Celebrity Inventors
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is a patented inventor - she created a diaper equipped with a premoistened baby wipe. And that's no act!
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 |
| 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 |
| 8105331 | Spinal surgery distractor with an integrated retractor A tool for use in spinal surgery includes a combined retractor and distractor. The retractor includes a slotted keyway wherein a keyed portion of a spinal distractor is engagable therewith. This retractor and distractor combination slide together to displace a porti... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8105357 | Interspinous process brace An intervertebral process brace is disclosed and can include a frame that can support a first vertebral process and a second vertebral process. The intervertebral process brace can also include a first vertebral process support strap that can span a first portion of... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8097019 | Systems and methods for in situ assembly of an interspinous process distraction implant An implant system for implantation between adjacent spinous processes for the relief of pain associated with the spine. The implant has a series of spacers which may be inserted over a shaft located between adjacent spinous processes thus allowing the implant to be ... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8092463 | Distraction device used for osteogenesis An apparatus for vertical callus distraction includes a linear drive having first and anchors, each with a plate-shaped region, that are able to be displaced relative to one another by way of the linear drive and substantially orientated perpendicularly to the direc... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8066709 | Distractor with opening An apparatus and method for placing adjacent vertebrae at a fixed distance and angular relationship relative to each other, fixing said vertebrae in said position by use of a milling block engaging each of said adjacent vertebrae and then using a milling means, the ... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8066710 | Distractor for posterior interbody fusion A method and instrumentation for spinal interbody fusion is disclosed. The instruments and methods are particularly adapted for interbody fusion from a posterior approach to the spine. One instrument is a retractor having a lockable pivotally mounted handle. Another... | 11/29/2011 |
| 8062304 | Spinal implant distractor/inserter A vertebral distractor-inserter comprising a housing, a pair of opposing arms in mechanical communication with the housing, a driving rod extending through at least a portion of the housing and between the arms, wherein the driving rod comprises an axis and a surfac... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8062303 | Apparatus and methods for inserting an implant A system and method for inserting an implant into a cavity is disclosed, which may include advancing an implant insertion instrument toward a pair of adjacent bodies, the implant insertion instrument having two opposed ramps, wherein each ramp has a distal tip and w... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8048081 | Transpedicular intervertebral disk access methods and devices Methods and devices for treating diseases and conditions that change the spacial relationship between the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral disks, or that cause instability of the vertebral column, or both, and a method and devices that allow the surgeon to ac... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8048082 | Non-invasive femoral distractor for use in knee surgery A femoral distractor includes a top post for positioning under a patient's knee and a bottom pin for fixed attachment to a hospital bed rail. A vertical rod extends between the top post and horizontal bottom pin to move the knee joint in the vertical direction upon ... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8043296 | Apparatus and methods for use of expandable members in surgical applications In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an elongated member, an expandable member coupled to the elongated member, and an outer sheath. The outer sheath, which can be constructed from a different material than the expandable member, is disposed about the expandab... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8043295 | Vertebral spreading instrument comprising markers A vertebral spreading instrument for moving apart two vertebrae of a spine includes a plurality of spreading fingers and a spreading mechanism for adjusting a distance between the spreading fingers. The spreading mechanism includes a first and a second part, the fir... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8029549 | Percutaneous spinal implants and methods A method includes positioning a medical device within a body between adjacent spinous processes, moving the medical device from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration within the body using an actuator removably coupled to the medical device, and remo... | 10/04/2011 |
| 8025665 | Spacer with height and angle adjustments for spacing vertebral members A device to space vertebral members that may include a deploying device with a first member with an elongated first shaft and a first body at an end of the first shaft, a second member with an elongated second shaft that extends around the first shaft and a second b... | 09/27/2011 |
| 8016829 | Systems and methods for spinal surgery Disclosed herein are methods and devices for distracting adjacent vertebrae during surgical procedures for implanting spinal prostheses. In an exemplary embodiment, a distractor is disclosed that maintains the empty space between adjacent vertebrae following a disce... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8012187 | Techniques for spinal surgery and attaching constructs to vertebral elements Techniques for spinal surgery include accessing at least one vertebral element of the spinal column. At least one loading member is engaged to the at least one vertebral element. The loading member is allowed to integrate with the bony structure of the vertebral ele... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7998143 | Dynamic guard A guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space. ... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7993347 | Guard for use in performing human interbody spinal surgery Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleev... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7985228 | Apparatus and methods for use of expandable members in surgical applications A method includes moving an actuator from a first position to a second position such that a first shaft is rotatable relative to a second shaft. The second shaft is disposed within the first shaft and coupled to an expandable member. The actuator is moved from the s... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7938834 | Hybrid fusion/arthroplasty device The present embodiments relate to a joint treatment device for improved treatment of a diseased joint. The joint treatment device comprises first and second components, which are coupled to first and second bone portions, respectively, at the joint. The first compon... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7927337 | Bone separator A bone spreader includes two tubular pin holders which are connected to one another by a parallel guide system, and two pins that are configured to be connected to the bone parts that are to be spread apart. In order to give the bone parts that are to be spread apar... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7909832 | Retractor for percutaneous surgery in a patient and method for use thereof A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space. ... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7905885 | Reduction system for restoration of a vertebral body An apparatus and method is provided for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting opposed endplates of a vertebral body. A plurality of wafers are consecutively inserted within the vertebral body between the two endplates to create a column of wafers. The co... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7896884 | Interbody distractor A surgical instrument for insertion of an interbody fusion implant between adjacent vertebral bodies. The surgical instrument comprises a frame member, and a first and a second arm coupled to the frame member. Each arm includes a distal end region and a proximal end... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7887565 | Apparatus and method for sequential distraction Apparatus and a method of inserting spinal implants is disclosed in which an intervertebral space is first distracted, a hollow sleeve having teeth at one end is then driven into the vertebrae adjacent that disc space. A drill is then passed through the hollow sleev... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7875033 | Bone distraction apparatus A bone distractor, preferably an alveolar ridge distractor, having first and second bone plates sized and configured to engage opposing bone segments and an interconnecting mechanism operatively associated with the first and second bone plates such that rotation of ... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7875034 | Spinal disc space preparation instruments and methods for interbody spinal implants Instruments and methods for preparing a spinal disc space to receive an implant include an annulus template, a footprint template, a distractor for distracting adjacent vertebrae, and a guide member for guiding a chisel. The instruments and methods can be employed i... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7867237 | Arthroplasty revision device and method A surgical instrument for revising/removing an artificial disc or removing/replacing a core of an artificial disc includes a pair of tips, each tip having a pair of tines and a stop defining a proximal end of each tine. The stop of at least one tip is abutted agains... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7867238 | Method for using dynamic lordotic guard A lordotic guard and method for guiding a bone removal device to form an implantation space in the human spine and, if desired, for inserting a spinal implant into the implantation space. ... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7811289 | Artificial intervertebral disc trial having a controllably separable distal end Instrumentation for implanting an artificial intervertebral disc includes a dynamic trial for distracting an intervertebral space and/or determining the appropriate size of disc to be implanted, which dynamic trial includes a shaft, at least two distal extensions co... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7803161 | Methods and instruments for interbody surgical techniques This invention relates to methods and instruments for performing a surgical procedure in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae. The instruments include a distractor and a cutting instrument. In one embodiment the distractor includes a body portion and a pair of fl... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7799034 | Tissue distraction device An apparatus and method for distracting, in a given direction, and supporting two tissue surfaces. An expandable implant includes a plurality of elements are consecutively inserted between the two tissue surfaces to create a column of elements. The column of element... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7776042 | Methods and apparatus 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... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7776046 | Method and instrumentation for vertebral interbody fusion A method and instrumentation particularly adapted for disc space preparation from an anterior approach to the spine. In one aspect, an expandable template is provided having guides to guide a cutting device for bilateral formation of openings in the disc space. In a... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7776045 | Instrumentation and methods for vertebral distraction An instrument for distracting vertebrae includes a shaft assembly and a distraction assembly at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The distraction assembly includes first and second distraction members movable from an unexpanded configuration for insertion toward a... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7766918 | Spinal disc replacement surgical instrument and methods for use in spinal disc replacement A spinal disc replacement surgical instrument includes a first contacting member positionable along an endplate of a first vertebra and a second contacting member positionable along an endplate of second vertebra. The second contacting member is moveable relative to... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7766914 | Adjustable drill guide An intervertebral disc space preparation guide comprises a first member and a second member. The first member includes a first spacer portion adapted for insertion in an intervertebral disc space and a first cutting block portion through which a first bore extends. ... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7763028 | Spacer with height and angle adjustments for spacing vertebral members A device having an adjustable height and angle to space vertebral members. The device includes a plurality of links that extend between a plate and a deployer. A first section of the deployer is moved to change the angle of the plurality of links and expand the heig... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7753911 | Methods and instrumentation for vertebral interbody fusion Methods and instrumentation for vertebral interbody fusion are provided. Sleeve assemblies can be provided with a reduced width portion adjacent the distal end to limit the amount of retraction of the surrounding vascular and neural structures required for the proce... | 07/13/2010 |
