IP Library Granted Patent US 8,206,420
Granted Patent B2
US 8,206,420 · App. 12/462,858 · Granted Jun 26, 2012

Spinous process device and method of use

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,206,420
App. No.
12/462,858
Granted
Jun 26, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spinous process device and method are disclosed. The device includes a first plate having a first part slidably coupled to a second part, a second plate having a third part slidably coupled to a fourth part, and first and second connector devices configured to be placed through openings created in spinous processes and rotatably couple respective first and second parts to third and fourth parts of the first and second plates together allowing angular displacement of the second plate with respect to the first plate and secure the spinous processes between the first and second plates.

Claims (60)

1. A spinous process device, comprising:

a first plate extending along a first pivot axis comprising:

a first part configured to abut a first spinous process having an extended portion;

a second part configured to abut a second spinous process having a hollow interior portion,

wherein the extended portion of the first part is slidably received into the hollow interior portion of the second part along the first pivot axis;

a second plate extending along a second pivot axis comprising:

a third part configured to abut the first spinous process opposite the first part having an extended portion; and

a fourth part configured to abut the second spinous process opposite the second part having a hollow interior portion,

wherein the extended portion of the third part is slidably received into the hollow interior portion of the fourth part along the second pivot axis; and

a coupling mechanism configured to couple the first and second plates such that:

the distance between the first plate and the second plate is adjustable; and

the first part and the third part are rotatable relative to each other.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a first member extending toward the third part, and the third part comprises a second member extending toward the first part, wherein the first member is coupled to the second member with the coupling mechanism that allows the first member to translate axially and rotate relative to the second member to establish a spaced distance between the first part and the third part and to establish an angular relationship between the first part and the third part.

3. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a clevis, the clevis comprising an aperture, a body and a threaded end, wherein the first member is a rod and the second member is an arm, the rod being coupled to the arm with the rod extending through the aperture and translating axially through the aperture to establish a spaced distance between the first part and the third part, and the arm rotates about the clevis body to establish an angular relationship between the first part and the third part.

4. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a hollow cylinder having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening, the first member is a first arm and the second member is a second arm comprising a threaded hole, wherein the first plate is coupled to the second plate with the first arm received in the second opening of the hollow cylinder, the second arm received in the third opening of the hollow cylinder, and wherein a securing screw extends into the first opening of the hollow cylinder and engages the threaded hole in the second arm.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first part, second part, third part and fourth part includes an interior surface with a plurality of protrusions configured to interact with the spinous processes.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first part, second part, third part and fourth part includes an instrument coupling hole.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the second part is rotatable relative to the first part along the first pivot axis and the fourth part is rotatable relative to the third part along the second pivot axis.

8. A method of clamping adjacent spinous processes of a patient, comprising:

providing a spinous process clamping device comprising:

a first part and a second part slidingly coupled to form a first plate, wherein the first part comprises an extended portion receivable into a hollow interior portion of the second part;

a third part and a fourth part slidingly coupled to form a second plate, wherein the third part comprises an extended portion receivable into a hollow interior portion of the fourth part;

a coupling mechanism configured to couple the first and second plates to allow for adjustment of distance and relative rotation between the first and second plates;

inserting the spinous process clamping device adjacent at least two adjacent spinous process with the first plate provided on one side of the two adjacent spinous processes and the second plate provided on the other side of the two adjacent spinous process;

clamping the first plate and second plates to the opposite sides of the two adjacent spinous processes, wherein said clamping comprises:

adjusting lengths of the first plate and the second plate by sliding the extended portion of the first part relative to the hollow interior portion of the second part and sliding the extended portion of the third part relative to the hollow interior portion of the fourth part, respectively, to a desired length for placement of the first and second plates against the two adjacent spinous processes;

adjusting an angular relationship of the first plate relative to the second plate via the coupling mechanism connecting the first plate to the second plate, to conform to the shape of the adjacent spinous processes.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein after adjusting lengths of the first plate and the second plate, the clamping the first plate and second plates further comprises adjusting an angular relationship of the first and second parts of the first plate by twisting the first part relative to the second part, and adjusting the angular relationship of the third and fourth parts of the second plate by twisting the third part relative to the fourth part, to conform to the shape of the adjacent spinous processes.

10. A spinous process device, comprising:

a first plate extending along a first pivot axis comprising:

a first part configured to abut a first spinous process;

a second part configured to abut a second spinous process,

wherein the first part is slidably coupled to the second part along the first pivot axis and the second part is rotatable relative to the first part;

a second plate extending along a second pivot axis comprising:

a third part configured to abut the first spinous process opposite the first part; and

a fourth part configured to abut the second spinous process opposite the second part,

wherein the third part is slidably coupled to the fourth part along the second pivot axis and the fourth part is rotatable relative to the third part; and

a coupling mechanism configured to couple the first and second plates such that:

the distance between the first plate and the second plate is adjustable; and

the first part and the third part are rotatable relative to each other;

wherein the first part comprises a first member extending toward the third part, and the third part comprises a second member extending toward the first part, wherein the first member is coupled to the second member with the coupling mechanism that allows the first member to translate axially and rotate relative to the second member to establish a spaced distance between the first part and the third part and to establish an angular relationship between the first part and the third part;

wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a clevis, the clevis comprising an aperture, a body and a threaded end, wherein the first member is a rod and the second member is an arm, the rod being coupled to the arm with the rod extending through the aperture and translating axially through the aperture to establish a spaced distance between the first part and the third part, and the arm rotates about the clevis body to establish an angular relationship between the first part and the third part.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein at least one of the first part, second part, third part and fourth part includes an interior surface with a plurality of protrusions configured to interact with the spinous processes.

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein each of the first part, second part, third part and fourth part includes an instrument coupling hole.

13. A spinous process device, comprising:

a first plate extending along a first pivot axis comprising:

a first part configured to abut a first spinous process;

a second part configured to abut a second spinous process,

wherein the first part is slidably coupled to the second part along the first pivot axis and the second part is rotatable relative to the first part;

a second plate extending along a second pivot axis comprising:

a third part configured to abut the first spinous process opposite the first part; and

a fourth part configured to abut the second spinous process opposite the second part,

wherein the third part is slidably coupled to the fourth part along the second pivot axis and the fourth part is rotatable relative to the third part; and

a coupling mechanism configured to couple the first and second plates such that:

the distance between the first plate and the second plate is adjustable; and

the first part and the third part are rotatable relative to each other;

wherein the first part comprises a first member extending toward the third part, and the third part comprises a second member extending toward the first part, wherein the first member is coupled to the second member with the coupling mechanism that allows the first member to translate axially and rotate relative to the second member to establish a spaced distance between the first part and the third part and to establish an angular relationship between the first part and the third part;

wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a hollow cylinder having a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening, the first member is a first arm and the second member is a second arm comprising a threaded hole, wherein the first plate is coupled to the second plate with the first arm received in the second opening of the hollow cylinder, the second arm received in the third opening of the hollow cylinder, and wherein a securing screw extends into the first opening of the hollow cylinder and engages the threaded hole in the second arm.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first part, second part, third part and fourth part includes an interior surface with a plurality of protrusions configured to interact with the spinous processes.

15. The device according to claim 13 , wherein each of the first part, second part, third part and fourth part includes an instrument coupling hole.

Assignments (16)
CONFIRMATORY GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN UNITED STATES PATENTS Recorded May 12, 2026
From: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 075560/0884 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 62310/0001 Recorded May 1, 2026
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS AGENT
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 075316/0001 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL/FRAME NO. 62681/0020 Recorded May 1, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 075385/0575 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062681/0020 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 6, 2023
From: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; SAFEOP SURGICAL, INC.
To: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST
Reel/Frame 062310/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AT REEL/FRAME NO. 028358/0193 Recorded Sep 27, 2022
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST, AS SUCCESSOR-IN-INTEREST TO MIDCAP FINANCIAL, LLC
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 061553/0787 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AT REEL/FRAME NO. 47494/0562 Recorded Aug 11, 2021
From: SQUADRON MEDICAL FINANCE SOLUTIONS LLC
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 057177/0687 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2020
From: MIDCAP FUNDING IV TRUST
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 052832/0132 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 9, 2018
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
To: SQUADRON MEDICAL FINANCE SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 047494/0562 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2018
From: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 047485/0084 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 22, 2016
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
To: GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 040108/0202 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2016
From: DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN FUND II, L.P.; DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL II, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, L.P.
To: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 039950/0360 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2014
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN FUND II, L.P.; DEERFIELD PRIVATE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL II, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P.; DEERFIELD SPECIAL SITUATIONS INTERNATIONAL MASTER FUND, L.P.
Reel/Frame 032551/0037 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 12, 2012
From: ALPHATEC HOLDINGS, INC.; ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.; ALPHATEC INTERNATIONAL LLC; ALPHATEC PACIFIC, INC.
To: MIDCAP FINANCIAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 028358/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 5, 2012
From: STERN, JOSEPH; ELSNER, HENRY; PATEL, NIRALI; PURCELL, THOMAS; ABSHIRE, BRET
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 027998/0517 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2009
From: PATEL, NIRALI; PURCELL, THOMAS
To: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
Reel/Frame 023405/0139 →