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:
Feb. 07, 2012
Filed:
Nov. 16, 2005
Kevin V. Guenther, Carver, MN (US);
Jason S. Piehl, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Leanne B. Dittmer, Plymouth, MN (US);
Kevin V. Guenther, Carver, MN (US);
Jason S. Piehl, Apple Valley, MN (US);
Leanne B. Dittmer, Plymouth, MN (US);
Zimmer Spine, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus for guiding medical instruments, including a handle with a handle shaft, an alignment stand configured to interface with a receptacle of a cervical plate, an instrument guide tube coupled to the alignment stand and having a lumen therethrough, such that when the alignment stand is in communication with the receptacle, the instrument guide tube is positioned over a bone screw receiving hole in the cervical plate and an axial centerline of the instrument guide tube passes through the bone screw receiving hole. Instrument guide tube may swivel about the alignment stand via a rotational coupling, or may be one of two fixed instrument guide tubes. Alignment stand may include an angle-limiting post to interface with the receptacle to permit ranges of tilting, or a stem and optional bone pin for holding the alignment stand at a substantially constant angle in the receptacle.