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. 25, 2011
Filed:
Sep. 27, 2005
Hyun W. Bae, Santa Monica, CA (US);
Robert F. Heary, Summit, NJ (US);
Alan S. Hilibrand, Merion Station, PA (US);
Ashwini D. Sharan, Mount Laurel, NJ (US);
Jeffrey C. Wang, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Gene P. Dipoto, Upton, MA (US);
John D. Unger, Wrentham, MA (US);
Hyun W. Bae, Santa Monica, CA (US);
Robert F. Heary, Summit, NJ (US);
Alan S. Hilibrand, Merion Station, PA (US);
Ashwini D. Sharan, Mount Laurel, NJ (US);
Jeffrey C. Wang, Sherman Oaks, CA (US);
Gene P. DiPoto, Upton, MA (US);
John D. Unger, Wrentham, MA (US);
Zimmer Spine, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A method for providing treatment at or near a cervical region of the spine of a patient is provided. An incision is formed in the skin of a patient above the cervical region. An elongate body is inserted into the patient through the incision, the elongate body having a distal portion, a proximal portion, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a passage extending through the elongate body. The elongate body is advanced until a distal end thereof resides at or near the cervical region of the spine. The size of the passage in the distal portion is increased relative to the size of the proximal portion.