Patents by Inventor Shigeru Tanaka
Shigeru Tanaka 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: 10226285Abstract: A spinal joint distraction system for treating a facet joint including articular surfaces having a contour is disclosed and may include a delivery device including a generally tubular structure adapted to engage a facet joint, an implant adapted to be delivered through the delivery device and into the facet joint, the implant comprising two members arranged in opposed position, and an implant distractor comprising a generally elongate member adapted to advance between the two members of the implant causing separation of the members and distraction of the facet joint, wherein the implant is adapted to conform to the shape of the implant distractor and/or the articular surfaces of the facet upon being delivered to the facet joint. Several embodiments of a system, several embodiments of an implant, and several methods are disclosed including a method for interbody fusion.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Bruce M. McCormack, Peter Lombrozo, Jeffrey D. Smith, Shigeru Tanaka, Edward Liou, Edward Fletcher Eyster, Jonathan Carver, Joshua Druker, Martin Leugers, Kurin Tu
-
Patent number: 10219916Abstract: A spinal fusion system may include an interbody fusion cage, a fixation plate, and an implanter. The interbody fusion cage may include a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, a superior region, an inferior region opposite the superior region, and an open volume between the proximal and distal regions. The superior and inferior regions are located between the proximal and distal regions and are configured such that, when the interbody fusion cage is implanted in the disc space, the superior region contracts the inferior end plate and the inferior region contacts the superior end plate. The fixation plate is receivable in the open volume of the interbody fusion cage and includes a superior blade and an inferior blade. At least one of the blades includes a first opening defined therein. The fixation plate is displaceable between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2018Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: SPINE WAVE, INC.Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Edward Liou
-
Patent number: 10211570Abstract: A lever-fitting type connector includes a lever configured to linearly perform a relative movement with respect to a terminal accommodation member when lever operational force in a straight direction is input, a first guide mechanism configured to convert lever input acting along a lever operation direction that is exerted from the lever on the terminal accommodation member, into force in a connector insertion-removal direction orthogonal to the lever operation direction, and to guide a relative movement between the terminal accommodation member and the lever while performing conversion of a direction of the force, and a second guide mechanism that is a screw mechanism that can exert axial force acting along the lever operation direction, on the lever, and is configured to relatively move the lever with respect to the electrically-connected target object while guiding in the lever operation direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATIONInventors: Masahiro Tanaka, Hiroaki Imai, Hajime Kato, Shigeru Tanaka
-
Patent number: 10201375Abstract: A device for accessing and guiding at least one fixation device to a spine may include a distal portion configured to fit in a facet of the spine and a proximal portion extending from the distal portion. The proximal portion may be detachable from the distal portion and may be hollow or solid. A system for accessing and guiding at least one fixation device to a spine may include a distal portion configured to fit in a facet of the spine, a proximal portion extending from the distal portion, and a slidable guide device for sliding over the facet guide device to guide at least one instrument to the spine.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Bruce M. McCormack, Edward Liou, Shigeru Tanaka, Christopher U. Phan
-
Publication number: 20180360518Abstract: A method for implanting a bone screw in a vertebra may first involve inserting the bone screw and a bone screw delivery mechanism through a proximal end of a guide tube along a first trajectory. A proximal end of the bone screw is attached to a distal end of the bone screw delivery mechanism, and a distal end of the guide tube is positioned adjacent the vertebra. The method may next involve advancing the bone screw and the bone screw delivery mechanism through a bend in the guide tube to cause the bone screw to exit the distal end of the guide tube along a second trajectory and contact the vertebra. The method may further involve rotating the delivery mechanism to cause the bone screw to screw into the vertebra and detaching the bone screw delivery mechanism from the bone screw.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2018Publication date: December 20, 2018Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Jeffrey D. Smith, Christopher U. Phan, Edward Liou
-
Patent number: 10149710Abstract: A system for implanting a bone screw into a vertebra of a vertebral column of a patient to help secure an implant within a joint between the vertebra and an adjacent vertebra may include a bone screw, a bone screw delivery mechanism detachably connected to the bone screw, and a guide tube. The guide tube may have a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen configured to receive the bone screw and the bone screw delivery mechanism, and at least one bend disposed nearer the distal end than the proximal end. The bend in the guide tube may change a trajectory of the bone screw and the bone screw delivery mechanism advancing through the lumen from a first trajectory along a longitudinal axis of the guide tube to a second trajectory that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Jeffrey D. Smith, Christopher U. Phan, Edward Liou
-
Publication number: 20180316134Abstract: A lever-fitting type connector includes a lever configured to linearly perform a relative movement with respect to a terminal accommodation member when lever operational force in a straight direction is input, a first guide mechanism configured to convert lever input acting along a lever operation direction that is exerted from the lever on the terminal accommodation member, into force in a connector insertion-removal direction orthogonal to the lever operation direction, and to guide a relative movement between the terminal accommodation member and the lever while performing conversion of a direction of the force, and a second guide mechanism that is a screw mechanism that can exert axial force acting along the lever operation direction, on the lever, and is configured to relatively move the lever with respect to the electrically-connected target object while guiding in the lever operation direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Masahiro Tanaka, Hiroaki Imai, Hajime Kato, Shigeru Tanaka
-
Publication number: 20180304831Abstract: An electric wire is an electric wire to be routed under the floor of a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. The electric wire includes: a conductive first conductor that is formed in a single bar shape; a conductive second conductor that is formed by bundling a plurality of element wires; and a fusion junction that is formed by melting and joining an end of the first conductor and an end of the second conductor in a abutting state therebetween in an axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Shigeo Mori, Masayuki Kataoka, Kouzou Koshou
-
Publication number: 20180303631Abstract: Provided herein are devices, systems, apparatus and methods for accessing the cervical spine via an anterior approach and implanting a spinal fixation member between two vertebrae of the cervical spine in the disc or intervertebral joint space, such as in an ACDF procedure. The delivery device includes a distal end that can be anchored to the spinal fixation member. Once anchored to the spinal fixation member, the delivery device is operable to both advance and attach the spinal fixation member within a cervical disc joint space.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2016Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Christopher U. Phan, Shigeru Tanaka, Edward Liou, Jeffrey D. Smith, Scott Schneider
-
Publication number: 20180284633Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a reading portion for reading a shape of a first sheet, said reading portion having a function of reading a second sheet carrying an original image; an image forming portion for forming a toner image corresponding to the original image read by said reading portion; a fixing portion for fixing the toner image formed by said image forming portion; and a controller for controlling a fixing condition of said fixing portion in accordance with the shape of the first sheet read by said reading portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Yasuharu Chiyoda, Daigo Matsuura, Mitsuru Hasegawa, Yusuke Yamaguchi, Shigeru Hirano
-
Publication number: 20180256355Abstract: A spinal fusion system may include an interbody fusion cage, a fixation plate, and an implanter. The interbody fusion cage may include a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, a superior region, an inferior region opposite the superior region, and an open volume between the proximal and distal regions. The superior and inferior regions are located between the proximal and distal regions and are configured such that, when the interbody fusion cage is implanted in the disc space, the superior region contacts the inferior end plate and the inferior region contacts the superior end plate. the fixation plate is receivable in the open volume of the interbody fusion cage and includes a superior blade and an inferior blade. At least one of the blades includes a first opening defined therein. The fixation plate is displaceable between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventor: Shigeru Tanaka
-
Publication number: 20180256354Abstract: A spinal fusion system may include an interbody fusion cage, a fixation plate, and an implanter. The interbody fusion cage may include a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, a superior region, an inferior region opposite the superior region, and an open volume between the proximal and distal regions. The superior and inferior regions are located between the proximal and distal regions and are configured such that, when the interbody fusion cage is implanted in the disc space, the superior region contracts the inferior end plate and the inferior region contacts the superior end plate. The fixation plate is receivable in the open volume of the interbody fusion cage and includes a superior blade and an inferior blade. At least one of the blades includes a first opening defined therein. The fixation plate is displaceable between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Edward Liou
-
Publication number: 20180185034Abstract: A measurement system and method for determining a depth of penetration of a working portion of a surgical instrument (e.g., a rotating drill bit in a bore). A first sensor outputs a first signal representative of a displacement of the leading edge of the drill bit in the bore. A second sensor outputs a second signal representative of a force applied to the leading edge of the drill bit. A processor outputs a third signal representative of the depth of penetration of the leading edge of the drill bit when the leading edge of the drill bit passes from a first medium having a first density to a second medium having a second density. The third signal is based on the first and second signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: July 5, 2018Inventors: Joseph C. McGinley, Kevin D. Simmons, Peter A. Privitera, Henry K. Sim, Shigeru Tanaka, David J. Rinaldis, Graham R. Faulknor, Martin A. Leugers
-
Patent number: 10008406Abstract: An adhesive sheet for laser dicing is provided that is capable of, in laser dicing by irradiation with laser light through the adhesive sheet, suppressing laser light scattering in the adhesive sheet while allowing easy chip division by expanding the adhesive sheet and enables inhibition of dust attachment during chip division for chip production in high yields. The present invention provides an adhesive sheet for laser dicing, including a substrate film having a back layer containing a friction reducing agent and an antistatic agent on one surface and having an adhesive layer on another surface, wherein the back layer has a surface with arithmetic mean roughness Ra of 0.1 ?m or less, the sheet has a tensile modulus of elasticity at 23° C. from 50 to 200 MPa, and the sheet has a parallel transmittance of 85% or more in a wavelength range from 400 to 1400 nm.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2015Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Denka Company LimitedInventors: Gosuke Nakajima, Tomoaki Tanaka, Shigeru Tanaka
-
Publication number: 20180161077Abstract: A spinal joint distraction system for treating a facet joint including articular surfaces having a contour is disclosed and may include a delivery device including a generally tubular structure adapted to engage a facet joint, an implant adapted to be delivered through the delivery device and into the facet joint, the implant comprising two members arranged in opposed position, and an implant distractor comprising a generally elongate member adapted to advance between the two members of the implant causing separation of the members and distraction of the facet joint, wherein the implant is adapted to conform to the shape of the implant distractor and/or the articular surfaces of the facet upon being delivered to the facet joint. Several embodiments of a system, several embodiments of an implant, and several methods are disclosed including a method for interbody fusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2018Publication date: June 14, 2018Inventors: Bruce M. McCormack, Jeffrey D. Smith, Shigeru Tanaka, Edward Liou, Edward Fletcher Eyster, Jonathan Carver, Joshua Druker, Martin Leugers, Kurin Tu, Peter Lombrozo
-
Publication number: 20180148819Abstract: There is provided a regenerated member of a nickel-based alloy member for use in a turbine. The nickel-based alloy member is in a used condition. The regenerated member is a nickel-based alloy cast article including a ? phase as a matrix and a ?? phase precipitating in the ? phase in a volume fraction of equal to or more than 30 vol % in an operational environment of the turbine. In a microstructure of the regenerated member, no recrystallized grains of the ? phase are present. And, when a GROD value of crystal grains of the ? phase of the used part undergone the solution/non-recrystallization heat treatment step is measured by electron back scattering diffraction analysis, the GROD value is equal to or more than 0.4° and equal to or less than 0.6°.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2017Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS, LTD.Inventors: Shigeru TANAKA, Akira YOSHINARI, Takeshi IZUMI
-
Patent number: 9968464Abstract: A spinal fusion system may include an interbody fusion cage, a fixation plate, and an implanter. The interbody fusion cage may include a proximal region, a distal region opposite the proximal region, a superior region, an inferior region opposite the superior region, and an open volume between the proximal and distal regions. The superior and inferior regions are located between the proximal and distal regions and are configured such that, when the interbody fusion cage is implanted in the disc space, the superior region contacts the inferior end plate and the inferior region contacts the superior end plate. The fixation plate is receivable in the open volume of the interbody fusion cage and includes a superior blade and an inferior blade. At least one of the blades includes a first opening defined therein. The fixation plate is displaceable between a non-deployed state and a deployed state.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2015Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: SPINE WAVE, INC.Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Edward Liou, Jeffrey D. Smith, David Michael Schummers, Brad Jones, Sandeep Kunwar, Peter Weber, Bruce M. McCormack
-
Publication number: 20180131168Abstract: In a joining method of an electric wire, an end of a first conductor is held by a holding surface of a first jig electrode from an outer circumference side and an end of a second conductor is held by a holding surface of a second jig electrode from an outer circumference side to butt and join the ends of the first conductor and the second conductor in the axial direction while heating the ends. Then, a melted material is bulged outward from an outer circumferential surface of a joining portion to a bulge molding portion formed to surround a joining portion of the ends of the first conductor and the second conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2017Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Masayuki Kataoka
-
Patent number: 9943342Abstract: A method for implanting a bone screw in a vertebra may first involve inserting the bone screw and a bone screw delivery mechanism through a proximal end of a guide tube along a first trajectory. A proximal end of the bone screw is attached to a distal end of the bone screw delivery mechanism, and a distal end of the guide tube is positioned adjacent the vertebra. The method may next involve advancing the bone screw and the bone screw delivery mechanism through a bend in the guide tube to cause the bone screw to exit the distal end of the guide tube along a second trajectory and contact the vertebra. The method may further involve rotating the delivery mechanism to cause the bone screw to screw into the vertebra and detaching the bone screw delivery mechanism from the bone screw.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: PROVIDENCE MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Shigeru Tanaka, Jeffrey D. Smith, Christopher U. Phan, Edward Liou
-
Publication number: 20180001849Abstract: A wire harness includes a conductive path for electrically connecting devices to each other and a function enhancement part, in which one or multiple locations of an intermediate portion of the conductive path are disconnected, and disconnected portions of the conductive path are electrically connected to each other to enhance a function. The function enhancement part, in a state before the function is enhanced, is formed in a structure part in which a male connector provided on one end of a disconnected position of the conductive path and a female connector provided on the other end of the disconnected positions of the conductive path are connected together. The function enhancement part, in a state that the function is enhanced, is formed in a structure part in which one or multiple function enhancement part main bodies are arranged between the male connector and the female connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Yazaki CorporationInventors: Kimihiro ABE, Hideomi ADACHI, Masahide TSURU, Takeshi OGUE, Hiroyuki YOSHIDA, Kenta YANAZAWA, Toshihiro NAGASHIMA, Tetsuo YAMADA, Youji INAGAWA, Shigeru TANAKA, Takayoshi HIRAKAWA, Yasuhiro TANAKA
