IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,318,121
Granted Patent B2
US 12,318,121 · App. 17/522,164 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Biplanar forceps reducers and methods of use

Inventors: Alec Manson (Boston, MA); Chris Mickiewicz (Bridgewater, MA); Kevin Yeamans (Providence, RI); Michael Sorrenti (Middleboro, MA); Randy Betz, Jr. (Wilmington, DE); Eric Biester (Barrington, RI)
Assignee: Medos International Sàrl
A61B17/7086
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,318,121
App. No.
17/522,164
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Biplanar forceps reducer instruments and methods are disclosed herein. The instruments disclosed herein can engage an implant, such as a bone anchor receiver head, and reduce or move a spinal fixation element, such as a rod, in two planes to move the rod into a channel formed in the receiver head. Further, the biplanar forceps reducer instruments disclosed herein can allow for introduction and tightening of a set screw using an inserter that can pass through a cannulated tube of the reducer. The low profile and biplanar reduction functionality can allow a single type of reducer instrument to couple with each bone anchor along a spinal fixation construct and remain in position until the construct is secured in position.

Claims (40)

1. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a housing disposed therebetween, the housing including a threaded lumen defining a longitudinal axis;

a second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm;

a tube having a threaded outer surface portion disposed within the threaded lumen, a depth stop formed proximal to the threaded portion, and a drive feature at a proximal end of the tube configured to removably couple with a driver to impart torque to the tube; and

a rod-engaging tip rotatably coupled to a distal end of the tube;

wherein the first and second arms are configured to translate a spinal fixation element laterally toward the longitudinal axis when pivoted toward one another and the rod-engaging tip is configured to translate the spinal fixation element axially along the longitudinal axis when the tube is rotated relative to the housing, and

wherein the longitudinal axis of the lumen of the housing lies in a plane defined by longitudinal axes of the first arm and the second arm.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the depth stop defines a maximum outer diameter of the tube.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the depth stop is a shoulder formed around at least a portion of the circumference of the tube.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the lumen includes continuous threads formed around a circumference thereof.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein an inner lumen of the tube is accessible from a proximal end of the tube through the drive feature.

6. The instrument of claim 5 , wherein the rod-engaging tip includes an inner lumen coaxially disposed with the inner lumen of the tube.

7. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the rod-engaging tip includes an opening formed in a distal portion of a sidewall to facilitate viewing contents of an inner lumen of the rod-engaging tip.

8. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of at least one of the first and second arms includes a protrusion configured to extend into a recess of a bone anchor receiver member.

9. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is a pin disposed in a bore formed in the distal end of at least one of the first and second arms.

10. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is a ridge extending across a width of the arm.

11. The instrument of claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is disposed proximal to a distal-most end of the arm and an inner surface of the arm distal to the protrusion has a conical tapering profile.

12. The instrument of claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the arm includes sidewalls extending outward from the inner surface at lateral ends of the arm, and opposed, inward-facing surfaces of each sidewall have a planar tapering profile.

13. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a lock configured to selectively maintain a position of the first and second arms relative to one another.

14. The instrument of claim 13 , wherein the lock is coupled to a proximal portion of one or more of the first and second arms, and a proximal end of the tube is disposed distal to the lock.

15. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first arm, including the housing, is integrally formed.

16. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element that extends from the housing and is located distal to a location at which the second arm is pivotally coupled to the first arm to urge the first and second arms to pivot away from one another.

17. The instrument of claim 16 , wherein a proximal end of the biasing element is distal to a proximal end of the housing.

18. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a housing disposed therebetween, the housing including a lumen defining a longitudinal axis, the lumen having continuous threads formed around a circumference thereof;

a second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm;

a tube having a threaded outer surface portion disposed within the lumen;

a rod-engaging tip rotatably coupled to a distal end of the tube, the rod-engaging tip being constrained against rotation relative to the housing by a protrusion coupled to the housing that is received in a recess of the rod-engaging tip;

wherein the first and second arms are configured to translate a spinal fixation element laterally toward the longitudinal axis when pivoted toward one another and the rod-engaging tip is configured to translate the spinal fixation element axially along the longitudinal axis when the tube is rotated relative to the housing.

19. The instrument of claim 18 , wherein the threads on the outer surface portion of the tube have a plurality of starts.

20. The instrument of claim 19 , wherein the threads on the outer portion of the tube have three starts.

21. The instrument of claim 18 , wherein an outer diameter of the threaded outer surface portion of the tube is less than or equal to about 45% larger than a diameter of an inner lumen of the tube.

22. The instrument of claim 18 , wherein the protrusion extends from the lumen of the housing.

23. A surgical instrument, comprising:

a first arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a housing disposed therebetween, the housing including a threaded lumen defining a longitudinal axis;

a second arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the second arm pivotably coupled to the first arm;

a tube having a threaded outer surface portion disposed within the threaded lumen, a depth stop formed proximal to the threaded portion, and a drive feature at a proximal end of the tube configured to removably couple with a driver to impart torque to the tube; and

a rod-engaging tip rotatably coupled to a distal end of the tube;

wherein the first and second arms are configured to translate a spinal fixation element laterally toward the longitudinal axis when pivoted toward one another and the rod-engaging tip is configured to translate the spinal fixation element axially along the longitudinal axis when the tube is rotated relative to the housing, and

wherein the first arm is fixed relative to the housing.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTION OF ERROR IN PREVIOUSLY RECORDED COVER SHEET (REEL 063401-FRAME 0412), CORRECTING SPELLING OF ASSIGNEE NAME Recorded Apr 25, 2023
From: BIESTER, ERIC
To: SYNTHES USA PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063664/0872 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: BETZ, RANDY, JR.
To: DEPUY SYNTHES SALES, INC.
Reel/Frame 063401/0476 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: MANSON, ALEC; YEAMANS, KEVIN; SORRENTI, MICHAEL; MICKIEWICZ, CHRISTOPHER
To: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063401/0592 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: BIESTER, ERIC
To: SYTHES USA PRODUCTS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063401/0412 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: SYNTHES USA PRODUCTS, LLC
To: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063401/0732 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
To: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SÀRL
Reel/Frame 063401/0790 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: DEPUY SYNTHES SALES, INC.
To: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063401/0694 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63111606 · Nov 9, 2020
Related Publication 20220142683A1 · May 12, 2022
References Cited (370)
US 410780A · Cahn · 1889 [cited by applicant]
US 1470313A · Alfred · 1923 [cited by applicant]
US 1628144A · William · 1927 [cited by applicant]
US 1709766A · Bolton · 1929 [cited by applicant]
US 1889330A · Humes et al. · 1932 [cited by applicant]
US 1925385A · Humes et al. · 1933 [cited by applicant]
US 2113246A · Charles · 1938 [cited by applicant]
US 2248054A · Joseph · 1941 [cited by applicant]
US 2248057A · Bond · 1941 [cited by applicant]
US 2291413A · Siebrandt · 1942 [cited by applicant]
US 2370407A · Ray · 1945 [cited by applicant]
US 2800820A · Valentin · 1957 [cited by applicant]
US 3960147A · Murray · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4237875A · Termanini · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4271836A · Bacal et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4411259A · Drummond · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4445513A · Ulrich et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4655223A · Kim · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4809695A · Gwathmey et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4896661A · Bogert et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 5014407A · Boughten et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5020519A · Hayes et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US D343000S · Olson · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US D346217S · Sparker et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5306248A · Barrington · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5364397A · Hayes et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5391170A · McGuire et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5429641A · Gotfried · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5431658A · Moskovich · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5484440A · Allard · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545165A · Biedermann et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5551320A · Horobec et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5616143A · Schlapfer et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5649931A · Bryant et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5672175A · Martin · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5683399A · Jones · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5697933A · Gundlapalli et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5707371A · Metz-Stavenhagen · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US D390954S · Kumar et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5720751A · Jackson · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5725532A · Shoemaker · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5746757A · McGuire · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5782831A · Sherman et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5810878A · Burel et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5910141A · Morrison et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5941885A · Jackson · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5951564A · Schroder et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5951579A · Dykes · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6010509A · Delgado et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6036692A · Burel et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6099528A · Saurat · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6123707A · Wagner · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6139549A · Keller · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6183472B1 · Lutz · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6210330B1 · Tepper · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6251112B1 · Jackson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6258090B1 · Jackson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6371973B1 · Tepper · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6413258B1 · Bernhardt, Jr. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6440133B1 · Beale et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6440142B1 · Ralph et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6440144B1 · Bacher · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6511484B2 · Torode et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6530929B1 · Justis et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6554832B2 · Shluzas · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6589249B2 · Sater et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6648888B1 · Shluzas · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6660006B2 · Markworth et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6676661B1 · Martin Benlloch et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6726692B2 · Bette · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6743231B1 · Gray et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6746449B2 · Jones et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6752832B2 · Neumann · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6755829B1 · Bono et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6790208B2 · Oribe et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6790209B2 · Beale et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6827722B1 · Schoenefeld · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7081117B2 · Bono et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7083621B2 · Shaolian et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7090677B2 · Fallin et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7156849B2 · Dunbar et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7179254B2 · Pendekanti et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7179261B2 · Sicvol et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7189234B2 · Zucherman et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7278995B2 · Nichols et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7320689B2 · Keller · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7371239B2 · Dec et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7462182B2 · Lim · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7481813B1 · Purcell · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7485120B2 · Ray · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7491207B2 · Keyer et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7527638B2 · Anderson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7572281B2 · Runco et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7621918B2 · Jackson · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7651502B2 · Jackson · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7666188B2 · Anderson et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7708763B2 · Selover et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7776040B2 · Markworth et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7806912B2 · Lawton et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7824411B2 · Varieur et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7824413B2 · Varieur et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7842044B2 · Runco et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7867237B2 · Stad et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7887539B2 · Dunbar, Jr. et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7887541B2 · Runco et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7901434B2 · Drewry et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7922724B2 · Lim · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7931677B2 · Abdelgany · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7988698B2 · Rosenberg et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8109974B2 · Boomer et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8172847B2 · Dziedzic et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8192438B2 · Garamszegi · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8216241B2 · Runco et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8235997B2 · Hoffman et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8246657B1 · Samuel · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8298269B2 · Null et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8303595B2 · Jones · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8308774B2 · Hoffman et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8317837B2 · Rezach et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8337527B2 · Hawkins et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8343165B2 · Berrevoets · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8377104B2 · Jones et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8394109B2 · Hutton et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8430916B1 · Winslow et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8439922B1 · Arnold et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8460308B2 · Marino et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8540718B2 · Dauster et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8556904B2 · Rezach et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8603145B2 · Forton et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8617165B2 · Harper · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8636742B2 · Runco et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8636776B2 · Rosenberg et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8647347B2 · Runco et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8657857B2 · Dall et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8685029B2 · Dziedzic et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8715323B2 · Ballard et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8728124B2 · Miller · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8747409B2 · Ichelmann et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8764756B2 · Jones · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8790348B2 · Stad et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8795283B2 · Petit · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8828056B2 · Buss et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8845640B2 · McLean et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8845649B2 · Jackson · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8870881B2 · Rezach et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8876869B1 · Schafer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8900240B2 · White et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8906062B2 · Nichols et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8932296B2 · Neary et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8951289B2 · Matityahu · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8956362B2 · Landry et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8979848B2 · Butters et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8986349B1 · German et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9044272B2 · Shaffrey et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9044274B2 · Gunn et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9078705B2 · Matthis et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9078709B2 · McBride · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9084634B1 · Lab et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9119674B2 · Matthis et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9125694B2 · Butler et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9149307B2 · Sandstrom et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9155567B2 · Auerbach et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9186188B2 · Gleason et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9204901B2 · Black et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9204909B2 · Rezach et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9220543B2 · Walker et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9247969B2 · Nunley et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9254150B2 · Biedermann et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9265533B2 · Nelson et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9265538B2 · Stad et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9271768B2 · Artaki et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9283002B2 · Larroque-Lahitette et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9308030B2 · Manninen · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9451994B1 · Whipple et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9486256B1 · Lish et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9492205B2 · Alsup et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9498261B2 · McClintock · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9795417B2 · Beger et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 10039578B2 · Anderson et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10238432B2 · Carruth et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10299839B2 · Sicvol et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10398476B2 · Lee et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US D914210S · Koros · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10966762B2 · Lee et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11291481B2 · Schmura et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11291482B2 · Schmura et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US D1004774S · Schmura et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11832855B2 · Lee et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20010029376A1 · Sater et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20020072752A1 · Zucherman et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020095153A1 · Jones et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030009168A1 · Beale et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030028195A1 · Bette · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030083747A1 · Winterbottom et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030125750A1 · Zwirnmann et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030149438A1 · Nichols et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030171756A1 · Fallin et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030191370A1 · Phillips · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030199872A1 · Markworth et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030208203A1 · Lim et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030225408A1 · Nichols et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040049191A1 · Markworth et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040147936A1 · Rosenberg et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040147937A1 · Dunbar, Jr. et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040172057A1 · Guillebon et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040176779A1 · Casutt et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040220567A1 · Eisermann et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040254576A1 · Dunbar, Jr. et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040267275A1 · Cournoyer · 2004 [cited by examiner]
US 20050015094A1 · Keller · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050015095A1 · Keller · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050033299A1 · Shluzas · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050051648A1 · Mercier · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050055031A1 · Lim · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050059969A1 · McKinley · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050079909A1 · Singhaseni · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050090824A1 · Shluzas et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050131408A1 · Sicvol et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050131420A1 · Techiera et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050131421A1 · Anderson et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050131422A1 · Anderson et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050143749A1 · Zalenski et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050149036A1 · Varieur et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050149048A1 · LePort et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050149053A1 · Varieur et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050192570A1 · Jackson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050192579A1 · Jackson · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050228392A1 · Keyer et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050261702A1 · Oribe et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060009775A1 · Dec et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060025768A1 · Lott et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060036254A1 · Lim · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060036260A1 · Runco et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060069391A1 · Jackson · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060074418A1 · Jackson · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060079892A1 · Roychowdhury et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060079909A1 · Runco et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060089651A1 · Trudeau et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060095035A1 · Jones et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060111712A1 · Jackson · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060111713A1 · Jackson · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060111730A1 · Hay · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060166534A1 · Brumfield et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060166535A1 · Brumfield et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060229611A1 · Avery et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060233597A1 · Ensign et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060293692A1 · Whipple · 2006 [cited by examiner]
US 20070093849A1 · Jones et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070100347A1 · Stad et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070129731A1 · Sicvol et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070161998A1 · Whipple · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070167954A1 · Sicvol et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070173831A1 · Abdou · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070185375A1 · Stad et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070213722A1 · Jones et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070233097A1 · Anderson et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070260261A1 · Runco et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070270817A1 · Rezach · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070270880A1 · Lindemann et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070282337A1 · Garamszegi · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080015601A1 · Castro et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080058805A1 · Stuart · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080077134A1 · Dziedzic et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080077135A1 · Stad et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080154277A1 · Machalk et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080195155A1 · Hoffman et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080228233A1 · Hoffman et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080243190A1 · Dziedzic et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080255574A1 · Dye · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090030419A1 · Runco et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090030420A1 · Runco et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090054902A1 · Mickiewicz et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090082811A1 · Stad et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090088764A1 · Stad et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090105712A1 · Dauster et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090138056A1 · Anderson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090143828A1 · Stad et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090312804A1 · Gamache et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100121385A1 · Blain · 2010 [cited by examiner]
US 20100137915A1 · Anderson et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110034961A1 · Runco et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110034962A1 · Dunbar, Jr. et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110093022A1 · Runco et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110144695A1 · Rosenberg et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110208254A1 · Villa et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120029571A1 · Schwab et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120053643A1 · Harper · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120143265A1 · Biedermann et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120179214A1 · Geist et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120191144A1 · Peultier et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120203291A1 · Boulaine · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120253413A1 · Runco · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20130018419A1 · Rezach et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130066385A1 · Benoist · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20130079826A1 · Simonson · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130085534A1 · Hainard et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130123854A1 · Kondrashov et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130245702A1 · McBride · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140012337A1 · Biedermann et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140018858A1 · Laeng et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140058464A1 · Hutchens · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140074106A1 · Shin · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140094858A1 · Picetti et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140114363A1 · Stevenson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140148865A1 · Hennard et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140163625A1 · Meyer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140180298A1 · Stevenson et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140276896A1 · Harper · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140277160A1 · Ziolo · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140277170A1 · Barrett et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140277206A1 · Reitblat et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140296862A1 · Stad et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140311264A1 · Black et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140316475A1 · Parikh et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150057707A1 · Barrus et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150066042A1 · Cummins et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150100097A1 · Barrus · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150100098A1 · Moore · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105832A1 · Gleason et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150112397A1 · Petit · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150173803A1 · Droulout · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150182265A1 · Biedermann et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150196328A1 · Hirschl et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150201971A1 · Gaines et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150257798A1 · Biedermann et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150359568A1 · Rezach · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160022317A1 · Kraus · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160066967A1 · Jackson et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160151093A1 · Barry et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160242825A1 · Simpson et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170265901A1 · Hawkins et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170333087A1 · Lee et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170333088A1 · Lee et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180014858A1 · Biester et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180161073A1 · Lee et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180185072A1 · Rubin et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180228518A1 · Carruth et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180280062A1 · Lee et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190117280A1 · Avidano et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190193541A1 · Takeda · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200297395A1 · Schmura et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200297396A1 · Schmura et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210059725A1 · Avidano et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210177469A1 · Lee et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20230157736A1 · Cromer et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240065736A1 · Lee et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
CN 102488548B · 2013 [cited by applicant]
DE 4238339C2 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
DE 29806563U1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
EP 0948939B1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
EP 1648320A2 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1796564A1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
EP 2004079B1 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 1574175B1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
FR 2677242A1 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
FR 2680314B1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
FR 2729291B1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
WO 1996021396A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 2002080787A2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2003028566A1 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005006948A2 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005058173A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006020443A1 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010045301A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2023089096A1 · 2023 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2021/081168, mailed May 12, 2022 (11 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability for Application No. PCT/EP2021/081168, mailed May 9, 2023 (8 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/EP2021/081168, mailed May 12, 2022 (14 pages). [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion for PCT/US2018/065497, mailed Jul. 8, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion and IPRP for PCT/EP2022/084215, mailed Mar. 23, 2023. [cited by applicant]