Patents by Inventor Mark Dace

Mark Dace 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: 11672607
    Abstract: An approach is provided for image guided procedures. The approach includes acquiring image data of at least one object of a subject, in which the acquired image data is registered to one or more coordinate systems. The approach includes receiving the acquired image data. The approach includes displaying, on one or more smartglasses, one or more superimposed images over a portion of the subject. The one or more superimposed images may be related to the acquired image data. The approach includes aligning the one or more superimposed images to correspond with a position of the at least one object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Wickham, Nikita Pandey, James B. Kelley, Jerald Redmond, Mark Dace
  • Patent number: 11419652
    Abstract: A bone screw including a head portion, a neck portion, and a shaft portion is provided. The shaft portion includes a first end, an opposite second end, a helical thread form, and a shank. The first end of the shaft portion is attached to the neck portion, and the helical thread form extends around the shank between the first end and the second end. The thread form terminates at a thread-termination surface adjacent the first end of the shaft portion, where the thread-termination surface affords an abrupt transition into the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wickham, Mark Dace
  • Patent number: 11013536
    Abstract: A bone fastener assembly including a bone screw, a receiver, a crown, a seat, and a contact pin is provided. The contact pin is formed as a leaf spring resiliently biased in a first position that affords generation of spring force via deformation thereof, and the contact pin acts as a tensioner to ultimately press against a head portion of the screw to aid movement prevention of the head portion relative to the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wickham, Mark Dace
  • Publication number: 20210045813
    Abstract: An approach is provided for image guided procedures. The approach includes acquiring image data of at least one object of a subject, in which the acquired image data is registered to one or more coordinate systems. The approach includes receiving the acquired image data. The approach includes displaying, on one or more smartglasses, one or more superimposed images over a portion of the subject. The one or more superimposed images may be related to the acquired image data. The approach includes aligning the one or more superimposed images to correspond with a position of the at least one object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey N. Wickham, Nikita Pandey, James B. Kelley, Jerald Redmond, Mark Dace
  • Publication number: 20200337752
    Abstract: A bone screw including a head portion, a neck portion, and a shaft portion is provided. The shaft portion includes a first end, an opposite second end, a helical thread form, and a shank. The first end of the shaft portion is attached to the neck portion, and the helical thread form extends around the shank between the first end and the second end. The thread form terminates at a thread-termination surface adjacent the first end of the shaft portion, where the thread-termination surface affords an abrupt transition into the shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wickham, Mark Dace
  • Publication number: 20200337736
    Abstract: A bone fastener assembly including a bone screw, a receiver, a crown, a seat, and a contact pin is provided. The contact pin is formed as a leaf spring resiliently biased in a first position that affords generation of spring force via deformation thereof, and the contact pin acts as a tensioner to ultimately press against a head portion of the screw to aid movement prevention of the head portion relative to the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jeffrey Wickham, Mark Dace
  • Publication number: 20160128737
    Abstract: A method for treating vertebrae includes the steps of: providing a first penetrating element and a second penetrating element; disposing a first penetrating element with a first vertebral body; disposing a second penetrating element with a second vertebral body; removing the first penetrating element from the first vertebral body; providing a spinal implant including at least a first opening and a second opening; disposing the spinal implant adjacent the vertebral bodies such that second opening is aligned with the second penetrating element; providing a fastener; aligning the fastener with the first opening; and attaching the fastener with the first vertebral body. Systems and devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Domagoj Coric, Mark Dace
  • Patent number: 9277943
    Abstract: A spinal implant comprises a wall extending between a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis. The wall has a first surface and a second surface configured to engage tissue. The wall defines at least one opening configured for disposal of a bone fastener. The first end includes an inner surface comprising a first linear side and a second linear side. The linear sides are disposed in substantial alignment with the axis. The inner surface further comprises an arcuate side connected to the linear sides to define a cavity configured for disposal of a fastener. Systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Langston Holly, Mark Dace, Kevin R. Humphreys
  • Publication number: 20150080969
    Abstract: A spinal implant comprises a wall extending between a first end and a second end and defining a longitudinal axis. The wall has a first surface and a second surface configured to engage tissue. The wall defines at least one opening configured for disposal of a bone fastener. The first end includes an inner surface comprising a first linear side and a second linear side. The linear sides are disposed in substantial alignment with the axis. The inner surface further comprises an arcuate side connected to the linear sides to define a cavity configured for disposal of a fastener. Systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Langston Holly, Mark Dace, Kevin R. Humphreys
  • Patent number: 8945225
    Abstract: A prosthetic spinal disc system is provided. The prosthetic disc system has a nucleus component having an upper surface configured to engage a superior vertebra and a lower surface configured to engage an inferior vertebra, an anchor configured to affix to an anterior surface of at least one of the superior vertebra or the inferior vertebra, and a tether tying the nucleus component to the anchor. In such embodiments, the nucleus component further has a perimeter situated substantially between the upper surface and the lower surface of the nucleus component and the tether is at least partially situated on the perimeter of the nucleus component. In certain embodiments, the upper surface and the lower surface of the nucleus component are configured to allow for implantation of the disc system such that after a discectomy, no preparation of at least one of the superior and inferior vertebrae is necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Warsaw, Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Squires, Mark Dace, Stanley Palmatier
  • Patent number: 8911441
    Abstract: The present application is directed to instruments and methods for preparing a space between vertebral members. One embodiment of the instrument may include an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end. A blade may be positioned at an end of the shaft and may rotate about an axis. The blade may include one or more teeth that include a height and/or contour. During rotation of the blade, the teeth contact and cut into one of the vertebral members. The instrument may also include a depth stop that limits a depth that the teeth can cut into the vertebral member. In some embodiments, the instrument includes a second blade that is configured to cut into the second vertebral member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Dace, Stephen Papadopoulos, Stephen White, Bradley Coates, Greg Marik
  • Publication number: 20120277803
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an orthopedic plate is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps: providing a stratum comprising a first surface for engaging bone and a second surface opposing said first surface, wherein the stratum comprises a fastener hole for receiving a fastener, wherein the fastener has a head and a shaft; providing a retaining element comprising a head and a shaft; creating a retaining hole for receiving the retaining element, wherein the retaining element extends through at least the second surface; placing the retaining element into the retaining hole to reach a fully-inserted position; cutting a portion of the head of the retaining element such that the head of the fastener can be inserted through the fastener hole and pass by the head of the retaining element to reach a fully-inserted position of the fastener. Also, an orthopedic plate made using the disclosed method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Remesh, Mark Dace, Abhijit Raval, Jonathan Gant, Clinton Jacob
  • Patent number: 8070815
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant system for positioning between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra is provided. The implant system comprises an intervertebral implant and a staple. The implant comprises an inferior plate and a superior plate, while the superior plate has a vertebral surface facing the upper vertebra and the inferior plate has a vertebral surface facing the lower vertebra. There are two grooves on at least one vertebral surface extending at an angle outward from a centerline on the vertebral surface as they extend from the anterior portion of the plate toward the posterior portion of the plate. When in use, the staple is associated with the two grooves for maintaining stability of the intervertebral implant and preventing backing out of the intervertebral implant. The staple also has two arms and has a generally rectangular shape prior to use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kidong Yu, Mark Dace
  • Publication number: 20110098816
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes at least one circular body. The at least one circular body defining an outer surface configured to engage at least one articular surface of a sacro-iliac joint along a plane substantially parallel to the articular surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Clinton R. Jacob, Jason J. Eckhardt, Mark Dace
  • Publication number: 20110098817
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes at least one elongated body. The body defines an outer surface. The outer surface is configured to engage an articular surface of a sacro-iliac joint along a plane substantially parallel to the articular surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Jason J. Eckhardt, Mark Dace, Clinton R. Jacob
  • Publication number: 20110015744
    Abstract: A prosthetic spinal disc system is provided. The prosthetic disc system has a nucleus component having an upper surface configured to engage a superior vertebra and a lower surface configured to engage an inferior vertebra, an anchor configured to affix to an anterior surface of at least one of the superior vertebra or the inferior vertebra, and a tether tying the nucleus component to the anchor. In such embodiments, the nucleus component further has a perimeter situated substantially between the upper surface and the lower surface of the nucleus component and the tether is at least partially situated on the perimeter of the nucleus component. In certain embodiments, the upper surface and the lower surface of the nucleus component are configured to allow for implantation of the disc system such that after a discectomy, no preparation of at least one of the superior and inferior vertebrae is necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Squires, Mark Dace, Stanley Palmatier
  • Publication number: 20100087830
    Abstract: The present application is directed to instruments and methods for preparing a space between vertebral members. One embodiment of the instrument may include an elongated shaft with a proximal end and a distal end. A blade may be positioned at an end of the shaft and may rotate about an axis. The blade may include one or more teeth that include a height and/or contour. During rotation of the blade, the teeth contact and cut into one of the vertebral members. The instrument may also include a depth stop that limits a depth that the teeth can cut into the vertebral member. In some embodiments, the instrument includes a second blade that is configured to cut into the second vertebral member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Dace, Stephen Papadopoulos, Stephen White, Bradley Coates, Greg Marik
  • Publication number: 20100036496
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant system for positioning between an upper vertebra and a lower vertebra is provided. The implant system comprises an intervertebral implant and a staple. The implant comprises an inferior plate and a superior plate, while the superior plate has a vertebral surface facing the upper vertebra and the inferior plate has a vertebral surface facing the lower vertebra. There are two grooves on at least one vertebral surface extending at an angle outward from a centerline on the vertebral surface as they extend from the anterior portion of the plate toward the posterior portion of the plate. When in use, the staple is associated with the two grooves for maintaining stability of the intervertebral implant and preventing backing out of the intervertebral implant. The staple also has two arms and has a generally rectangular shape prior to use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kidong Yu, Mark Dace
  • Patent number: 7293364
    Abstract: A measurement device to determining a length of an anatomical feature is provided. In one embodiment, the measurement device is a depth gauge adapted to measure the depth of a vertebral endplate. The depth gauge may includes a probe that travels into the disc space. The depth gauge also includes a cam dial for indicating measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Dace, Bret Wilfong
  • Publication number: 20070227023
    Abstract: A measurement device to determining a length of an anatomical feature is provided. In one embodiment, the measurement device is a depth gauge adapted to measure the depth of a vertebral endplate. The depth gauge may includes a probe that travels into the disc space. The depth gauge also includes a cam dial for indicating measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Dace, Bret Wilfong