Patents by Inventor Dean C. Blackburn

Dean C. Blackburn 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).

  • Use of Ti and Nb cemented in TiC in prosthetic joints
    Patent number: 8603181
    Abstract: An improved composition of titanium sintered titanium carbide is provided. The composition provides an improved degree of strength and toughness and improved compatibility with medical imaging. The composition provides good compatibility with sintered polycrystalline diamond, achieving a good mechanical fit in terms of the combined compressibility and thermal expansion during the sintering process to minimize stress or cracking between the substrate and the diamond layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Dimicron, Inc
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Victorian Carvajal, David P. Harding
  • Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants
    Patent number: 8016889
    Abstract: Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants are disclosed. The implants use sintered polycrystalline articulation surfaces which are attached to spinal endplates and which are implanted to replace damaged spinal joints. The implants provide a long wearing and biocompatible articulation surface. Materials which may be used to make the spinal implants and manufacturing and finishing techniques for making the implants are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc
    Inventors: Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F Gardinier, Troy J. Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Jeffery K. Taylor, Bill J. Pope
  • USE OF Ti and Nb CEMENTED IN TiC IN PROSTHETIC JOINTS
    Publication number: 20100198353
    Abstract: An improved composition of titanium sintered titanium carbide is provided. The composition provides an improved degree of strength and toughness and improved compatibility with medical imaging. The composition provides good compatibility with sintered polycrystalline diamond, achieving a good mechanical fit in terms of the combined compressibility and thermal expansion during the sintering process to minimize stress or cracking between the substrate and the diamond layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Victorian Carvajal, David P. Harding
  • Bearings, races and components thereof having diamond and other superhard surfaces
    Patent number: 7665898
    Abstract: Diamond bearings and bearing components are disclosed. Some embodiments of the bearings and bearing components include polycrystalline diamond compacts sintered under high pressure and high temperature to create a diamond table chemically and mechanically bonded to a substrate, the diamond table presenting a durable and thermally stable load bearing and articulation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, II, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail
  • USE OF Ti AND Nb CEMENTED TiC IN PROSTHETIC JOINTS
    Publication number: 20100025898
    Abstract: Use of Ti and Nb cemented in TiC in prosthetic joints, such as prosthetic joint components made from sintered superhard materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Victorian Carvajal
  • Method for making a sintered superhard prosthetic joint component
    Patent number: 7569176
    Abstract: Use of Ti and Nb cemented in TiC in prosthetic joints, such as prosthetic joint components made from sintered superhard materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Victoriano Carvajal
  • Method of making components for prosthetic joints
    Patent number: 7556763
    Abstract: Carbides as substrates in prosthetic joints, particularly in sintered polycrystalline diamond compacts and sintered cubic boron nitride compacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Victoriano Carbajal
  • Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants
    Patent number: 7494507
    Abstract: Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants are disclosed. Materials which may be used to make the spinal implants and manufacturing and finishing techniques for making the implants are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Dixon, Clayton Frank Gardinier, Troy J. Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Jeffery Karl Taylor, Bill J. Pope
  • BEARINGS, RACES AND COMPONENTS THEREOF HAVING DIAMOND AND OTHER SUPERHARD SURFACES
    Publication number: 20090046967
    Abstract: Diamond bearings and bearing components are disclosed. Some embodiments of the bearings and bearing components include polycrystalline diamond compacts sintered under high pressure and high temperature to create a diamond table chemically and mechanically bonded to a substrate, the diamond table presenting a durable and thermally stable load bearing and articulation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, II, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail
  • Brut polishing of superhard materials
    Patent number: 7465219
    Abstract: Brut polishing of superhard materials to remove positive asperities by use of pressure and heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Victoriano Carvajal, Mark E. Richards, Art B. Curnow, Peter C. Cook
  • Bearings, races and components thereof having diamond and other superhard surfaces
    Patent number: 7461978
    Abstract: Diamond bearings and bearing components are disclosed. Some embodiments of the bearings and bearing components include polycrystalline diamond compacts sintered under high pressure and high temperature to create a diamond table chemically and mechanically bonded to a substrate, the diamond table presenting a durable and thermally stable load bearing and articulation surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, II, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail
  • Prosthetic hip joint having polycrystalline diamond articulation surfaces and at least one solid polycrystalline diamond compact
    Publication number: 20080215158
    Abstract: A prosthetic joint in which at least one bearing component is made from solid diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Kenneth M. Jensen
  • Prosthetic hip joint having polycrystalline diamond articulation surfaces and at least one solid polycrystalline diamond compact
    Publication number: 20080195220
    Abstract: A prosthetic joint in which at least one bearing component is made from solid diamond.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Kenneth M. Jensen
  • Use of CoCrMo to augment biocompatibility in polycrystalline diamond compacts
    Patent number: 7396505
    Abstract: CoCrMo can be used to enhance biocompatibility of a sintered polycrystalline diamond compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Louis M. Pope, Kenneth M. Jensen
  • Use of gradient layers and stress modifiers to fabricate composite constructs
    Patent number: 7396501
    Abstract: Use of gradient layers and stress modifiers in superhard constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Richard H. Dixon, Jeffery K. Taylor, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Louis M. Pope, Victoriano Carvajal
  • ARTICULATING DIAMOND-SURFACED SPINAL IMPLANTS
    Publication number: 20080154380
    Abstract: Articulating diamond-surfaced spinal implants are disclosed. Materials which may be used to make the spinal implants and manufacturing and finishing techniques for making the implants are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Troy J. Medford, Dean C. Blackburn, Jeffery K. Taylor, Bill J. Pope
  • Bearings, races and components thereof having diamond and other superhard surfaces
    Publication number: 20040223676
    Abstract: Diamond bearings and bearing components are disclosed. Some embodiments of the bearings and bearing components include polycrystalline diamond compacts sintered under high pressure and high temperature to create a diamond table chemically and mechanically bonded to a substrate, the diamond table presenting a durable and thermally stable load bearing and articulation surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail
  • Prosthetic joint component having at least one sintered polycrystalline diamond compact articulation surface and substrate surface topographical features in said polycrystalline diamond compact
    Publication number: 20040199260
    Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a prosthetic joint component having at least one sintered polycrystalline diamond compact articulation surface and substrate surface topographical features in said polycrystalline diamond compact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffrey K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Kenneth M. Jensen
  • Diamond-surfaced femoral head for use in a prosthetic joint
    Patent number: 6800095
    Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a diamond-surfaced femoral head for use in a prosthetic joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill J. Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail, Kenneth M. Jensen
  • Prosthetic hip joint having a polycrystalline diamond articulation surface and a plurality of substrate layers
    Patent number: 6793681
    Abstract: Prosthetic joints, components for prosthetic joints, superhard bearing and articulation surfaces, diamond bearing and articulation surfaces, substrate surface topographical features, materials for making joints, bearing and articulation surfaces, and methods for manufacturing and finishing the same, and related information are disclosed, including a prosthetic hip joint having a polycrystalline diamond articulation surface and a plurality of substrate layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Diamicron, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Jordan Pope, Jeffery K. Taylor, Richard H. Dixon, Clayton F. Gardinier, Louis M. Pope, Dean C. Blackburn, Michael A. Vail