STEPHEN L RITLAND, MD
Medical Practice at San Francisco St, Flagstaff, AZ

7166073, Jan 23, 2007

Mar 28, 2005

11/091970

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/02

600210

A retractor is provided for performing spinal surgery with a minimal approach, and which spares the lumbar muscles from surgical disruption. A preferred embodiment includes a blade having first and second faces wherein the faces are positioned substantially transverse to one another, and wherein at least one of the faces has a tapered width. Alternatively, both the first and second faces are tapered. Additionally, a third face positioned transverse to the first face and substantially parallel to the third face may be incorporated into the retractor. The second face also preferably includes at least one tooth, and more preferably, a plurality of teeth at its distal end for laterally engaging an articular process of a vertebra of the spine.

7959564, Jun 14, 2011

Jul 9, 2007

11/774806

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/88

600201, 606279, 606 86 A

To avoid traditional muscle dissection required in the placement of a surgical implant during arthrodesis, a pedicle seeker and retractor are provided. The pedicle seeker includes a distal end that approximates the size, shape and length of a surgical implant and is of sufficient length to extend beyond the face of the retractor, allowing the pedicle seeker to be removed from the surgical site once the retractor has been placed. The pedicle seeker is used to palpate the bony surface of the patient's spine in order to locate the proper place to place an implant. After the desired location has been located, the retractor is placed into the surgical site and held in place in order to maintain the desired location for placement of the surgical implant, and the seeker is removed. The retractor includes surficial features that approximate the size of the pedicle seeker and the surgical implant, to allow the implant to be moved down the length of the face of the retractor to the desired location. The retractor therefore provides a guide for the desired implant to be to the desired location and is configured to retract as the implant is advanced into position.

2002004, Apr 25, 2002

Oct 1, 2001

09/969138

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B001/32

600/210000

An instrument useful in performing lumbar arthrodesis with a minimal approach which spares the lumbar muscles from surgical disruption and includes one of two retractor designs having blades angled approximately 90° with respect to each respective retractor handle. One blade is bent at an end portion thereof in a direction away from the handle portion. The other blade has first and second blade faces, with the second face having at least two toothed structures located thereon.

6991632, Jan 31, 2006

Feb 25, 2004

10/788172

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/70

606 61, 606 73

A low-profile surgical rod implant device is provided that allows the length of a rod spanning two bone screws to be adjusted at the time of implantation. In a separate aspect of the invention, the rod implant device can be secured by tightening and securing an end of the rod implant device at one of the bone screws. Embodiments are provided for use with polyaxial pedicle screws and substantially straight shank pedicle screws in spinal applications. In a separate aspect of the invention, a bone screw connector having an interference type fit is also provided. A method for implanting the device is also provided.

2003022, Nov 27, 2003

Mar 21, 2003

10/395019

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US
Mario Zeiss - Poing, DE
Matthias Brundobler - Munchen, DE

A61F002/28

623/016110

A device for assisting in positioning implants and/or implanting aids on or in a bone structure includes an outer part having a holder section and a guide section, and an inner part having a guide engagement section and a passage defined within the guide engagement section for an implant and/or implanting aid. A navigational reference for navigating the device by means of a medical navigation system can be on the outer part and/or on the inner part, by which the implant and/or implanting aid can be positioned with navigational assistance.

7763047, Jul 27, 2010

Feb 20, 2003

10/371317

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/70

606246, 606278

A low-profile rod connector is disclosed that includes two substantially conical surfaces that allows two rods to be secured together. The device is easily manipulated and occupies very little space. The connector allows for the rods to be oriented at a number of different positions prior to securing the rods in a final orientation. Medical implants utilizing the present invention include surgical implants for spine stabilization. One particular application comprises securing the shaft of a pedicle screw to a spinal rod. In such application, since the connector is relatively small, displacement and disruption to nearby tissue is minimized. The connector also has application to external fixation systems which are conducted exterior of the skin surface, as well as other mechanical devices.

2006000, Jan 12, 2006

Sep 9, 2005

11/223530

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/56

606061000

A dynamic fixation device is provided that allows the vertebrae to which it is attached to move in flexion within the normal physiological limits of motion, while also providing structural support that limits the amount of translation motion beyond normal physiological limits. The present invention includes a flexible portion and two ends that are adapted for connection to pedicle screws.

7207992, Apr 24, 2007

Sep 30, 2002

10/262574

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/56

606 61

A low-profile surgical implant assembly is provided that includes a connector device that is an integral part of a rod, the connector device allowing the rod to be attached directly to a bone screw, such as a pedicle screw. Another aspect of the invention is a clamp device that allows the length of a rod spanning to attachment devices to be adjusted at the time of implantation, and further allows the clamp device to be secured by tightening a securing end of the clamp at the attachment device. The assemblies are useful for insertion into bone and connecting a foreign object to bone via a polyaxial coupling mechanism. A method for implanting the assembly is also provided.

7753939, Jul 13, 2010

Feb 10, 2004

10/776094

Stephen Ritland - Flagstaff AZ, US

A61B 17/70

606264, 606266, 606276

A surgical implant assembly, and components thereof, are disclosed. Such assemblies include a connector device and an anchoring shaft. The assemblies are useful for insertion into bone and connecting a foreign object to bone via a polyaxial coupling mechanism.