ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,251,136, issued on March 18.
"Medical implant thread plug having a lower rod engaging extension" was invented by Roger P. Jackson (Prairie Village, Kan.) and James L. Surber (Kansas City, Kan.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A receiver assembly for securing an elongate rod to a bone anchor including a receiver and a threaded plug. The receiver including an upper portion defining a channel to receive the elongate rod, an interior surface having helically wound receiver thread, and an exterior surface having in some embodiments first and second horizontal curvate extending instrument engaging grooves. The threaded plug including a longitud...