DR. R. THOMAS GROTZ, M.D.
Medical Practice at California St, San Francisco, CA

6017346, Jan 25, 2000

Jul 17, 1998

9/118391

R. Thomas Grotz - San Francisco CA

Ultraortho, Inc. - San Francisco CA

A61B 1756

606 72

A wedge for insertion to a rectilinear slot in bone fastens tissue for continuous refastening of separated tissue from bone. When viewed in plan toward the proximal truncated top, the wedge is sinusoidal in shape defining a series of prominences and depressions relative to the elongate slot. At the proximal end, suture fastening apertures--preferably elongate parallel to the proximal end--are placed for looping tissue fastening sutures prior to wedge insertion. A plurality of barbs--preferably placed at the prominences--together with the compression of the wedge within a rectilinear slot cause anchoring to bone upon wedge insertion to the rectilinear slot prepared within the bone. Skewering tips at the end of the wedge enable skewered tissue to be entrained with the wedge into the bone upon insertion of the bone within a previously prepared rectilinear slot. The wedge is mounted to an inserting probe and any optional sutures organized along the length of the probe. Thereafter, and utilizing the inserting probe, flesh to be inserted is conventionally "teased" onto the skewering tips and the wedge(s) inserted utilizing the probe.

7722674, May 25, 2010

Aug 12, 2005

11/202725

R. Thomas Grotz - San Francisco CA, US

Innvotec Surgical Inc. - Brisbane CA

A61F 2/44

623 1711

A linearly expanding spine cage has a minimized diameter in its unexpanded state that is equal to the diameter of an insertion groove cut into adjacent vertebral bodies. The cage conformably engages between the endplates of adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the disc space, widen neuroforamina, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can be corrected, and natural curvatures maintained. The cage enhances spinal arthrodesis by creating a rigid spine segment. Expanding linearly (vertically, along the vertical axis of the adjacent spine) rather than uniformly, the cage height increases and holds the vertebrae with fixation forces greater than adjacent bone and soft tissue failure forces. Stability is thus achieved immediately, enabling patient function by eliminating painful motion. The cage width remains stable, so as to decrease impingement upon a second cage, or upon soft tissue structures in the immediate vicinity, including neural or vascular elements.

7819921, Oct 26, 2010

Oct 31, 2007

11/980977

R. Thomas Grotz - San Francisco CA, US

CoAlign Innovations, Inc. - Brisbane CA

A61F 2/44

623 1711, 606 90

A linearly expanding spine cage has a minimized diameter in its unexpanded state that is equal to the diameter of an insertion groove cut into adjacent vertebral bodies. The cage conformably engages between the endplates of adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the disc space, widen neuroforamina, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can be corrected, and natural curvatures maintained. The cage enhances spinal arthrodesis by creating a rigid spine segment. Expanding linearly (vertically, along the vertical axis of the adjacent spine) rather than uniformly, the cage height increases and holds the vertebrae with fixation forces greater than adjacent bone and soft tissue failure forces. Stability is thus achieved immediately, enabling patient function by eliminating painful motion. The cage width remains stable, so as to decrease impingement upon a second cage, or upon soft tissue structures in the immediate vicinity, including neural or vascular elements.

2008016, Jul 3, 2008

Oct 31, 2007

11/981452

R. Thomas Grotz - San Francisco CA, US
Rudy Pretti - Auburn CA, US

A61F 2/44

623 1716, 623 1711, 623 1712

A selectively expanding spine cage has a minimized diameter in its unexpanded state that is smaller that the diameter of the neuroforamen through which it passes in the distracted spine. The cage conformably engages between the endplates of vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments, eliminate pathologic spine motion, or effect vertebral body replacement. Angular deformities can be corrected, and natural curvatures restored and maintained. The cage enhances spinal arthrodesis by creating a rigid spine segment, or if filled with compressible substances, the cage can be used for motion preservation between vertebral bodies. Expanding selectively (anteriorly, along the vertical axis of the spine) rather than uniformly, the cage height increases and holds the vertebrae with fixation forces greater than adjacent bone and soft tissue failure forces in natural lordosis. Stability is thus achieved immediately, enabling patient function by eliminating painful motion. The cage shape intends to rest proximate to the anterior column cortices securing the desired spread and fixation, allowing for bone graft in, around, and through the implant for arthrodesis whereas for arthroplasty it fixes to endpoints but cushions the spine naturally.

2009021, Aug 27, 2009

Feb 22, 2008

12/072044

R. Thomas Grotz - San Francisco CA, US
Rudy A. Pretti - Auburn CA, US

A61F 2/44, A61B 17/58

623 1716, 623 1711, 606 90

A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one fixation element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to engage a surface of an adjacent vertebral body and secure the implant between two vertebral bodies. Preferably, the implant is expandable and has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it must pass to be deployed within the intervertebral space. Once within the space between vertebral bodies, the implant can be expanded so as to engage the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae to effectively distract the anterior disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. Angular deformities can be corrected, and natural curvatures restored and maintained.

5968078, Oct 19, 1999

Jun 25, 1998

9/104814

R. Thomas Grotz - San Francisco CA

Ultraortho, Inc. - San Francisco CA

A61B 1704

606232

This invention pertains to a medical device for securing bodily tissues to bone, and more particularly to a triangular shaped joint stabilizer comprising sharpened, toothed bone anchors that are forcibly spread into the bone by a central plug.