Second U.S. Patent Awarded to Spinal Resources for Multi-Diameter Spinal Fixation Rod

Spinal Resources Inc. has been issued another U.S. patent for its proprietary, multi-diameter, variable-stiffness spinal fixation platform. This second patent extends the protection granted by a previous one issued last spring; together both patents create a layered intellectual property (IP) position legally covering the company’s technology.

From the rod itself to the full implant system, the artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled design methodology tailors each rod to the individual patient. Conventional posterior spinal fixation rods carry a single constant diameter along their full length, forcing surgeons to accept a uniform stiffness profile poorly matched to the variable anatomy and bone quality of the spinal column. Earlier “stepped” designs introduced abrupt diameter changes that created stress concentrations and restricted screw placement.

The patented Spinal Resources design replaces abrupt transitions with smooth, continuous Bezier curve geometry, enabling segment-by-segment customization of the rod cross-section along its entire length. Variable-stiffness Bézier rods, combined with rod contour morphotypes derived from post-operative outcome databases and AI-enabled surgical planning, provide a patient-specific, single-construct solution from occiput to sacrum, eliminating the mechanical liabilities of coupled multi-rod assemblies, according to the company. These features are designed to mitigate risks of complications such as adjacent segment disease (Proximal Junction Kyphosis (PJK) or Failure (PJF)), implant loosening, and bone stress shielding.

A Layered IP Position

The two issued patents operate as complementary layers of protection. U.S. Patent No. 12,251,133—Variable-Dimension Fixation Rod and Implantable Stabilization System Including a Variable-Dimension Fixation Rod—protects the variable-diameter rod as part of a broader implantable stabilization system. The Bezier rod, in combination with pedicle screw and retaining cap assemblies—including the smooth transition regions—enable clinicians to secure fasteners at any point along the Bezier rod.

U.S. Patent No. 12,611,231—Spinal Rod and Systems Thereof (the most recent)—extends this foundation by covering the rod itself independently of any specific fastener system. It broadens protection beyond the system-level configuration and supports patient-specific customization driven by data and algorithms to determine optimal rod shape and cross-section for each patient. It addresses advanced geometric features, such as morphotypes and rod contours, which were not addressed in the earlier patent. In combination, the two patents aim to provide overlapping protection across the product, from the rod itself and rod-and-fastener system, to the software-driven design methodology.

“The new patent, together with previously issued U.S. Patent No. 12,251,133, further strengthens the SRI IP portfolio and creates a layered, defensible position around its differentiated multi-diameter, anatomy-specific platform,” Spinal Resources CEO Bernie Bedor said. “The combination represents significant strategic and competitive commercial value spanning the device, the system, and the patient-specific design methodology. It further positions SRI to scale commercialization and engage strategic partners from a position of IP strength.”

Spinal Resources Inc. is a Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based medical device company developing next-generation spinal fixation technologies designed to deliver patient-specific biomechanical performance and improve long-term outcomes in spinal fusion surgery.