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:
Oct. 27, 2009
Filed:
Mar. 10, 2003
Kevin T. Foley, Germantown, TN (US);
Aure Bruneau, Memphis, TN (US);
Anthony J. Melkent, Germantown, TN (US);
Thomas E. Roehm, Iii, Braden, TN (US);
Kevin T. Foley, Germantown, TN (US);
Aure Bruneau, Memphis, TN (US);
Anthony J. Melkent, Germantown, TN (US);
Thomas E. Roehm, III, Braden, TN (US);
Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Warsaw, IN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for correcting spinal abnormalities, and particularly for providing compression and/or distraction of vertebrae without additional tools or instrumentation. A plate member is provided with a plurality of slots, one of which has a sloped internal edge or surface. The plate is anchored to one vertebra by a first anchor, and a second anchor is then placed through the slot with the sloped internal edge or surface and tightened. Such tightening causes the plate to move with respect to the tightened anchor, and thus to transmit compression or distraction to the vertebrae. The apparatus is particularly useful in minimally-invasive surgeries but can also be used in more traditional open surgeries.