ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 8 -- United States Patent no. 12,433,642, issued on Oct. 7, was assigned to NuVasive Inc. (San Diego).
"Post-operatively adjustable spinal fixation devices" was invented by Shaeffer Bannigan (San Diego) and Justin Doose (San Diego).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system for spinal fixation with a non-rigid portion at least one of the caudal or cephalad terminus. Various devices and techniques are described for transition from a rigid fixation construct to a less rigid support structure applied to a "soft zone" that helps share the stress created on the spinal levels caused by the fixed levels below. In some embodiments, the soft zone is provided by terminating the constr...