Lawrence Welk, the bandleader who entertained millions of Americans over a generation of broadcasting his TV show, once received a patent: for a music-themed design of an ashtray.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187303 | Anti-rotation fixation element for spinal prostheses Prostheses, systems, and methods are provided for replacement of natural facet joints between adjacent vertebrae with vertebral prostheses. A portion of the vertebral prosthesis includes anti-rotation and/or anti-pullout elements to prevent or reduce prosthesis fast... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8187328 | Expandable containment devices and methods An expandable containment device is provided for use in containing a flowable material. The containment device includes an expandable housing extending along a longitudinal axis and defining an interior region, and including a first housing portion movably engaged w... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8187327 | Selectively-expandable bone scaffold An apparatus includes a scaffold configured to be disposed in a bone. The scaffold is configured to move from a first configuration to a second configuration. The scaffold in the second configuration is expanded from the first configuration. A selectively-expandable... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8187329 | Interbody fusion system with intervertebral implant retention assembly The present disclosure is directed towards a biomechanical implant and anterior, lateral or posterior instrumentation construct. The construct may be of unitary or modular construction, whereby a single molded construction can form the entire assembly, in which case... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8182532 | Composite bone graft, method of making and using same The invention is directed to a composite bone graft for implantation in a patient, and methods of making and using the composite bone graft, along with methods for treating patients by implanting the composite bone graft at a site in a patient. The composite bone gr... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8182533 | Annular repair device and method Provided is a device and method for repairing a damaged intervertebral disc in the spine of a patient. The device provided having at two slidably engaged components that permit ease of insertion into the void created in the annulus fibrosis of the damaged disc. Also... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8177843 | Automated pedicle screw rod bender An automated screw rod bender includes a sensing system for sensing a position of each of a plurality of screws that are inserted into a vertebrae, a computing system for converting the positions into a geometric coordinates of the screws and generating a correspond... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8177844 | Insertion apparatus for aligning cage of intervertebral fusion An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral fusion cage includes a dilatation set, a guiding set and an insert set. The dilatation set includes first and second dilatation barrels non-rotationally and telescopically connected to each other. The guiding set includes... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8177812 | Bone fusion device and methods A bone fusion device, system, kit, and/or method can include an elongated structure including at least two anchor portions and at least one deformable segment connected on each end to one of the at least two anchor portions. Each deformable segment can include a plu... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8167946 | Implant with openings adapted to receive bone screws A spinal fusion implant for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies has opposed upper and lower surfaces adapted to contact each of the adjacent vertebral bodies from within the disc space, a leading end for insertion between the adjacent vertebral bodies, and a... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167947 | Methods for push distraction and for provision of therapy to adjacent motion segments Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the provision of spinal therapy to two or more adjacent motion segments accessed through a trans-sacral approach. The spinal therapies include fusion and dynamic stabilization with and without a distraction of the most cephala... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167944 | Systems and methods for posterior dynamic stabilization of the spine Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer or member having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the expandable member in an expanded configuration has a siz... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167886 | Insertion tool for a vertebral defect device An insertion tool for a vertebral defect device having upper and lower openings includes a first finger sized and shaped to cooperatively engage the upper opening. A second finger is sized and shaped to cooperatively engage the lower opening. An outer surface of eac... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8167945 | Doughnut-like spinal implant A doughnut-like lumbosacral or intervertebral implant including an asymmetrical opening surrounded by a series of load-bearing curvatures. The doughnut-like implant can include a detachable connector. Preferred embodiments of the doughnut-like implant can include ta... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8163021 | Methods and systems for repairing an intervertebral disc using a transcorporal approach The invention includes a system and methods for performing surgery on a spinal disc. The system includes an implantable bone plate with an access port to accommodate a bone cutting device, a spinal repair device insertable through the access port of the bone plate c... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163022 | Method and apparatus for the treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus This disclosure presents methods and devices for treating a tear, rent, incision, defect, aperture or delamination of the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices can employ fixation delivery apparatuses, fixation apparatuses, patch delive... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163017 | Facet arthroplasty devices and methods Devices and surgical methods treat various types of adult spinal pathologies, such as degenerative spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, degenerative lumbar scoliosis, and kypho-scoliosis. Various types of spinal joint replacement prostheses, surgical procedures for p... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8162992 | Spinal fusion with osteogenic material and migration barrier Described are interbody spinal fusion methods, and kits useful therefor, in which a barrier material is interposed between an osteogenic material and an opening in the disc annulus providing access to the interbody space, wherein the barrier material is effective to... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8162981 | Method and apparatus for spinal facet fusion A spinal facet fusion implant comprising: an elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and a longitudinal axis extending between the distal end and the proximal end, the elongated body having a cross-sectional profile char... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163019 | Implant restraint device and methods An implant retention device is provided to assist in restraining movement of a nuclear implant and to assist in preventing expulsion of the nuclear implant through an incision portal or defect in the annular wall. In general, the implant retention device blocks or o... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163020 | Assembly comprising an implant for replacing a vertebral body and a spinal distraction tool The invention relates to an assembly comprising: an implant (18b), the two ends of which are equipped with plates (19, 20) which are provided with slots (28); and a distraction tool consisting of blades (2) which are intended to co... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163018 | Treatment of the vertebral column A method is provided for treating a spinal condition. The method includes introducing a biological treatment into an area of a vertebral column, and mechanically unloading the treated area by applying a load-bearing device to the anterior region, the anterior column... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8152837 | Systems and methods for posterior dynamic stabilization of the spine Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer having an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein the spacer has axial and radial dimensions for positioning between the ... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8147547 | Spinal implant Embodiments for a spinal implant having elements that are accessible by a surgical approach and releasably engagable by a surgical tool for improved revision of the spinal implant about a patient's spine. ... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8147549 | Orthopedic implant with sensor communications antenna and associated diagnostics measuring, monitoring, and response system A diagnostic system is provided that occupies a small area, provides sensing and transmitting of various diagnostic indicia, and with the aid of a healthcare professional, diagnoses and responds to such measurements. In the context of the spine, the diagnostic syste... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8147548 | Interspinous process implant having a thread-shaped wing and method of implantation Systems and method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can includes an implant comprising a spacer and a frame having a central body and a helical shaped wing extending from the central body. The frame can be positioned near about adjacent spin... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8142504 | System for fixing a part to a bone element The invention relates to a system which is used to fix a part to a bone element. The invention is essentially characterized in that it consists of: at least one hole which is disposed in part; a rigid rod comprising a first end, the rod being wound into a spiral alo... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8142477 | Retaining system A retaining system for affixing a component to a vertebral body is disclosed. The system comprises a component and a retaining mechanism. The component comprises an inner surface configured to engage at least a portion of an endplate surface of the vertebral body, a... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8142479 | Interspinous process implants having deployable engagement arms Spinal implants include an elongated body portion dimensioned and configured for percutaneous introduction into a target interspinous process space, at which interspinous distraction and/or spinal fusion are desired. The body portion can include a threaded outer sur... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8137402 | Vertebral defect device A vertebral defect device for insertion into an intervertebral space between a pair of adjacent vertebrae and for assisting in fusion between the adjacent vertebrae includes a rigid body having an distal end, a proximal end, a top, a bottom and a pair of lateral sid... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8137403 | Hemi-interbody spinal fusion implants manufactured from a major long bone ring An interbody spinal implant comprising cortical bone having a width less than one-half the width of the disc space into which it is adapted to be inserted. The implant has a leading end that is asymmetrical from side to side and/or includes a straight portion adapte... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8137401 | Intervertebral device having expandable endplates An intervertebral implant having an endplate that can be slidably expanded following its placement in the intervertebral space. ... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8133279 | Methods for treating an annulus defect of an intervertebral disc A system for treating an annular defect of an intervertebral disc is provided. The system comprises a cannula for accessing a nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, an expandable spacing device, and a material delivery instrument. The expandable spacing device... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8133280 | Methods and devices for expanding a spinal canal Devices and methods are disclosed for expanding a spinal canal. An implantable device having a shaft with a first cross-sectional dimension distinct from a second cross-sectional dimension can be inserted into an opening in a lamina and rotated 90 degrees to hinge t... | 03/13/2012 |
| 8128661 | Interspinous process distraction system and method with positionable wing and method An implant that is implanted between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The device has a spacer to distract apart the adjacent spinous processes. To minimize trauma to the patient, the device has a tapered tissue expander to... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8128660 | Inter-cervical facet joint implant with locking screw system Systems and method in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention can include an implant for positioning within a cervical facet joint for distracting the cervical spine, thereby increasing the area of the canals and openings through which the spinal co... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8128662 | Minimally invasive tooling for delivery of interspinous spacer A plurality of individual tools is provided where each tool is uniquely configured to perform a step or a portion of a step in a novel procedure associated with the implantation of a stabilizing device (e.g., an interspinous spacer) for stabilizing at least one spin... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8128698 | Method and apparatus for the treatment of the intervertebral disc annulus This disclosure presents methods and devices for treating a tear, rent, incision, defect, aperture or delamination of the annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc. The methods and devices can employ fixation delivery apparatuses, fixation apparatuses, patch delive... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8128699 | Spinal implant and methods of implantation and treatment A spinal implant is provided that includes a first component for engaging a first vertebra, a second component for engaging a second vertebrae, and a damping member is positioned therebetween. The damping member has at least two chambers connected by an opening. A f... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8123782 | Interspinous spacer An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes is provided. The spacer includes a body and a wing rotatable connected to the body. The wing includes two U-shaped configurations that together define a substantially H-shaped configuration for r... | 02/28/2012 |