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US007909871B2
(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: Us 7,909,871 B2
Abdou (45) Date of Patent: Mar. 22,2011
Page 2
(54) DEVICES AND METHODS FOR
INTER-VERTEBRAL ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE
PLACEMENT
(76) Inventor: Samy Abdou, San Diego, CA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 802 days.
(21) Appl.No.: 11/543,012
(22) Filed: Oct. 3, 2006
(65) Prior Publication Data
US 2007/0106383 Al May 10, 2007
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 60/723,185, filed on Oct. 3, 2005, provisional application No. 60/809,199, filed on May 30, 2006.
(51) Int. CI.
A61F2/44 (2006.01)
A61B17/70 (2006.01)
A61B17/88 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 623/17.11; 623/17.12; 623/17.13;
623/17.14; 623/17.15; 623/17.16; 606/60; 606/246; 606/257; 606/264; 606/265; 606/279 (58) Field of Classification Search .... 623/17.11 17.16;
606/60, 246, 257, 264-265, 279 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
5,354,292 A 10/1994 Braeuer et al.
5,360,429 A 11/1994 Jeanson et al.
5,484,440 A 1/1996 Allard
5,531,747 A 7/1996 Ray
(Continued)
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS EP 1180348 2/2002
(Continued)
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Derwent English abstract for FR2781359, published Jan. 28, 2000 entitled: "Osteosynthesis frame for spinal surgery has rod with clamps to hold cross bars with anchor screws," Accession No. 9867555 [351].
(Continued)
Primary Examiner — Thomas C Barrett
Assistant Examiner — Sameh Boles
(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Fred C. Hernandez; Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC.
Disclosed are devices and methods for the placement of a bone fusion implant between vertebral bodies in a human or animal subject. In an exemplary method a pathway is formed in the first sacral vertebrae along a trajectory that has a starting point between the inferior aspect of the facet joint and the first posterior sacral foramen and transverses at least one pedicle, at least a portion of the first sacral vertebra and the disc space immediately superior to the sacrum. A fusion implant is placed into the formed pathway. Additional bone fasteners and inter-connecting rods are added to the fusion implant in order to further strengthen the construct. Embodiments that can be used to fuse an additional level are also disclosed.
58 Claims, 18 Drawing Sheets
