Patents by Inventor James D. Lutz
James D. Lutz 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).
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Publication number: 20240099854Abstract: A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Nadi S. HIBRI, James D. LUTZ
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Publication number: 20230218409Abstract: A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2023Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: James D. Lutz, W. Loren Francis, Mark Novotny
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Patent number: 11638649Abstract: A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Nadi S. Hibri, James D. Lutz
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Patent number: 11576793Abstract: A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: James D. Lutz, W. Loren Francis, Mark Novotny
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Publication number: 20200229947Abstract: A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: James D. LUTZ, W. Loren FRANCIS, Mark NOVOTNY
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Patent number: 10575967Abstract: A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: James D. Lutz, W. Loren Francis, Mark Novotny
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Publication number: 20190247196Abstract: A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: August 15, 2019Inventors: Nadi S. Hibri, James D. Lutz
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Patent number: 10314714Abstract: A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Nadi S. Hibri, James D. Lutz
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Publication number: 20170056195Abstract: A nuclear disc implant includes an inner fillable enclosure and an outer fillable enclosure. After insertion into a enucleated disc cavity, the inner enclosure is filled with a fluid and the outer fillable enclosure is filled with a curable material. The curable material is allowed to cure and the fluid is removed from the inner enclosure to leave an inner enclosure surrounded by an cured outer enclosure. A reinforcing band may be provided around the nuclear disc implant. An inflation tool to fill the nuclear disc implant is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2016Publication date: March 2, 2017Inventors: James D. Lutz, W. Loren Francis, Mark Novotny
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Publication number: 20160120653Abstract: A multi-chamber balloon for a nuclear implant has an elastomeric membrane defining inner and outer chambers integral with a valve body. The valve body includes a core portion and sealing membrane for sealing the inner and outer chambers. An assembly for manufacturing the multi-chamber balloon includes a balloon mandrel which may be dip coated in a silicone dispersion to create an elastomeric membrane for the inner and outer chambers integral with the valve body. The elastomeric membrane formed on the mandrel is partially inverted to form a coaxial elastomeric structure with the smaller inner chamber disposed within the larger outer chamber. The valve is incorporated into the inner and outer chambers to form a unitary structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2015Publication date: May 5, 2016Applicant: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Nadi S. HIBRI, James D. LUTZ
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Patent number: 8636803Abstract: An inter-vertebral disc prosthesis intended for percutaneous deployment comprises an expandable annular enclosure and an expandable nuclear enclosure. The expandable annular enclosure incorporates a reinforcing annular band along its periphery and is filled with in-situ curable rubber. The expandable nuclear enclosure is filled with a gas. The nuclear prosthesis further incorporates a novel, integrally molded sealing valve assembly and is stretchable and collapsible into a minimal profile for ease of insertion into a specially designed delivery cannula, and is inflation-assisted expandable into an inter-vertebral disc in which complete percutaneous nuclectomy has been performed.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Spinal Stabilization Technologies, LLCInventors: Nadi S. Hibri, James D. Lutz
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Publication number: 20100256766Abstract: An inter-vertebral disc prosthesis intended for percutaneous deployment comprises an expandable annular enclosure and an expandable nuclear enclosure. The expandable annular enclosure incorporates a reinforcing annular band along its periphery and is filled with in-situ curable rubber. The expandable nuclear enclosure is filled with a gas. The nuclear prosthesis further incorporates a novel, integrally molded sealing valve assembly and is stretchable and collapsible into a minimal profile for ease of insertion into a specially designed delivery cannula, and is inflation-assisted expandable into an inter-vertebral disc in which complete percutaneous nuclectomy has been performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Nadi S. Hibri, James D. Lutz
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Publication number: 20090188447Abstract: An apparatus for providing a condensing side-arm water heater with improved efficiency. The condensing side-arm element recirculates exhaust gases into heating the cooler part of a water heater tank by the thermosiphon (or buoyancy) effect in a counterflow configuration, thus increasing efficiency of the water heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2007Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventor: James D. Lutz