US 12,440,242 B2
Flexible fastening band connector
Ketchen Smith, Escondido, CA (US); and Gregory Martin, Carlsbad, CA (US)
Assigned to Spinal Elements, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed by Spinal Elements, Inc., Carlsbad, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/649,083.
Application 17/544,265 is a division of application No. 15/508,365, granted, now 11,478,275, issued on Oct. 25, 2022, previously published as PCT/US2015/050441, filed on Sep. 16, 2015.
Application 18/649,083 is a continuation of application No. 17/544,265, filed on Dec. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,998,240.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/051,454, filed on Sep. 17, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2024/0341810 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61B 17/84 (2006.01); A61B 17/62 (2006.01); A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/82 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/62 (2013.01) [A61B 17/7053 (2013.01); A61B 17/7056 (2013.01); A61B 17/7067 (2013.01); A61B 17/707 (2013.01); A61B 17/82 (2013.01); A61B 17/84 (2013.01); A61B 17/842 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a flexible elongate body comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the flexible elongate body comprises a body portion between the proximal end portion and the distal end portion, wherein the distal end portion of the flexible elongate body comprises an enlarged head and a fastener lumen configured to accept the proximal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion, the distal end portion, and the body portion are monolithically formed; and
a connector comprising:
a body comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the body comprises a recess extending downward from the top surface, wherein the body comprises an opening extending downward from the top surface, wherein the recess is configured to receive the enlarged head of the flexible elongate body when the enlarged head of the flexible elongate body is lowered into the recess, wherein the opening is configured to receive a distal portion of the body portion when the enlarged head is lowered into the recess;
wherein the body comprise a lumen extending upward from the bottom surface, wherein the lumen and the fastener lumen form a continuous passage through the connector and the flexible elongate body when the enlarged head of the flexible elongate body is received in the recess, wherein the enlarged head and the distal portion of the body portion of the flexible elongate body are received in the body of the connector in only one orientation such that that lumen aligns with the fastener lumen to permit the proximal end portion to traverse through the continuous passage of the lumen and the fastener lumen, wherein the lumen is configured to guide the proximal end portion through the fastener lumen when the enlarged head is received in the recess.