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. 19, 2011
Filed:
Nov. 28, 2007
Peter Newton, San Diego, CA (US);
Mark Gracia, Rochester, MA (US);
Michael S. Varieur, Portsmouth, RI (US);
Carrie A. Breech, Wrentham, MA (US);
Peter Newton, San Diego, CA (US);
Mark Gracia, Rochester, MA (US);
Michael S. Varieur, Portsmouth, RI (US);
Carrie A. Breech, Wrentham, MA (US);
DePuy Spine, Inc., Raynham, MA (US);
Abstract
A screw placement guide tool for use in minimally invasive surgery has a proximal handle portion, an extension member extending distally from the handle portion, and an alignment element connected transversely to a distal portion of the extension member and having a screw placement guide located thereon. In this aspect of the invention, the tool is configured so that a surgeon may operate the tool using the handle portion external to a patient's body to align the alignment element with implanted screws so that the screw placement guide indicates a desired position for implantation of an additional screw. Systems and methods for placing a rod receiving screw are also provided.