ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18 -- United States Patent no. 12,471,965, issued on Nov. 18, was assigned to ALPHATEC SPINE INC. (Carlsbad, Calif.).
"Rod reduction instrument and method for spinal surgery" was invented by Connor Hedges (Encinitas, Calif.), Nathan R. Smith (Carlsbad, Calif.), Scott Robinson (Encinitas, Calif.) and Fernando Olea (Escondido, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Disclosed rod reduction systems include an elongated housing having a longitudinal bore and a transverse channel extending through the elongated housing at a non-zero degree angle relative to the longitudinal bore. An insert is slideable within the transverse channel between an outwardly displaced position and an...