(19)

(11)

EP 2 379 017 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 25.11.2010 (43) Date of publication: 26.10.2011 Bulletin 2011/43 (21) Application number: 10738910.8 (22) Date of filing: 19.01.2010

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  A61F 2/44(2006.01) A61B 17/88(2006.01) A61B 17/70(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2010/021380 (87) International publication number: WO 2010/090815 (12.08.2010 Gazette 2010/32)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK SM TR (30) Priority: 21.01.2009 US 356713 (71) Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. Warsaw, IN 46581 (US) Rice, Robert B. Southaven, Mississippi 38671 (US)	(72) Inventors: ALLARD, Randall N. Germantown Tennessee 38138 (US) ECKHARDT, Jason John Memphis Tennessee 38111 (US) FRANCIS, Tom J. Cordova Tennessee 38016 (US) CARLS, Thomas A. Memphis Tennessee 38103 (US) (74) Representative: Ihle, Kornelia  Viering, Jentschura & Partner Schwepnitzer Straße 2 01097 Dresden 01097 Dresden (DE)