjacent vertebrae. In one exemplary embodiment, the stabilization device can include one or more joints that rely on rotational or sliding movement to allow flexion of adjacent vertebrae, and that control extension, lateral bending, axial rotation, and anterior-posterior shear, preferably by providing one or more flexible connectors and/or a flexible central spacer for connecting to the adjacent superior and inferior vertebrae.

Posterior dynamic stabilizer devices

Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing the posterior elements of the spine, and more preferably methods and devices are provided for sharing the load with the intervertebral disc, the facet joints, the ligaments, and the muscles of the spinal column. In certain exemplary embodiments, methods and devices are provided for substantially controlling or providing resistance to movement, e.g., flexion, extension, lateral bending, and/or axial rotation, of the adjacent vertebrae.

Multi-level posterior dynamic stabilization systems and methods

Posterior dynamic stabilization cross connectors

Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae in a patient's spinal column. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal stabilization device is provided having a first cross-connector that is adapted to mate to opposed lateral sides of a first vertebra, a second cross-connector that is adapted to mate to opposed lateral sides of a second vertebra, and a flexible member that is coupled to the first and second cross-connectors and that is adapted to allow movement between first and second adjacent vertebrae coupled to the first and second cross-connectors.

Posterior dynamic stabilization systems and methods

Various methods and devices for replacing damaged, injured, diseased, or otherwise unhealthy posterior elements, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a posterior implant is provided and can be adapted to control movement of two or more adjacent vertebrae. In particular, the implant can be adapted to control extension, flexion, and lateral bending of adjacent vertebrae. The implant can also be adapted to substantially prevent rotation of the adjacent vertebrae. In another exemplary embodiment, the implant can have an envelope of motion that is within an envelope of motion of a disc, either natural or artificial, that is disposed between adjacent vertebrae. In other words, the implant can be configured to allow flexion, extension, lateral bending of the vertebrae to within the amount of flexion, extension, and lateral bending allowed by the particular disc. The implant can also be adapted to substantially prevent rotation of the vertebrae relative to one another.

Posterior stabilization system

Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing the posterior elements of the spine, and more preferably methods and devices are provided for sharing the load with the intervertebral disc, the facet joints, the ligaments, and the muscles of the spinal column. In certain exemplary embodiments, methods and devices are provided for substantially controlling or providing resistance to movement, including flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, of the adjacent vertebrae.

Posterior dynamic stabilization Y-device

Posterior dynamic stabilization x-device

Growing community of inventors

Norton, MA, United States of America

William Dunbar