Andrea Gayden Burke

US Patent:

7879074, Feb 1, 2011

Filed:

Sep 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/162880

Inventors:

SeungKyu Daniel Kwak - Raynham MA, US
Andrea Burke - Hudson MA, US
Amie Borgstrom - San Francisco CA, US
John Riley Hawkins - Raynham MA, US
William Dunbar - Bethlehem CT, US

Assignee:

Depuy Spine, Inc. - Raynham MA

International Classification:

A61B 17/70

US Classification:

606257, 606254, 606255

Abstract:

Various methods and devices are provided for stabilizing adjacent vertebrae in a patient's spinal column. In one exemplary embodiment, a spinal stabilization device is provided having a first cross-connector that is adapted to mate to opposed lateral sides of a first vertebra, a second cross-connector that is adapted to mate to opposed lateral sides of a second vertebra, and a flexible member that is coupled to the first and second cross-connectors and that is adapted to allow movement between first and second adjacent vertebrae coupled to the first and second cross-connectors.

US Patent:

8298235, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

Dec 30, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/026342

Inventors:

Alexander Grinberg - Newton MA, US
William McGittigan - Bourne MA, US
Edward B. Zalenski - Lakeville MA, US
Ronald Garner - Hull MA, US
Andrea Burke - Hudson MA, US

Assignee:

DePuy Spine, Inc. - Raynham MA

International Classification:

A61F 2/30

US Classification:

606 86A

Abstract:

The present invention includes pin guides and methods for placing pins in adjacent vertebrae. The present invention also includes methods for placing pins in adjacent vertebrae using the pin guides described herein. The present invention also includes an intervertebral implant insertion and alignment instrument, a distraction instrument, an intervertebral implant insertion guide, and methods for inserting an implant into an intervertebral space. Despite existing tools and techniques, present positioning of implants in intervertebral spaces and pins in adjacent vertebrae often depend on a surgeon's skill, experience and technique. Practice of the present invention can aide in the placement of an implant into an intervertebral space and placement of pins in adjacent vertebrae, e. g. , midline to the coronal plane spine and/or parallel to vertebral endplates that abut the intervertebral space.