Did You Know...
...that when IBM conducted a market study of Chester Carlson's invention in 1959, the company concluded that it would take only 5000 units of his new product to saturate the market? IBM therefore declined to be part of the new product introduction. Too bad for IBM. Carlson's invention was the xerography process, and his new product was the beginning of the Xerox Corporation. It is estimated that every day, worldwide, 3,000,000,000 copies are made!!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8167914 | Locking insert for spine stabilization and method of use A spine stabilization system having collars, resilient inserts and pins for coupling a rod to bone fasteners. A bone fastener may be advanced into a vertebral body. A first collar having a set of deflectable arms and a channel in a first end and an opening in the se... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167911 | Apparatus for connecting a longitudinal member to a bone portion An apparatus includes a fastener engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member to the bone portion. A housing has a first passage configured to receive the longitudinal member and a second passage extending transverse to the first passage. The fast... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167908 | Polyaxial transverse connector A polyaxial transverse connector for stabilizing a portion of the spine. Connector bodies are coupled to rods attached to either side of the spine. Heads of transverse members are positioned in the connector bodies such that they exhibit polyaxial motion. The transv... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8163026 | Interbody implant An interbody implant (20) includes first and second members (22, 24) that are configured to allow the members (22, 24) to be inserted into a disc space separately and then connected together in the disc space to form the interbody implant (20... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163025 | Disc prosthesis for cervical vertebrae A disc prosthesis for vertebrae is provided. The disc prosthesis comprises a first plate, a first insert, a second plate, and a second insert. The first plate comprises a first active face and a first anchor face. The second plate comprises a second active face and ... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8147527 | Adjustable occipital plate An occipital plate for use in an occipito-cervico-thoracic (OCT) construct is mounted to a patient's occipital bone. The occipital plate includes an elongate central section aligned with a midline of the base and a pair of angled sections that project away from the ... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8147525 | Bone anchor assembly and methods of use A method of treating the spine of a patient involves inserting anchors into vertebrae and connecting the anchors to a longitudinal member via housings. After insertion of the anchors, the housings containing a longitudinal member are positioned over the anchors and ... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8137356 | Flexible guide for insertion of a vertebral stabilization system An installation system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an implant guide and an insert. The implant guide includes a handle and a shaft extending from the handle. The distal end of the shaft is configured for engagement with a hea... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8137355 | Spinal stabilization installation instrumentation and methods A system for installing a vertebral stabilization system. The system includes an installation tool including a handle portion and a shaft extending distally from the handle portion. The shaft includes a conduit and a staple mechanism. The system also includes a flex... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8128628 | Spinal plate system for stabilizing a portion of a spine A spinal plate system that maintains intervertebral spacing and spinal stability is provided. In an embodiment, a spinal compression plate may include two or more plates coupled together form an adjustable-length plate. Compression of a spinal compression plate move... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8123751 | Methods and apparatus for access to and/or treatment of the spine Systems, devices, and methods suitable for use with procedures performed at least partially percutaneously are provided. In some procedures, two or more access devices for providing access to adjacent surgical locations within a patient are used. Certain embodiments... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8114088 | Geared spinal implant inserter-distractor Embodiments of a geared spinal implant inserter-distractor disclosed herein provide a greater mechanical advantage in delivering an intervertebral implant via an anterior, anterior-lateral, or posterior approach. The geared spinal implant inserter-distractor compris... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8109934 | All through one drill guide for cervical plating 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 ... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8075592 | Spinal stabilization systems and methods A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may includ... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8062338 | Transverse connector with cam activated engagers An adjustable transverse connector connects orthopedic stabilization rods that may be parallel or skewed in orientation relative to each other The connector may include two sections that are joined together by a fastener. The connector may be adjustable in many ways... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8057516 | Spinal stabilization system with rigid and flexible elements A spinal stabilization system generally comprises first and second anchor members configured to be secured to first and second vertebrae within a patient's body, a flexible element secured to the first anchor member, and a rigid element secured to the second anchor ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8052728 | Method for stabilizing a facet joint The present invention relates to methods and spinal implant devices for stabilizing a facet joint. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a hole through a facet joint and respective overlapping superior and inferior articular processes of adjacent vertebra w... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8052720 | Minimally invasive pedicle screw access system and associated method A spinal fixation access system includes a pedicle screw with extended tabs that form a single solid pedicle screw assembly. The surgical procedure associated with this invention involves making small, discrete incisions for the placement of select pedicle screws. T... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8048129 | MIS crosslink apparatus and methods for spinal implant A spinal implant provides support for desired parts of the spine. The implant can provide support in fusion situations. The spinal implant includes a pair of elongated members and a variable length cross-link. A variable length cross-link apparatus may couple to the... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8043381 | Minimally invasive interbody device and method Methods and devices for insertion between adjacent vertebrae in a spine following removing at least a portion of a nucleus from within a disc. In one embodiment, the device includes a member having a flexible wall surrounding an internal volume and a coupler that is... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8043343 | Stabilization system and method The disclosure relates generally to embodiments of systems and methods of spinal stabilization. Embodiments include methods that use a dilator to displace tissue proximate to a sleeve. An embodiment of a surgical system can comprise a dilator that may define a worki... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8043339 | Flexible member for use in a spinal column and method for making The present invention relates to flexible members for stabilizing a spinal column and methods for making the flexible members. In one embodiment, a flexible member comprises an inner elastomeric member and an outer fabric layer situated securely around the inner ela... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8043338 | Adjustable assembly for correcting spinal abnormalities An assembly for post-operatively treating an abnormal curvature of vertebrae of a spinal column. The assembly includes an elongate member extending in a generally vertical direction along a posterior side of the spinal column and a transverse member fastened to a ve... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8043212 | Methods for treating cervical vertebrae through an access device 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 havin... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8034084 | Spinal stabilization systems and methods A spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient. In some embodiments, a minimally invasive procedure may be used to form a spinal stabilization system in a patient. Bone fastener assemblies may be coupled to vertebrae. Each bone fastener assembly may includ... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8029544 | Spine stiffening device In various embodiments, a spinal stabilization system has a first and a second vertebral anchor each adapted to be coupled to one of a first and a second vertebrae. The system also includes a flexible connecting element coupled to each of the first and second verteb... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8025684 | Instruments and methods for inserting a spinal implant Instruments of an instrumentation set may be used to prepare a disc space and to insert an implant into the prepared disc space. The instruments may include fixed tip distractors and/or modular tip distractors. The instruments may include a chisel. The chisel may al... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8025677 | System and method for stabilizing the human spine with a bone plate Embodiments disclosed herein provide a spinal plate system and method for fixation of the human spine. In an embodiment, the spinal fixation system includes a plate, a coupling member, a locking system for substantially locking the coupling member in a desired posit... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8021429 | Deployable segmented TLIF device A segmented intervertebral body fusion support includes a plurality of segments, the segments including an initial segment, a final segment and at least one intermediate segment. The intermediate segment has a generally trapezoidal configuration and the initial and ... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8016832 | Installation systems for spinal stabilization system and related methods A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system includes a vertebral anchor having a top portion. The top portion has a perimeter and a first engaging element. The first engaging element has a first longitudinal axis that is generally parallel to a second... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8016828 | Methods and apparatuses for stabilizing the spine through an access device An apparatus for stabilizing vertebrae while permitting a range of motion therebetween may include first and second fasteners for engaging adjacent vertebrae and a motion preserving device that can be coupled to the first and second fasteners. The motion preserving ... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8007535 | Interbody fusion ring and method of using the same The present invention provides an injectable annular ring useful in treating a deteriorating spinal disc. When used, the annular ring may be collapsed or folded in order for it to be placed through a small opening in a prepared intervertebral space within the annulu... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8007523 | System and method for stabilizing the human spine with a bone plate A spinal plate system and method for fixation of the human spine is provided. In an embodiment, the system includes a bone plate, a bone screw and a ring. The bone screw preferably connects the bone plate to a bone, and the ring preferably fixes the bone screw into ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8007519 | Dynamic spinal stabilization system and method of using the same A spinal stabilization system includes a pair of vertebral anchors and a flexible construct extending between the anchors to provide dynamic stabilization of the spine. The flexible construct includes first and second spring arms coupled to the anchors at first ends... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8007499 | Variable geometry occipital fixation plate A fixation device for connecting a stabilization device to a bone comprises a first member comprising a first portion for attachment to a bone; a second member comprising a second portion for attachment to a bone and connected to the first member by a pivotal connec... | 08/30/2011 |
| 8007492 | Cannula for receiving surgical instruments A cannula (10) for receiving surgical instruments for performing a surgical procedure on a body includes a tubular structure (12) defining a passage (16) through which the surgical instruments are inserted into the body. The tubular structure ( | 08/30/2011 |
| 8002810 | Method for postoperatively compressing a bone graft A method for postoperatively compressing a bone graft between adjacent spinal vertebrae utilizing first and second plates having openings at remote ends for receiving bone screws to fix the plates to respective vertebrae on opposite sides of a bone graft-receiving s... | 08/23/2011 |
| D643925 | Spinal rod connector | 08/23/2011 |
| 7988700 | Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is enga... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7988623 | Apparatus and methods for shielding body structures during surgery An apparatus for shielding a body structure during surgical procedures which is configured for insertion into the internal passage of a support structure, and includes an elongated body portion with a distal tip portion configured to cover the body structure without... | 08/02/2011 |
