THOMAS A ZDEBLICK, MD
Medical Practice at Science Dr, Madison, WI

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.

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.

2009004, Feb 12, 2009

Oct 15, 2008

12/287902

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

A61F 2/44, A61F 2/28

623 1716, 623 1711, 623 2348

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. The cap includes an occlusion body and an elongated anchor. In some embodiments the anchor includes a lip which is engageable to openings in the body wall. Tools are also provided for manipulating caps for interbody fusion devices. In one embodiment the tool includes a pair of prongs each having facing engagement surfaces for engaging the fusion device, and a shaft slidably disposed between the prongs. The shaft has a first end defining a cap-engaging tip for engaging a tool hole in the cap. In one embodiment the cap engaging tip defines threads. In another embodiment the prongs include a pair of releasing members on each of the facing engagement surfaces. The releasing members have a height and a width for being insertable into apertures in a body wall in the fusion device to disengage the elongate anchors from the apertures.

7238186, Jul 3, 2007

Aug 20, 2003

10/644252

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

Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Warsaw IN

A61B 17/58, A61F 2/44

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.

6206922, Mar 27, 2001

Jan 28, 1998

9/014901

Thomas Zdeblick - Middleton WI
Thomas McGahan - Memphis TN

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

H61F2/44

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.

2009018, Jul 16, 2009

Mar 18, 2009

12/382549

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

WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC. - Warsaw IN

A61F 2/44

623 1716, 623 1711

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.

8372149, Feb 12, 2013

May 24, 2010

12/786030

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

Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Warsaw IN

A61F 2/44

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.

6881228, Apr 19, 2005

Feb 28, 2002

10/085872

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

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61F002/44

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.

2007020, Aug 30, 2007

Sep 22, 2006

11/534406

Dusty Needham - Lakeland TN, US
Jeffrey Poyner - Atoka TN, US
Harry Herkowitz - West Bloomfield MI, US
Thomas Zdeblick - Middleton WI, US

A61B 17/58

606061000

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.