Applied Spine Technologies awarded U.S patent relating to mounting mechanisms for pedicle screws

Applied Spine Technologies, Inc. (www.appliedspine.com), 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,” said Bruce Robie, PhD, 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. 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,” adds Craig Corrance, Applied Spine’s CEO.