SI-Bone has announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office have awarded the company Patent No. 8,840,651 on systems and methods for the fixation and fusion of bone. This newly issued patent broadly covers a threaded, fenestrated implant with a tapered distal end that may be placed from one bone across a joint into another bone. According a press release, this patent further strengthens the company’s existing patent portfolio covering rectilinear shaped implants for use in the fixation or fusion of any joint in the body.
The press release reports that specifically, this new patent provides coverage for “a method for the fixation or fusion of a first bone segment to a second bone segment across a joint…wherein the elongate implant comprises external screw threads…wherein the elongate implant has a tapered distal end…such that the first fenestration is offset from both the distal end and the proximal end…such that the first fenestration lies at least partly in the joint between the first bone segment and the second bone segment.”
“We are very pleased to learn of this latest issued patent,” said Scott Yerby, chief technology officer at SI-Bone. “We believe this patent addition to SI-Bone previously issued patents further strengthens our patent portfolio and covers certain implants intended for fixation or fusion of the SI joint, as well as other joints or fractures in the skeleton.”
This latest issued patent brings the total number of issued US patents in the company’s IP portfolio to 13 with an additional 29 pending. Outside the US, the company has one issued patent and has an additional 40 patents pending. SI-Bone received original 510(k) clearance in November 2008 from FDA to market its iFuse implant system. The CE mark for European commercialisation was obtained in November 2010.
