Patents by Inventor Tracy R. Gilliland

Tracy R. Gilliland 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).

  • Prosthetic stem with strengthening rib
    Patent number: 6514288
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved prosthetic stem for implantation in a bone. Specifically, the present invention provides a prosthetic femoral stem having a strengthening rib protruding from the substrate thereof and being flush with a porous coating formed thereon. The strengthening rib is advantageously positioned so as to increase the cross-sectional moment of inertia of the prosthetic femoral stem and thereby decrease the stress on the anterio-lateral surface of the femoral stem. A protrusion in accordance with the present invention may also be utilized with a prosthetic femoral stem absent a porous coating. In such an embodiment, the height of the protrusion is such that the protrusion will be surrounded by the cement mantle formed when the prosthetic femoral component is cemented in a femoral canal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven L. Meulink, Jack D. Jennings, James L. Crumley, II, Tracy R. Gilliland
  • Prosthetic stem with strengthening rib
    Publication number: 20020120344
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved prosthetic stem for implantation in a bone. Specifically, the present invention provides a prosthetic femoral stem having a strengthening rib protruding from the substrate thereof and being flush with a porous coating formed thereon. The strengthening rib is advantageously positioned so as to increase the cross-sectional moment of inertia of the prosthetic femoral stem and thereby decrease the stress on the anterio-lateral surface of the femoral stem. A protrusion in accordance with the present invention may also be utilized with a prosthetic femoral stem absent a porous coating. In such an embodiment, the height of the protrusion is such that the protrusion will be surrounded by the cement mantle formed when the prosthetic femoral component is cemented in a femoral canal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Steven L. Meulink, Jack D. Jennings, James L. Crumley, Tracy R. Gilliland
  • Method of attaching spikes to an orthopaedic implant
    Patent number: 5755806
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of attaching spikes (34) to an orthopaedic implant such as an acetabular cup (22). The acetabular cup (22) is formed with at least one tapered hole (28) therein which extends from an outside diameter (30) to an inside diameter (32) of the cup. At least one spike (34) having a tapered end (38) is pressed into a corresponding tapered hole (28) of the cup (22), whereby an interference fit is created between the tapered end (38) and the tapered hole (28). The spike (34) is metallurgically bonded to the cup (22), such as by electron beam welding and heat treating. The inside diameter (32) of cup (22) is then finished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.
    Inventors: Gregory C. Stalcup, Clarence M. Panchison, Jack D. Jennings, Tracy R. Gilliland