December 1, 2009 -- Applied Spine Technologies, Inc., a medical device company focused on motion preservation of the lumbar spine, has been awarded a new patent titled "Mounting mechanisms for pedicle screws and related assemblies”. U.S. patent No. 7,615,068, issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 10, 2009, claims a pedicle screw with a collet, snap ring, and set screw to accept and fix a spherical ball onto the pedicle screw.
“The two key elements of an optimal dynamic stabilization device are a connector that can change length, and a mechanism that permits dynamic angulation between the connector and the pedicle screws, as the patient bends,” says Bruce Robie, Ph.D., vice president of research and development for Applied Spine. “With this patent, we now have protection of hardware that enables intraoperative assembly of an articulating sphere onto a pedicle screw, enabling dynamic angulation.”
“In conjunction with our previously issued intellectual property, this new patent offers us protection within critical elements of dynamic stabilization devices, particularly dynamic angulation," adds Craig Corrance, Applied Spine’s CEO. "Interestingly, other devices that lack dynamic angulation capabilities have reported clinical failures. We believe, therefore, that our new patent significantly enhances the companies IP portfolio."
Applied Spine Technologies, headquartered in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, is developing the Stabilimax dynamic spine stabilization system, a posterior dynamic stabilization device designed to support an injured or degenerated spine without eliminating motion. Stabilimax is expected to offer numerous advantages over current spinal fixation products and even new artificial disc products, including a less invasive and less traumatic implant procedure, maintenance of spine motion and disc function, and the potential to prevent or slow adjacent-segment disc disease.
