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:
Jan. 22, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 06, 2000
Ciaran Bolger, Bristol, GB;
Anthony J. Melkent, Germantown, TN (US);
Kurt R. Smith, Boulder, CO (US);
Surgical Navigation Technologies, Inc., Louisville, CO (US);
Abstract
A vertebral distractor is disclosed for use in performing anterior cervical spinal surgery. The vertebral distractor is associated with a computer controlled surgical navigation system employing an energy-detecting array to track positions of the vertebral distractor in three dimensional space relative to a known reference point. The guide comprises a shaft, a stationary first arm, and at least one movable second arm. At least one electrically energizable energy emitter array is attached to the shaft for use in identifying the location of the vertebral distractor relative to the vertebrae. A system for using the vertebral distractor in spinal surgery is disclosed.