ALAN E SHLUZAS
Engineering in Millis, MA

6641583, Nov 4, 2003

Mar 29, 2001

09/821666

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA
Gene P. DiPoto - Upton MA

Endius Incorporated - Plainville MA

A61B 1770

606 61, 606 69

An apparatus ( ) includes a member ( ) having an elongate slot ( ). A fastener ( ) engageable with a bone portion has an end portion ( ) extending through the elongate slot ( ). A connecting ring ( ) connects the member ( ) to the fastener ( ). The connecting ring ( ) is positionable in any one of a plurality of positions along the elongate slot ( ). The connecting ring ( ) has a passage ( ) through which the end portion ( ) of the fastener ( ) extends. The fastener ( ) is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the connecting ring ( ). First and second portions ( ) of the connecting ring ( ) engage each other to connect the first and second portions together and prevent relative movement between the first and second portions. A clamping member ( ) engages the end portion ( ) of the fastener ( ) and the connecting ring ( ) to connect the connecting ring to the member ( ) in any one of the plurality of positions relative to the member and connect the fastener ( ) in any one of the plurality of angular positions relative to the connecting ring ( ).

6645218, Nov 11, 2003

Aug 5, 2002

10/212988

Stephen T. Cassidy - Greenville RI
Ian K. Parker - Bristol RI
Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA

Endius Incorporated - Plainville MA

A61B 1732

606170

A surgical instrument ( ) includes a handle ( ) and a member ( ) for acting on tissue of a patient. A flexible stem ( ) extends between the member ( ) and the handle ( ). The flexible stem ( ) includes a tubular member ( ) having a longitudinal axis ( ) and radially inner and outer cylindrical surfaces ( and ) extending generally parallel to each other. The tubular member ( ) has wedge-shaped slots ( and ) extending through the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces ( and ). Each of the wedge-shaped slots ( and ) is defined by first and second ring portions ( and ) extending at an angle to each other and transverse to the longitudinal axis ( ). An actuator mechanism ( ) connected with the handle ( ) bends the flexible stem ( ).

6554832, Apr 29, 2003

Apr 2, 2001

09/824411

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA

Endius Incorporated - Plainville MA

A61B 1770

606 61, 606 72

A transverse connector ( ) for interconnecting first and second spine rods ( ) extending along a spinal column includes a first connecting member ( ) connectable with the first spine rod ( ). A second connecting member ( ) is connectable with the second spine rod ( ). A connecting rod ( ) connected to the first and second connecting members ( ) extends between the first and second connecting members. The connecting rod ( ) is rotatable about a longitudinal axis ( ) of said connecting rod relative to said first connecting member and pivotable about a pivot axis ( ) extending transverse to said longitudinal axis. A fastener ( ) connects the connecting rod ( ) to the first connecting member ( ) in any one of a plurality of positions about the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod and in any one of a plurality of pivot positions about the pivot axis. The connecting rod ( ) is also positionable along the longitudinal axis ( ) of the connecting rod relative to the first connecting member ( ).

6146406, Nov 14, 2000

Feb 12, 1998

9/022560

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA
Steve Reynolds - Attleboro MA
William R. Davis - Hingham MA
Paul Brophy - Rayham MA

Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Memphis TN

A61B 1704

606232

A bone anchor includes first and second anchoring legs and a bridge joining the anchoring legs between their proximal and distal ends. Portions of the anchoring legs on a proximal side of the bridge are configured to elastically compress together in response to an insertion force applied to the bone anchor during insertion of the bone anchor into a bone hole, and to plastically splay apart in response to a withdrawal force applied to the bone anchor. Portions of the anchoring legs on a distal side of the bridge are configured to compress together in during application of the withdrawal force to limit the splaying of the proximal portions of the anchoring legs. A method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes inserting the bone anchor with attached suture into the bone, and deploying the bone anchor within the bone by applying tension to the suture.

7879075, Feb 1, 2011

May 2, 2006

11/415676

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA, US

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/70

606267

An apparatus () includes a fastener () engageable with a bone portion to connect a longitudinal member () to the bone portion. A housing () has a first passage () configured to receive the longitudinal member () and a second passage () extending transverse to the first passage. The fastener () extends through an opening () in the housing () into the second passage (). A longitudinal axis () of the fastener () is positionable in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to a longitudinal axis () of the second passage (). A spacer () received in the second passage () of the housing () is engageable with the fastener () and the longitudinal member (). A member () applies a force to prevent relative movement between the fastener () and the housing () and permit manual movement of the fastener () relative to the housing () against the force when the longitudinal member () is disengaged from the spacer (). A clamping mechanism () clamps the longitudinal member (), the spacer (), and the housing () to the fastener () to prevent movement of the fastener relative to the housing.

7341594, Mar 11, 2008

Apr 23, 2004

10/830937

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA, US
Stephen J. Anderson - Holliston MA, US
James J. Pagliuca - Millis MA, US
John D. Unger - Wrentham MA, US

Endius Incorporated - Plainville MA

A61B 17/58, A61F 2/00

606105

A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is engageable with a second member connected with the second bone portion. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion from a first position toward a second position to move the first and second bone portions away from each other. An actuator connected with the second portion moves the second portion relative to the first portion in a direction extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.

2006029, Dec 28, 2006

May 3, 2006

11/418498

Alan Shluzas - Millis MA, US
Stephen Anderson - Holliston MA, US
James Pagliuca - Millis MA, US
John Unger - Wrentham MA, US

A61B 17/58

606090000

A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is engageable with a second member connected with the second bone portion. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion from a first position toward a second position to move the first and second bone portions away from each other. An actuator connected with the second portion moves the second portion relative to the first portion in a direction extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.

6051006, Apr 18, 2000

Apr 12, 1999

9/290203

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA
George Sikora - Mansfield MA

Smith & Nephew, Inc. - Memphis TN

A61B 1704

606148

A surgical instrument (e. g. , suture-passing forceps) has a first jaw with a mount which supports a needled suture and a second jaw having a passage, which when aligned with the mount, is positioned to receive the needled suture. The second jaw is positioned relative to the mount in a manner which allows delivery of the instrument to a surgical site in a low profile, delivery position (e. g. , with the jaws spaced relatively closely). The surgical instrument includes an elongated shaft having a distal region for supporting the jaws. The second jaw is pivotable, with respect to the mount, between the delivery position in which the second jaw is spaced relatively closely to the mount with the passage misaligned with the mount and an open, misaligned position, the second jaw being axially translatable relative to the mount to an open, aligned position in which the passage is aligned with the mount.

7226451, Jun 5, 2007

Oct 2, 2003

10/678744

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA, US
Gary Lowery - Phoenix AZ, US

A61F 5/00

606 86, 604104, 606108, 600219

A device that provides access to a surgical location within a patient has an elongate body that has a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The inner surface defines a passage that extends through the elongate body. The elongate body is capable of having a configuration when inserted within the patient wherein the cross-sectional area of the passage at a first location is greater than the cross-sectional area of said passage at a second location. The first location is distal to the second location. The passage is capable of having a generally oval shaped cross section between the second location and the proximal end.

7713274, May 11, 2010

Dec 16, 2004

11/014230

Alan E. Shluzas - Millis MA, US
Stephen J. Anderson - Holliston MA, US
James J. Pagliuca - Millis MA, US
John D. Unger - Wrentham MA, US

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/58, A61B 17/60, A61F 2/00

606105

A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is engageable with a second member connected with the second bone portion. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion from a first position toward a second position to move the first and second bone portions away from each other. An actuator connected with the second portion moves the second portion relative to the first portion in a direction extending transverse to the longitudinal axis.