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:
Jun. 11, 2007
Henry A. Klyce, Piedmont, CA (US);
James F. Zucherman, San Francisco, CA (US);
Ken Y. Hsu, San Francisco, CA (US);
Matthew Hannibal, San Francisco, CA (US);
Henry A. Klyce, Piedmont, CA (US);
James F. Zucherman, San Francisco, CA (US);
Ken Y. Hsu, San Francisco, CA (US);
Matthew Hannibal, San Francisco, CA (US);
Spartek Medical, Inc., Alameda, CA (US);
Abstract
A spinal implant system includes at each spinal level a flexible horizontal rod to which are mounted two opposing clamps. The clamps wrap around the facets of a vertebra to secure the horizontal rod to the vertebra. A stiff vertical connector system connects the flexible horizontal rod secured at one level of the spine to a flexible horizontal rod secured at an adjacent level of the spine. The vertical connector system is spaced along the flexible horizontal rod away from the opposing clamps. The flexible horizontal rods are preferably made of PEEK or Nitinol. The opposing clamps and vertical connector system are preferably made of titanium or stainless steel. Bending of the flexible horizontal rod permits movement of the opposing clamps relative to the vertical rod. The spinal implant system thereby provides for dynamic stabilization and motion preservation of the spine.