ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 26 -- United States Patent no. 12,257,159, issued on March 25, was assigned to K2M Inc. (Leesburg, Va.).
"Expandable spinal implants" was invented by Larry McClintock (Gore, Va.), Steven Ludwig (Baltimore), Scott Dhupar (Windsor, Colo.) and Sabatino Bianco (Arlington, Texas).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A spinal implant has a proximal region and a distal region, and includes an upper body and a lower body each having inner surfaces disposed in opposed relation relative to each other. A proximal adjustment assembly is disposed between the upper and lower bodies at the proximal region of the spinal implant and is adjustably coupled to the upper and lower bodies, and a di...