Patents by Inventor Todd Saunders

Todd Saunders 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: 8690924
    Abstract: A spinal screw assembly includes a bone-anchoring member, a washer, and a seat. The bone-anchoring member includes a main shaft, a washer head, and a spherical head. The spherical head extends upward from the top end of the main shaft and the washer head extends laterally from a location of the main shaft between the main shaft's top end and bottom end. The washer is polyaxially rotatable and positionable around the washer head and is configured to be placed at a first angle relative to the main shaft. The seat is polyaxially rotatable and positionable around the spherical head independent from the washer and is configured to be placed at a second angle relative to the main shaft, wherein the second angle is independent from the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Spinefrontier Inc
    Inventors: Kingsley R. Chin, Craig Henshaw, Matthew Ibarra, Todd Saunders
  • Patent number: 8372118
    Abstract: An implantable spinous process fixation device includes an elongated component, top and bottom pivoting wing components, arranged opposite and parallel to the elongated component and separated from it by a spacer. First and second spinous processes of first and second adjacent vertebras are clamped between a top portion of the elongated component and the top pivoting wing and between a bottom portion of the elongated component and the bottom pivoting wing, respectively, by pivoting the top and bottom pivoting wings toward the top and bottom portions of the elongated component. The clamping of the spinous processes stabilizes the positions of the adjacent vertebras and prevents them from moving relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Spinefrontier Inc
    Inventors: Kingsley R. Chin, Christine Reif, Ernie Corrao, Todd Saunders
  • Patent number: 8048124
    Abstract: A bone screw assembly includes a tulip-shaped seat, a bone fixation device, a ring-shaped washer, a rod and a cap. The tulip-shaped seat comprises a through opening dimensioned to receive the bone fixation device and a horizontal channel dimensioned to receive the rod. The washer is placed into the seat on top of the bone fixation device head and comprises first and second side tabs and a first pair of upward extending projections separated by a first gap and a second pair of upward extending projections separated by a second gap. The side tabs interface with a groove formed in the bottom portion of the seat. The rod is placed within the channel and positioned within a groove formed on the top surface of the washer. The cap includes first and second projections extending downward from its bottom surface and each of the first and second downward projections comprises first and second sidewise extending ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Spinefrontier Inc
    Inventors: Kingsley R. Chin, Christopher Chang, Ernie Corrao, Todd Saunders, Stephen Santangelo
  • Publication number: 20110190821
    Abstract: A spinal screw assembly includes a bone-anchoring member, a washer, and a seat. The bone-anchoring member includes a main shaft, a washer head, and a spherical head. The spherical head extends upward from the top end of the main shaft and the washer head extends laterally from a location of the main shaft between the main shaft's top end and bottom end. The washer is polyaxially rotatable and positionable around the washer head and is configured to be placed at a first angle relative to the main shaft. The seat is polyaxially rotatable and positionable around the spherical head independent from the washer and is configured to be placed at a second angle relative to the main shaft, wherein the second angle is independent from the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: SPINEFRONTIER, INC
    Inventors: KINGSLEY R. CHIN, CRAIG HENSHAW, MATTHEW IBARRA, TODD SAUNDERS
  • Publication number: 20100087860
    Abstract: An implantable spinous process fixation device includes an elongated component, top and bottom pivoting wing components, arranged opposite and parallel to the elongated component and separated from it by a spacer. First and second spinous processes of first and second adjacent vertebras are clamped between a top portion of the elongated component and the top pivoting wing and between a bottom portion of the elongated component and the bottom pivoting wing, respectively, by pivoting the top and bottom pivoting wings toward the top and bottom portions of the elongated component. The clamping of the spinous processes stabilizes the positions of the adjacent vertebras and prevents them from moving relative to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Applicant: SPINEFRONTIER, INC
    Inventors: KINGSLEY R. CHIN, CHRISTINE REIF, ERNIE CORRAO, TODD SAUNDERS
  • Publication number: 20100063552
    Abstract: A bone screw assembly includes a tulip-shaped seat, a bone fixation device, a ring-shaped washer, a rod and a cap. The tulip-shaped seat comprises a through opening dimensioned to receive the bone fixation device and a horizontal channel dimensioned to receive the rod. The washer is placed into the seat on top of the bone fixation device head and comprises first and second side tabs and a first pair of upward extending projections separated by a first gap and a second pair of upward extending projections separated by a second gap. The side tabs interface with a groove formed in the bottom portion of the seat. The rod is placed within the channel and positioned within a groove formed on the top surface of the washer. The cap includes first and second projections extending downward from its bottom surface and each of the first and second downward projections comprises first and second sidewise extending ridges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: SPINEFRONTIER, INC
    Inventors: KINGSLEY R. CHIN, CHRISTOPHER CHANG, ERNIE CORRAO, TODD SAUNDERS, STEPHEN SANTANGELO
  • Publication number: 20050065584
    Abstract: A system, device and method for thermally affecting tissue are provided. The system includes a pump/controller unit having a pump for pumping a thermally conductive fluid through the system, a fluid chiller for thermally treating the conductive fluid, a controller circuitry for measuring and controlling the temperature of the conductive fluid, and a fluid circulation path having an extension tubing set for circulating the thermally conductive fluid, a thermal application device having at least one flow passage that is in fluid communication with the tubing set, a thermal exchanger element in fluid communication with the tubing set that interfaces with the fluid chiller, where the tubing set operably interfaces with a pump to enable the pump to circulate a thermally conductive fluid through a fluid circulation path. The fluid circulation path may have various sensors providing temperature and pressure readings to the pump/controller unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventors: Jonathan Schiff, Timothy Robinson, Todd Saunders, Matt Murphy, Samuel Akins