ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 21 -- United States Patent no. 12,440,242, issued on Oct. 14, was assigned to Spinal Elements Inc. (Carlsbad, Calif.).
"Flexible fastening band connector" was invented by Ketchen Smith (Escondido, Calif.) and Gregory Martin (Carlsbad, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A flexible fastening band connector can comprises a recess to receive a distal end portion of a flexible fastening band lumen to receive the proximal end portion of the flexible fastening band. The lumen guides the proximal end portion of the flexible fastening band toward a fastening mechanism. The flexible fastening band connector can comprise an opening to receive a spinal rod. In operation, the spin...