Patents by Inventor Charles Branch

Charles Branch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240008998
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Patent number: 11744715
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Patent number: 11065130
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Publication number: 20210177618
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Patent number: 10940020
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Publication number: 20190201209
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Patent number: 10238503
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven, Anthony J. Melkent, Jonathan M. Dewey, Keith E. Miller, Adriaan J. Kuyler
  • Publication number: 20180116815
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant includes a distal projection extending from only one side of the implant, ending in an anterior tip, the anterior portion and anterior tip defining an elongated distal end hook, which is wider than the proximal end. The distal end hook rotates around the spinal cord, aligning the implant with a desired pathway, then inserts into place in the disc space between the vertebrae. The elongated widened distal end hook provides a TLIF approach, distributes loads, provides anterior rim engagement, and creates lordosis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Adriaan J. Kuyler, Anthony J. Melkent, Keith E. Miller, Charles Branch, Jonathan M. Dewey, Charles Fisher, Mladen Djurasovic, Marcel Dvorak, Sigurd Berven
  • Patent number: 9095445
    Abstract: An interbody spacer includes an elongated body with a maximum width between opposite side walls and a maximum height between upper and lower bearing surfaces. The interbody spacer also includes a leading end nose connecting the side walls to facilitate insertion of the interbody spacer into a disc space between vertebrae in an insertion orientation, from which the interbody device is then rotated to position the upper and lower bearing surfaces in contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. The leading end nose forms a blunt convex nose between the upper and lower bearing surfaces to maximize the bearing surface area available to contact the adjacent endplates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kidong Yu, Keith E. Miller, William D. Armstrong, Charles Branch, Kevin T. Foley, Peter McCombe, Anthony J Melkent, William R. Sears
  • Publication number: 20140031943
    Abstract: An interbody spacer includes an elongated body with a maximum width between opposite side walls and a maximum height between upper and lower bearing surfaces. The interbody spacer also includes a leading end nose connecting the side walls to facilitate insertion of the interbody spacer into a disc space between vertebrae in an insertion orientation, from which the interbody device is then rotated to position the upper and lower bearing surfaces in contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. The leading end nose forms a blunt convex nose between the upper and lower bearing surfaces to maximize the bearing surface area available to contact the adjacent endplates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kidong YU, Keith E. Miller, William D. Armstrong, Charles Branch, Kevin T. Foley, Peter McCombe, Anthony J. Melkent, William R. Sears
  • Patent number: 8554135
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling power dissipation in a base station of a navigation satellite system (NSS) is disclosed. One method utilizes a sensor to monitor one or more components of the base station. Then, based on information from the sensor, a transmission bit rate is increased from a pre-defined bit rate to an increased transmission bit rate for an NSS message transmitted from the base station without reducing transmission power level of the base station. The method also periodically provides a bit rate update signal at the pre-defined bit rate, the bit rate update signal informing a rover utilizing the base station of the increased transmission bit rate for the NSS message transmitted from the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventor: Charles Branch
  • Publication number: 20130018466
    Abstract: An interbody spacer includes an elongated body with a maximum width between opposite side walls and a maximum height between upper and lower bearing surfaces. The interbody spacer also includes a leading end nose connecting the side walls to facilitate insertion of the interbody spacer into a disc space between vertebrae in an insertion orientation, from which the interbody device is then rotated to position the upper and lower bearing surfaces in contact with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. The leading end nose forms a blunt convex nose between the upper and lower bearing surfaces to maximize the bearing surface area available to contact the adjacent endplates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Kidong Yu, Keith E. Miller, William D. Armstrong, Charles Branch, Kevin Thomas Foley, Peter M. McCombe, Anthony J. Melkent, William R. Sears
  • Publication number: 20120236907
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling power dissipation in a base station of a navigation satellite system (NSS) is disclosed. One method utilizes a sensor to monitor one or more components of the base station. Then, based on information from the sensor, a transmission bit rate is increased from a pre-defined bit rate to an increased transmission bit rate for an NSS message transmitted from the base station without reducing transmission power level of the base station. The method also periodically provides a bit rate update signal at the pre-defined bit rate, the bit rate update signal informing a rover utilizing the base station of the increased transmission bit rate for the NSS message transmitted from the base station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Charles Branch
  • Patent number: 7993403
    Abstract: Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Foley, Harald Ebner, Mingyan Liu, Charles Branch, Lawrence M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20100161062
    Abstract: Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin Foley, Harald Ebner, Mingyan Liu, Charles Branch, Lawrence M. Boyd
  • Patent number: 7655042
    Abstract: Laterally expanding vertebral spacer devices are provided for repairing damaged vertebral discs. The vertebral spacer devices maintain the height of a distracted vertebral disc space while providing stability to the spine. In one form of the invention, a vertebral spacer device is provided with a first arm movably coupled to a second arm. The first and second arms are laterally expandable from a first width for insertion into the disc space to a second width after insertion into the disc space. The first and second arms also define a cavity therebetween for placement of bone growth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin Foley, Harald Ebner, Mingyan Liu, Charles Branch, Lawrence M. Boyd
  • Publication number: 20080103502
    Abstract: A connection system is provided that joins a revision fixation plate to a previously implanted skeletal fixation plate. In one form, the system allows the previously implanted plating system to be revised without disturbing the original implant components. In one aspect, the connection includes joining the revision fixation plate to a previously implanted fastener. In another aspect, the revision fixation plate is directly joined to a previously implanted fixation plate. In yet another aspect, the connection includes forming a dynamic relationship between the previously implanted plating system, the revision fixation plate, and the affected vertebrae. In one form, the dynamic relationship enables movement between the previously implanted plating system and the affected vertebrae and in another form, the dynamic relationship enables movement between the previously implanted plating system and the revision fixation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Marco Capote, Charles Branch, Robert Biscup
  • Publication number: 20070229135
    Abstract: An apparatus for generating pulses includes: (a) A delay unit having an input delay locus for receiving a delay unit input signal and an output delay locus for presenting an output delay signal. The delay unit output signal is delayed by a delay interval with respect to the input delay signal. (B) A latch coupled with the delay unit to selectively keep the delay unit input signal at at least one predetermined signal level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Charles Branch, Steven Bartling
  • Patent number: D641344
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: E. Alex Thomas, Charles Branch
  • Patent number: D649141
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: E. Alex Thomas, Charles Branch