Patents by Inventor Harold Alexander

Harold Alexander 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).

  • Patent number: 7488761
    Abstract: An implant composition having controlled resorption rate in vivo for stimulating bone growth, a method of making the implant composition, and a kit of implant materials are disclosed. The implant composition includes a calcium sulfate compound, polymer containing particles, and a setting agent. The polymer is one or more poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine alkyl ester carbonate). Upon setting, the calcium sulfate compound forms a matrix and the polymer containing particles settled within the matrix. The resorption rate of the implant composition in vivo can be controlled of between eight and twenty-four weeks, which substantially matches the rate of bone growth. The implant composition of the present invention can be used for the repair, augmentation, and other treatment of bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Orthogen LLC
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander, Bruce Hollander
  • Publication number: 20080233165
    Abstract: A bone-growth stimulating composition for forming a resorbable implant, methods for making such a composition and a corresponding putty/paste material. In some embodiments of the invention, such a material includes a plurality of particles having a predetermined size and comprising a first calcium sulfate compound, a resorbable polymer in a predetermined weight ratio and a growth factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: Biolok International, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Alexander, John L. Ricci, Sachin Mamidwar
  • Publication number: 20080015616
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes an implant element for surgical insertion into a bone of a patient, the implant element having a microgeometric repetitive surface pattern in the form of alternating ridges and grooves, each having a fixed or established width in a range of about 2.0 to about 25 microns (micrometers) and a fixed or established depth in a range of about 2 to about 25 microns, in which the microgemoetric repetitive patterns define a guide for preferential promotion of the rate, orientation and direction of growth colonies of cells of the bone which are in contact with the surface pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: John Ricci, Harold Alexander, Charles Naiman, Harriet Naiman, Bruce Hollander, Ingo Kozak
  • Patent number: 7235088
    Abstract: An elongate tubular body extends between a rotatable cutter and a control. The cutter is connected to the control with a rotatable element. A vacuum is applied through an annular passage defined between the tubular body and the rotatable element. The tubular body has a sufficiently small outside diameter and sufficient kink resistance and pushability to navigate through arteries such as the internal carotid artery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: ev3 Endovascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafael Pintor, Bradley Steven Culbert, Harold Alexander Heitzmann, Bruce D. Stambaugh
  • Publication number: 20060204586
    Abstract: A bone-growth stimulating composition for forming a resorbable implant, methods for making such a composition and a corresponding putty/paste material. In some embodiments of the invention, such a material includes a plurality of particles having a predetermined size and comprising a first calcium sulfate compound and a resorbable polymer in a predetermined weight ratio. Methods for making such a material include rotating calcium sulfate powder in a drum at a first predetermined drum speed, spraying of a resorbable polymer solution at a predetermined rate on the calcium sulfate powder over a predetermined period of time and drying the resulting particles. Such compositions allow resorption rates of the implant composition in vivo to be controlled, and my vary between eight and twenty-four weeks (for example), which can be matched to substantially correspond to a rate of bone growth in a particular application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventors: Harold Alexander, John Ricci, Sachin Mamidwar
  • Publication number: 20050267591
    Abstract: A transcutaneous port includes a subcutaneous port section and a bone fixation section. The subcutaneous port section has upper portion which has an axial channel and a first micro-textured external surface, and a lower portion which has therein a transverse channel connecting to the axial channel. The bone fixation section has a transosseous collar portion which has a second micro-textured external surface, and a threaded shaft portion. The first and second micro-textured external surfaces include a multiplicity of alternating microgrooves and ridges for tissue and bone integration. The transcutaneous port is surgically implanted into a site of a patient and a conductive wire is introduced from the axial channel to the transverse channel, and placed in the subcutaneous soft tissue and in contact with a neural signal source for transmitting neural signals to a prosthetic motor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Publication date: December 1, 2005
    Inventors: John Ricci, Harold Alexander
  • Publication number: 20050209684
    Abstract: A surgical stent having thereon micro-geometric patterned surface and the method of use for inhibiting smooth muscle cell growth into stent lumen are disclosed. The surgical stent has a generally cylindrical stent frame configured to be implanted into a body lumen, and the stent frame has thereon a micro-geometric patterned surface which includes a multiplicity of microgrooves distributed in a predetermined pattern. Each of the microgrooves has a width in a range of from about 4 to about 40 microns and a depth in a range of from about 4 to about 40 microns. The surgical stent can further include drug wells, and the surgical stent can have a biocompatible chemical compound, such as thrombosis inhibitor or cell growth inhibitor, embedded in the microgrooves or drug wells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Harold Alexander, John Ricci
  • Publication number: 20050177231
    Abstract: An intra-ocular implant has an optical portion capable of optically transmitting light from an exterior of an eye to a retina thereof; and an outer skirt portion extending annularly about the optical portion. The outer skirt portion has anterior and posterior surfaces, one or both of the surfaces having a multiplicity of alternating regular microgrooves and ridges extending annularly about the optical portion. The multiplicity of alternating regular microgrooves and ridges have a substantially same width in a range of between about 4 to about 40 micrometers and a substantially same depth in a range of between about 4 to about 40 micrometers. The multiplicity of alternating regular microgrooves and ridges promote cell growth in a direction along longitudinal axes of the annular microgrooves and inhibition of cell growth in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes, thereby inhibiting cell growth into the optical portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: John Ricci, Harold Alexander
  • Publication number: 20050119758
    Abstract: An implant for surgical insertion into tissue of a patient includes a microgeometric, repetitive pattern, in the form of a multiplicity of alternating ridges and grooves, each having an established width in a range of about 2 to about 25 microns, and an established depth in a range of about 2 to about 25 microns, each groove having a base and a wall; and a microgeometric random surface pattern, applied over the repetitive surface pattern, defining a multiplicity of micro-pits having dimensions in a range of about 0.1 to about 4 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Inventors: Harold Alexander, Bruce Hollander, John Ricci
  • Patent number: 6867889
    Abstract: A holographic optical element (HOE) device is mounted in wireless optical telecommunication system transceiver. The HOE device includes a developed emulsion material having an interference pattern recorded thereon, sandwiched between a pair of elements, such as a pair of clear glass plates. In operation, the HOE device uses the recorded interference pattern to diffract received light rays towards an optical processing unit of the system receiver. A transmitter unit can be positioned at least in part behind the HOE device. An opening in the emulsion material allows a light signal transmitted from the transmitter unit to be substantially unaffected by the recorded interference pattern. The transceiver can also include a spotting scope and an alignment beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Terabeam Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Gregory Amadon, Richard D. Rallison, Mark Pratt, David P. Bajorins, Lawrence Cooper Stapleton, Richard B. Riday, Harold Alexander Brown, William Joseph Lauby, Michael Thomas, Scott William Sparrold
  • Publication number: 20040254259
    Abstract: An implant composition having controlled resorption rate in vivo for stimulating bone growth, a method of making the implant composition, and a kit of implant materials are disclosed. The implant composition includes a calcium sulfate compound, polymer containing particles, and a setting agent. The polymer is one or more poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine alkyl ester carbonate). Upon setting, the calcium sulfate compound forms a matrix and the polymer containing particles settled within the matrix. The resorption rate of the implant composition in vivo can be controlled of between eight and twenty-four weeks, which substantially matches the rate of bone growth. The implant composition of the present invention can be used for the repair, augmentation, and other treatment of bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander, Bruce Hollander
  • Patent number: 6777227
    Abstract: A bioreactor or cell culture surface comprises a multiplicity of microwells appearing, upon enlargement in the range of 200 to 1000 magnifications, as a honeycomb structure consisting of a plurality of rows of irregular hexagons, each having a transverse x-axis, a longitudinal y-axis, and a z-axis which defines a height of each microwell. Co-parallel major bases define the directionality of anticipated cell growth, while pairs of equilateral minor bases define the x-axis width of each microwell. An arrow-like geometry is defined by the equilateral pairs of minor bases which also define an x-axis separation between opposing major bases of the hexagon to induce cell growth directionality. An acute angle exists between the members of the arrow-like pairs of minor bases, while an obtuse angle exists between contiguous major and minor bases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander, John Grew
  • Publication number: 20040153149
    Abstract: An intra-ocular implant exhibits an interior and a posterior surface and includes an arcuate core element capable of optically transmitting light from an exterior of an eye to its retina, the core formed of an alloplastic material. An arcuate first skirt extends integrally and annularly about the optical core. An outer skirt extends integrally and annularly about the first skirt in which the outer skirt is formed of an hydrophilic material capable of receiving vascular invasion and formation of fibrous tissue. The outer skirt is characterized by a substantially flat posterior surface furnished with microgrooves having respective widths in a range of between about two to about twenty micrometers and a depth within a like range of micrometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander
  • Patent number: 6770695
    Abstract: An implant composition having controlled resorption rate in vivo for stimulating bone growth, a method of making the implant composition, and a kit of implant materials are disclosed. The implant composition includes a calcium sulfate compound, polymer containing particles, and a setting agent for setting the calcium sulfate compound and the polymer containing particles into a heterogeneous solid composition. Upon setting, the calcium sulfate compound forms a matrix and the polymer containing particles settled within the matrix. The resorption rate of the implant composition in vivo can be controlled of between eight and twenty-four weeks, which substantially matches the rate of bone growth. The implant composition of the present invention can be used for the repair, augmentation, and other treatment of bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander, Bruce Hollander
  • Publication number: 20040077076
    Abstract: A bioreactor or cell culture surface comprises a multiplicity of microwells appearing, upon enlargement in the range of 200 to 1000 magnifications, as a honeycomb structure consisting of a plurality of rows of irregular hexagons, each having a transverse x-axis, a longitudinal y-axis, and a z-axis which defines a height of each microwell. Co-parallel major bases define the directionality of anticipated cell growth, while pairs of equilateral minor bases define the x-axis width of each microwell. An arrow-like geometry is defined by the equilateral pairs of minor bases which also define an x-axis separation between opposing major bases of the hexagon to induce cell growth directionality. An acute angle exists between the members of the arrow-like pairs of minor bases, while an obtuse angle exists between contiguous major and minor bases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander, John Grew
  • Patent number: 6678079
    Abstract: A holographic optical element (HOE) device is mounted in wireless optical telecommunication system transceiver. The HOE device includes a developed emulsion material having an interference pattern recorded thereon, sandwiched between a pair of elements, such as a pair of clear glass plates. In operation, the HOE device uses the recorded interference pattern to diffract received light rays towards an optical processing unit of the system receiver. A transmitter unit can be positioned at least in part behind the HOE device. An opening in the emulsion material allows a light signal transmitted from the transmitter unit to be substantially unaffected by the recorded interference pattern. The transceiver can also include a spotting scope and an alignment beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Terabeam Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Gregory Amadon, Richard D. Rallison, Mark Pratt, David P. Bajorins, Lawrence Cooper Stapleton, Richard B. Riday, Harold Alexander Brown, William Joseph Lauby, Michael Thomas, Scott William Sparrold
  • Publication number: 20040006396
    Abstract: A transcutaneous implant constitutes proximal partially external section; a collar section, integrally dependent from the external section, the collar section having a microtextured surface constituting a microgeometric, repetitive surface pattern, in a form of multiplicity of alternating ridges and grooves, each having an established width in a range of about 2 to about 25 microns, and an established depth in a like range; an anchor-like distal section, integrally dependent from the collar section, for implantation into a bone segment to be stabilized during a medically advantageous period of time. The surface pattern defines a guide at tissue, cellular and molecular levels for a preferential promotion of rate, orientation and direction of growth of colonies of cells which are in contact with the pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander
  • Patent number: 6582228
    Abstract: A surgical implant system includes an implant body and an osseostimulative surface applied to, or used with, the implant body, the surface including a calcium sulfate (CS) compound which is a member selected from the group consisting of CS dihydrate, CS hemihydrate, anhydrous CS, and mixtures thereof. The performance and rate of resorption of the osseostimulative surface may be improved or modified through the use of a stabilizing component, a viscosity modifier, a pH modifier, or a cell growth inductive microgeometry. The system is also definable in terms of an in situ system of bone augmentation in which a bio-resorbable CS matrix, in various physical forms, from a kit is disposed about the surgical implant positioned within an osseotomy site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventors: John L. Ricci, Harold Alexander, Bruce Hollander, Ingo Kozak
  • Patent number: D468757
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: Terabeam Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Cooper Stapleton, Harold Alexander Brown, Richard B. Riday, James Stocker Webb, Ferdinand Johannes van Engelen, Oliver Felix Grabes, Brady Austin Olason
  • Patent number: D472255
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Terabeam Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence Cooper Stapleton, Harold Alexander Brown, Richard B. Riday, James Stocker Webb, Ferdinand Johannes van Engelen, Oliver Felix Grabes, Brady Austin Olason