The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 04, 1996
Robert S Howland, Seal Beach, CA (US);
James A Rinner, Fountain Valley, CA (US);
Shawn R Tebbe, Fullerton, CA (US);
Advanced Spine Fixation Systems, Incorporated, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
A spinal fixation system utilizing grapple hooks comprising a lower hook attached to the lamina on the caudal-side of a vertebra and an upper hook attached to the lamina on the cranial-side of a vertebra. The hooks clamp the vertebra lamina in the center. Thus, the hooks clamp the lamina at the spinous process which is the strongest part of the lamina. Bolts are provided for attaching the lower hook to the upper hook to thereby attach the lower and upper hooks to the vertebra and clamps for attaching the lower and upper hooks to spine rods. A spinal fixation kit is provided with a plurality of uniquely configured fixation systems to assure satisfactory fit to any vertebra of any patient, and specially designed tools are preferably provided to aide in a method of implanting the systems thereby reducing the time required for implantation.