DR. PETER L MILLER, MD
Osteopathic Medicine at Ben White, Austin, TX

2008007, Mar 27, 2008

Jul 18, 2007

11/779406

Michael Landry - Austin TX, US
Larry Khoo - Studio City CA, US
Charles Forton - Leander TX, US
Brian Bergeron - Austin TX, US
Bruce Riceman - Leander TX, US
Peter Miller - Austin TX, US
Kameron Ely - Cedar Park TX, US

A61B 17/58, A61B 17/00, A61B 17/08, A61B 17/56

606061000, 606103000, 606151000, 606073000

In some embodiments, a spinal stabilization system may be formed in a patient using quick-connect sleeve assemblies. Each quick-connect sleeve assembly can be coupled to a bone fastener assembly in a fast and intuitive way. In one embodiment, a quick-connect sleeve assembly has a detachable member and a movable member. Both members engage a collar of the bone fastener assembly. In one embodiment, the engagement can be locked via one or more locking features to facilitate screwing a bone fastener of the bone fastener assembly onto a vertebral body in a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Each quick-connect sleeve assembly has a low profile and is particularly shaped for minimally invasive entry.

8114088, Feb 14, 2012

Sep 19, 2008

12/234151

Peter Thomas Miller - Austin TX, US

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/58, A61F 2/44

606 90, 606 99, 623 1711

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 comprises an inserter, a distractor structured to slidably receive the inserter with a collar and an intervertebral implant attached thereto, and a gear mechanism arranged to translate a surgeon's rotational motion into linear motion, allowing the surgeon to have a greater control and feedback when placing an implant within an intervertebral disc space. The gear arrangement comprises a pinion inside the distractor and a rack on the inserter. The pinion can be driven by a shaft connected to a knob or handle. With the gear mechanism, a surgeon can turn the knob or handle to drive the inserter in and out of the distractor in a quantifiable manner, which facilitates the desirable precision delivery of the intervertebral implant.

2010000, Jan 7, 2010

Jul 1, 2008

12/165724

Peter Thomas Miller - Austin TX, US
Jeremy J. Lemoine - Austin TX, US

A61B 17/04, A61B 17/70

606308, 606301, 606305, 606265

A spine stabilization may include a rod and bone fastener assemblies. Each bone fastener assembly may include a bone fastener and a collar. Each bone fastener may have a threaded shank and a head. Each collar may have a first end with a cavity for accommodating the bone fastener and a second end having a channel for accommodating the rod. The channel may have a first portion for positioning the rod. The channel may have a second portion for advancing the rod, wherein rotating the collar advances the rod in the channel.

7947064, May 24, 2011

Nov 28, 2007

11/946644

Brian J. Bergeron - Austin TX, US
K. Scott Ely - Cedar Park TX, US
Charles R. Forton - Leander TX, US
Jeremy J. Lemoine - Austin TX, US
Peter T. Miller - Austin TX, US

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/70

606263, 606246, 606103

The disclosure relates to systems and methods of spinal stabilization. Embodiments include methods of delivering a rod having a non-circular cross-sectional profile using a wire having an accommodating non-circular cross-sectional profile to inhibit movement of a rod relative to the wire. A surgical system can comprise a first sleeve advanced via a first incision to a vertebra, a second sleeve advanced via a second incision to another vertebra, a wire having a non-circular cross-sectional profile advanced via a third incision to the vertebrae and passed through the collars of bone fastener assemblies to extend from a fourth incision. A rod or a segment of a rod having a corresponding non-circular cross-sectional profile may be aligned with the wire and advanced and coupled with the vertebrae to stabilize the spine. After the rod is securely seated in the collars, the wire may be withdrawn from the body.

8603145, Dec 10, 2013

Dec 16, 2008

12/336404

Charles R. Forton - Leander TX, US
Larry T. Khoo - Studio City CA, US
Peter Thomas Miller - Austin TX, US
Ryan Carter Harvey - Bordeaux, FR

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/70, A61B 17/88, A61F 2/28, A61F 2/44

606272, 606251, 606266, 606279, 606264, 606265, 623 1611, 623 1711

A poly-axial bone fastener assembly having a collar and a bone fastener can be coaxially locked to prevent poly-axial movements of the collar relative to the bone fastener while permitting the collar to rotate about an axis of the bone fastener, thereby combining the functions and advantages of a poly-axial bone screw and a fixed angle bone screw. Some embodiments of a coaxial locking mechanism may include a c-clip with a locking pin, a c-clip with hooks, a split ring with square corners, a pin that spins inside the collar, pins that travel about a neck of the bone fastener, a coaxially locking top that screws into the collar over a head of the bone fastener, and a top nut that threads onto the head of the bone fastener inside the collar to trap a flange of the collar between a shoulder of the bone fastener and the top nut.

2012011, May 10, 2012

Jan 17, 2012

13/351673

Emily E. King - Baldwinsville NY, US
Bruce Riceman - Leander TX, US
Charles R. Forton - Leander TX, US
Peter Thomas Miller - Austin TX, US

A61B 17/56

606 86 A

Embodiments disclosed herein provide compression/distraction methods and tools useful for fitting a spinal stabilization system in a patient through minimally invasive surgery. The spinal stabilization system may comprise screws anchored in vertebrae. The vertebrae may need to be compressed or distracted. One embodiment of an instrument disclosed herein may comprise a shaft for engaging one of the screws through an extender sleeve. A driver may engage another screw through an opening of the instrument. Through this engagement, a surgeon may use the rack and pinion of the instrument to compress or distract one or more levels of the vertebrae in a parallel motion, which can be advantageous clinically in certain situations.

8043343, Oct 25, 2011

Jun 28, 2007

11/770366

Peter Thomas Miller - Austin TX, US
Brian J. Bergeron - Austin TX, US

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/70

606279, 606246, 606914

The disclosure relates generally to embodiments of systems and methods of spinal stabilization. Embodiments include methods that use a dilator to displace tissue proximate to a sleeve. An embodiment of a surgical system can comprise a dilator that may define a working channel from a first opening to a second opening. The dilator can be positioned to displace tissue proximate to the sleeve. The dilator may be shaped to allow a first end of an elongated member to enter the working channel through the first opening and exit the dilator through the second opening to be percutaneously moved to another assembly.

2011009, Apr 21, 2011

Oct 19, 2009

12/581705

Reginald James Davis - Cockeysville MD, US
Peter Thomas Miller - Austin TX, US
Charles R. Forton - Leander TX, US

Zimmer Spine, Inc. - Minneapolis MN

A61B 17/70, A61B 17/88

606259, 606279

Embodiments disclosed herein provide a rod and a corresponding rod inserter. The rod has an elongated body with a removable end configured for an insertion tool engagement. The removable end of the rod has a part that can be securely attached to a rod holder of a rod inserter ex situ prior to minimally invasive rod insertion. A breakable portion is located between the part and the elongated body. The part can be broken off from the rod in situ to release the rod inserter. The broken off part of the rod is removed with the rod inserter and separated from the rod inserter ex situ.