Thomas A Zdeblick

6375655, Apr 23, 2002

Jan 21, 2000

09/489317

Thomas Zdeblick - Madison WI
Eddie Ray, III - Cordova TN
Lawrence M. Boyd - Memphis TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1756

606 61, 623 1711, 623 1716

An interbody fusion device in one embodiment includes a tapered body defining a hollow interior for receiving bone graft or bone substitute material. The body defines exterior threads which are interrupted over portions of the outer surface of the device. The fusion device defines truncated side walls so that on end view the body takes on a cylindrical form. The side walls are provided with vascularization openings, and the body wall device includes opposite bone ingrowth slots extending through the interrupted thread portion of the body. In another embodiment, the tapered body is solid and formed of a porous biocompatible material having sufficient structural integrity to maintain the intradiscal space and normal curvature. The material is preferably a porous tantalum having fully interconnected pores to facilitate complete bone tissue ingrowth into the implant. An implant driver is provided which engages the truncated side walls to complete the cylindrical form of the implant at the root diameter of the interrupted threads, to thereby facilitate threaded insertion of the implant to the intra-discal space between adjacent vertebrae.

6402785, Jun 11, 2002

Jun 2, 2000

09/586308

Thomas A. Zdeblick - Middleton WI
William F. McKay - Memphis TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61F 244

623 1716, 623 1715

An artificial disc implant includes an upper shell, a lower shell, and a spacer therebetween. The spacer preferably has properties similar to that of a natural spinal disc, while the upper and lower shells form a rigid interface between the implant and the adjacent vertebral bodies. The upper and lower shells can be configured to prevent expulsion of the spacer from the disc space. The implant upper and lower shells may further be configured into partially cylindrical shapes for ease of insertion through an insertion tube as presently known for interbody fusion devices. The devices may further be configured for insertion through a double-barreled insertion tube. Methods and instruments for inserting an artificial disc implant are also provided.

6471724, Oct 29, 2002

Feb 5, 2001

09/781589

Thomas Zdeblick - Middleton WI
Thomas McGahan - Memphis TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61F 244

623 1716, 623 1711

A laparoscopic surgical technique is provided for preparing a site for implantation of a novel fusion device or implant. In accordance with one embodiment of the technique, a laparoscope is provided having an outer sleeve with distraction fingers at one end to distract the disc space. The laparoscope provides a sealed working channel to the disc space, through which the disc space is distracted, the vertebral endplates and surrounding disc is reamed, and the fusion device inserted. A distraction plug is provided for centering the outer sleeve and for providing midline distraction of the disc space. In one embodiment, a fusion device includes diverging bone screws passing through an end wall and upper and lower walls of the device to engage the adjacent vertebrae. In another embodiment, a connector plate is engaged to bilaterally position fusion devices to prevent rotation and resist expulsion of the devices from the disc space.

6533786, Mar 18, 2003

Oct 13, 1999

09/417402

Dusty Anna Needham - Lakeland TN
Jeffrey Wade Poyner - Atoka TN
Harry N. Herkowitz - West Bloomfield MI
Thomas A. Zdeblick - Middleton WI

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1770

606 61

The present invention is directed to a system for anterior fixation of the spine that utilizes an elongated fixation plate. The plating system stabilizes the spine and promotes fusion and incorporation of a graft or implant in a portion of the spinal column. In one aspect of the invention, the fixation plate has a first end with a pair of holes. Bone screws extend through the holes to rigidly secure the plate to a first vertebra. The second end of the plate is provided with a pair of slots through which bone screws extend for engagement with a second vertebra. The screws extending through the slots are translatable in the slot to maintain compression of the spinal column portion. The plating system includes a retainer assembly that prevents screw back out. Methods and instruments relating to the plating system are also described.

6595995, Jul 22, 2003

Dec 21, 2000

09/746300

Thomas Zdeblick - Madison WI
Lawrence M. Boyd - Memphis TN
Eddie Ray, III - Cordova TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1717

606 80, 606 99, 606 90

A laparoscopic surgical technique is provided for preparing a site for implantation of a fusion device or implant. In accordance with one embodiment of the technique, a laparoscope is provided having an outer sleeve with distraction fingers at one end to distract the disc space. The laparoscope includes a laparoscopic port at its opposite end through which instruments and implants are inserted. The laparoscope provides a sealed working channel to the disc space, through which the disc space is distracted, the vertebral endplates and surrounding disc is reamed, and the fusion device inserted. The laparoscope is alternately engaged within bilateral locations in the disc space for insertion of a pair of fusion implants. A switching sleeve extends through the laparoscope to protect the tissue at the surgical site as the laparoscope is moved between the bilateral fusion locations.

6613091, Sep 2, 2003

Feb 11, 2000

09/502731

Thomas Zdeblick - Middleton WI
William F. McKay - Memphis TN
Larry Boyd - Memphis TN
Eddie Ray, III - Cordova TN
Thomas McGahan - Memphis TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61F 244

623 1716, 623 1711

An interbody fusion device in one embodiment includes a tapered body defining a hollow interior or chamber for receiving bone graft or bone substitute material. The body defines exterior threads which are interrupted over portions of the outer surface of the device. The fusion device includes truncated side walls so that on end view the body takes on a cylindrical form. In another embodiment, the tapered body is solid and formed of a porous biocompatible material having sufficient structural integrity to maintain the intradiscal space and normal curvature. The material is preferably a porous tantalum composite having fully interconnected pores to facilitate complete bone tissue ingrowth into the implant. In further embodiments, the fusion devices are provided with osteogenic material to facilitate bone ingrowth. A cap is also provided to block the opening of hollow fusion devices.

6645206, Nov 11, 2003

Mar 3, 2000

09/518981

Thomas Zdeblick - Madison WI
Eddie Ray, III - Cordova TN
Lawrence M. Boyd - Memphis TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1758

606 61, 606 73, 623 1711

An interbody fusion device in one embodiment includes a tapered body defining a hollow interior for receiving bone graft or bone substitute material. The body defines exterior threads which are interrupted over portions of the outer surface of the device. The fusion device defines truncated side walls so that on end view the body takes on a cylindrical form. The side walls are provided with vascularization openings, and the body wall device includes opposite bone ingrowth slots extending through the interrupted thread portion of the body. In another embodiment, the tapered body is solid and formed of a porous biocompatible material having sufficient structural integrity to maintain the intradiscal space and normal curvature. The material is preferably a porous tantalum having fully interconnected pores to facilitate complete bone tissue ingrowth into the implant. An implant driver is provided which engages the truncated side walls to complete the cylindrical form of the implant at the root diameter of the interrupted threads, to thereby facilitate threaded insertion of the implant to the intra-discal space between adjacent vertebrae.

6648895, Nov 18, 2003

Jan 8, 2001

09/756492

J. Kenneth Burkus - Columbus GA
Thomas A. Zdeblick - Middleton WI
Thomas V. McGahan - Memphis TN
Steven D. DeRidder - Bartlett TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1756

606 90

Methods and instrumentation particularly adapted for disc space preparation for insertion of implants from an anterior approach to the spine are provided. The instruments include a guide sleeve defining a channel having overlapping cylindrical working channel portions and lateral non-distracting extensions extending from reduced thickness wall portions. The guide sleeve has an overall reduced width configuration. A pair of distractors are provided. A first distractor includes a shaft and distal tip, each having convex walls. A second distractor includes a shaft and distal tip including a recessed area at least along the tip. The first distractor is at least partially received within the recessed area of the second distractor when the first and second distractors are in side-by-side relation and a reduced overall width of the distractors is obtained. Preferably, the first and second distractors are used with the guide sleeve. Methods using the disclosed instruments are also provided.