Patents by Inventor Ulrich R. Hahnle
Ulrich R. Hahnle 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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Patent number: 9107762Abstract: A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: SPINALMOTION, INC.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle, David Hovda
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Patent number: 8262732Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower prosthesis plates locatable against respective vertebrae and having opposing, concavely curved recesses therein, and a core located between the plates. The core has opposed, convexly curved surfaces received in the recesses of the plates to allow the plates to slide in articulated manner over the core. The opposed surfaces of the core and the recesses of the plates have cooperating spherical curvatures. The recess of each plate surrounds a locating peg projecting centrally from the base of the recess and is bounded by an annular rim, such that the annular rims of the plates are arranged to contact one another at a predetermined limit of sliding movement of the plates over the core. The peg locates loosely in an opening located centrally in a curved surface of the core, whereby the plates can slide over the core in all directions while the peg holds the core captive.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hähnle
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Publication number: 20120059478Abstract: A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle, David Hovda
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Patent number: 8090428Abstract: A spinal midline indicator (10) has a body (14) of radiolucent material for insertion between adjacent vertebrae (18, 20) and a radiographic marker (12) located centrally with the body to indicate the position of the spinal midline (22) in anterior-posterior images when the body is centrally located between the vertebrae. The radiographic marker is typically an elongate metal handle. The body may carry secondary radiographic markers (16) on opposite sides of and equidistant from the handle so that the handle indicates the position of the spinal midline when the body is placed centrally between the vertebrae.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle
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Patent number: 8062371Abstract: A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle, David Hovda
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Patent number: 8002834Abstract: A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hähnle, David Hovda
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Patent number: 7731754Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower prosthesis plates locatable against respective vertebrae and having opposing, concavely curved recesses therein, and a core located between the plates. The core has opposed, convexly curved surfaces received in the recesses of the plates to allow the plates to slide in articulated manner over the core. The opposed surfaces of the core and the recesses of the plates have cooperating spherical curvatures. The recess of each plate surrounds a locating peg projecting centrally from the base of the recess and is bounded by an annular rim, such that the annular rims of the plates are arranged to contact one another at a predetermined limit of sliding movement of the plates over the core. The peg locates loosely in an opening located centrally in a curved surface of the core, whereby the plates can slide over the core in all directions while the peg holds the core captive.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2006Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan H. de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle
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Publication number: 20090210060Abstract: A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle, David Hovda
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Publication number: 20090205188Abstract: A prosthetic disc for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes a core having upper and lower curved surfaces and upper and lower plates. At least one of the curved surfaces of the core is metallic, and in some embodiments the entire core is metallic. Each plate has an outer surface which engages a vertebra and a metallic inner curved surface which is shaped to slide over one of the curved surfaces of the core. In some embodiments, the center of rotation of the core is free to move relative to the upper and lower metallic plates. In some embodiments, one or more channels extend across one or both of the curved surfaces of the core for allowing passage of bodily fluid to promote lubrication between the core and at least one of the plates.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Applicant: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan de Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle, David Hovda
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Publication number: 20080294259Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower prosthesis plates locatable against respective vertebrae and having opposing, concavely curved recesses therein, and a core located between the plates. The core has opposed, convexly curved surfaces received in the recesses of the plates to allow the plates to slide in articulated manner over the core. The opposed surfaces of the core and the recesses of the plates have cooperating spherical curvatures. The recess of each plate surrounds a locating peg projecting centrally from the base of the recess and is bounded by an annular rim, such that the annular rims of the plates are arranged to contact one another at a predetermined limit of sliding movement of the plates over the core. The peg locates loosely in an opening located centrally in a curved surface of the core, whereby the plates can slide over the core in all directions while the peg holds the core captive.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan De Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle
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Publication number: 20080228277Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis for insertion between adjacent vertebrae includes upper and lower prosthesis plates locatable against respective vertebrae and having opposing, concavely curved recesses therein, and a core located between the plates. The core has opposed, convexly curved surfaces received in the recesses of the plates to allow the plates to slide in articulated manner over the core. The opposed surfaces of the core and the recesses of the plates have cooperating spherical curvatures. The recess of each plate surrounds a locating peg projecting centrally from the base of the recess and is bounded by an annular rim, such that the annular rims of the plates are arranged to contact one another at a predetermined limit of sliding movement of the plates over the core. The peg locates loosely in an opening located centrally in a curved surface of the core, whereby the plates can slide over the core in all directions while the peg holds the core captive.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: SpinalMotion, Inc.Inventors: Malan De Villiers, Ulrich R. Hahnle