Patents by Inventor William Reimels
William Reimels 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: 10201342Abstract: A retractor system for use in spinal surgical procedures includes at least two retractor blades, each of the at least two retractor blades, a shim and a shim inserter. The shim has an expansion band and the shim inserter is configured to slide the shim between and along the at least two retractor blades and dispose the shim at a distal end of the at least two retractor blades. The shim spreads the at least two retractor blades away from each other when the shim insert slides the shim between and along the at least two retractor blades and the shim prevents the distal end of each of the at least two retractor blades from closing in on each other due to musculature load when the shim is disposed at the distal end of the at least two retractor blades.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2016Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Patent number: 10172656Abstract: A surgical screw configured to expand and prevent or minimize bone growth inside of the surgical screw is provided. Accordingly, the surgical screw is configured to increase the purchase of the surgical screw with respect to the bone, but also to be withdrawn from the bone without damaging the bone as a result of bone ingrowth. The surgical screw includes a center post with an inner bore and an outer sleeve concentric to the center post. An outer surface of the outer sleeve includes a thread to engage bone. The outer sleeve includes a cut pattern defining an expandable region configurable between a first state with a first radius measured from a longitudinal axis of the surgical screw to the outer surface and a second state having a second radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Patent number: 9936985Abstract: An interspinous process spacer includes a main body, a first wing, and a screw. The main body includes a first securing member extending from a top portion of the main body that engages a first vertebra and a bottom portion of the main body that engages a second vertebra. The first wing pivotably couples to a distal portion of the main body and includes a second securing member extending parallel to the first securing member to form a first clamp. The screw is positionable within the main body and includes a distal end that positions the first wing between a first position and a second position. The first clamp includes a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20170296237Abstract: An interspinous process spacer includes a main body, a first wing, and a screw. The main body includes a first securing member extending from a top portion of the main body that engages a first vertebra and a bottom portion of the main body that engages a second vertebra. The first wing pivotably couples to a distal portion of the main body and includes a second securing member extending parallel to the first securing member to form a first clamp. The screw is positionable within the main body and includes a distal end that positions the first wing between a first position and a second position. The first clamp includes a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.Inventor: WILLIAM REIMELS
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Patent number: 9788970Abstract: An expandable intervertebral spacer includes a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The body includes quadrants that form a substantially cylindrical shape in a first configuration and a substantially cuboidal shape in a second configuration. Each quadrant includes a ramp portion with a ramp and a landing and a sliding portion with a sliding side and a foot. The ramp portion of a first quadrant engages the sliding portion of a second quadrant. The proximal end and the distal end couple with the plurality of quadrants and transfer an actuating force to expand the body from the first configuration to the second configuration.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20170273678Abstract: A tissue retractor device within the scope of the present invention generally includes a frame, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of blades. The actuating mechanism generally includes at least one cam that encourages automatic toe-out of the blades. The tissue retractor eliminates the need for bulky secondary blade mechanisms to prevent undesired blade deformation at the surgical site. The toe-out motion occurs simultaneously along with the opening of the blades. The present invention further provides for depth adjustment of the blades by means of an adjustable screw assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20170245905Abstract: An expandable screw includes generally a shaft, a head, and a cut pattern. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis, an outer surface including a thread to engage bone, and an expandable region configurable between a first state with a first radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface and a second state having a second radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface. The cut pattern on the shaft permits at least partial nesting of a first portion of the expandable region within a second portion of the expandable region in the second state. The central lumen is closed by the abutment of a top portion of the second cut surface with the bottom portion of the first cut surface so as to form a closed structure or fluid seal preventing a bone ingrowth inside the central lumen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20170239065Abstract: An expandable intervertebral spacer includes a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The body includes quadrants that form a substantially cylindrical shape in a first configuration and a substantially cuboidal shape in a second configuration. Each quadrant includes a ramp portion with a ramp and a landing and a sliding portion with a sliding side and a foot. The ramp portion of a first quadrant engages the sliding portion of a second quadrant. The proximal end and the distal end couple with the plurality of quadrants and transfer an actuating force to expand the body from the first configuration to the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2014Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventor: William Reimels
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Patent number: 9730683Abstract: A blade assembly for a tissue retractor includes a blade, a mount, and a positioner member. The blade includes a length extending from a proximal portion with a coupling to a distal portion for retracting soft tissue. The mount includes a receiving portion that receives the coupling. The positioner member is rotatably coupled to the mount and engages the proximal portion to apply a force that positions the blade relative to the mount.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Patent number: 9693762Abstract: A tissue retractor device within the scope of the present invention generally includes a frame, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of blades. The actuating mechanism generally includes at least one cam that encourages automatic toe-out of the blades. The tissue retractor eliminates the need for bulky secondary blade mechanisms to prevent undesired blade deformation at the surgical site. The toe-out motion occurs simultaneously along with the opening of the blades. The present invention further provides for depth adjustment of the blades by means of an adjustable screw assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Patent number: 9681905Abstract: An expandable screw includes generally a shaft, a head, and a cut pattern. The shaft includes a longitudinal axis, an outer surface including a thread to engage bone, and an expandable region configurable between a first state with a first radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface and a second state having a second radius measured from the longitudinal axis to the outer surface. The head coupled with the shaft at a neck is configured to receive a driving instrument to insert and drive the shaft into the bone when the expandable region is in the first state. The cut pattern on the shaft permits at least partial nesting of a first portion of the expandable region within a second portion of the expandable region in the second state.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William Reimels
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Patent number: 9642654Abstract: An instrument for attaching a driver shaft to a screw assembly using a thrusting motion. The instrument has a main shaft, a locking tube, and a driver shaft. The locking tube is slidably mounted within the main shaft and the driver shaft is slidably mounted within the locking tube. The locking tube is configured to urge a jaw assembly of the instrument into a tensioned engagement with a body member of the screw assembly. A locking mechanism is also included and is configured to lock the driver shaft in a fixed position relative to the locking tube. The locking mechanism may be configured to lock the driver shaft with respect to the locking tube after a distal end of the main shaft engages the screw assembly using the single action.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventors: William Reimels, Tara Stevenson
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Publication number: 20160361052Abstract: A tissue retractor device within the scope of the present invention generally includes a frame, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of blades. The actuating mechanism generally includes at least one cam that encourages automatic toe-out of the blades. The tissue retractor eliminates the need for bulky secondary blade mechanisms to prevent undesired blade deformation at the surgical site. The toe-out motion occurs simultaneously along with the opening of the blades. The present invention further provides for depth adjustment of the blades by means of an adjustable screw assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20160345951Abstract: A retractor system for use in spinal surgical procedures includes at least two retractor blades, each of the at least two retractor blades, a shim and a shim inserter. The shim has an expansion band and the shim inserter is configured to slide the shim between and along the at least two retractor blades and dispose the shim at a distal end of the at least two retractor blades. The shim spreads the at least two retractor blades away from each other when the shim insert slides the shim between and along the at least two retractor blades and the shim prevents the distal end of each of the at least two retractor blades from closing in on each other due to musculature load when the shim is disposed at the distal end of the at least two retractor blades.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2016Publication date: December 1, 2016Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20160095638Abstract: An orthopedic screw having a shaft and a thread ribbon is provided. The shaft includes a proximal driving end and a distal end. The thread ribbon extends around the shaft and including a base portion that is rigidly attached to the shaft and a flange portion that is resilient. The flange portion extends away from the shaft at a preset angle to form a preset outer thread diameter in a preset configuration. The flange portion extends away from the shaft at a second angle greater than the preset angle to form a second outer thread diameter greater than the preset outer thread diameter when the orthopedic screw is subjected to a pull out force.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2015Publication date: April 7, 2016Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20160015529Abstract: An expandable intervertebral spacer includes a body, a proximal end, and a distal end. The body includes quadrants that form a substantially cylindrical shape in a first configuration and a substantially cuboidal shape in a second configuration. Each quadrant includes a ramp portion with a ramp and a landing and a sliding portion with a sliding side and a foot. The ramp portion of a first quadrant engages the sliding portion of a second quadrant. The proximal end and the distal end couple with the plurality of quadrants and transfer an actuating force to expand the body from the first configuration to the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2014Publication date: January 21, 2016Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20150359572Abstract: An instrument for attaching a driver shaft to a screw assembly using a thrusting motion. The instrument has a main shaft, a locking tube, and a driver shaft. The locking tube is slidably mounted within the main shaft and the driver shaft is slidably mounted within the locking tube. The locking tube is configured to urge a jaw assembly of the instrument into a tensioned engagement with a body member of the screw assembly. A locking mechanism is also included and is configured to lock the driver shaft in a fixed position relative to the locking tube. The locking mechanism may be configured to lock the driver shaft with respect to the locking tube after a distal end of the main shaft engages the screw assembly using the single action.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2014Publication date: December 17, 2015Inventors: William REIMELS, Tara STEVENSON
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Publication number: 20150230835Abstract: An interspinous process spacer includes a main body, a first wing, and a screw. The main body includes a first securing member extending from a top portion of the main body that engages a first vertebra and a bottom portion of the main body that engages a second vertebra. The first wing pivotably couples to a distal portion of the main body and includes a second securing member extending parallel to the first securing member to form a first clamp. The screw is positionable within the main body and includes a distal end that positions the first wing between a first position and a second position. The first clamp includes a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter in the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.Inventor: WILLIAM REIMELS
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Publication number: 20150045626Abstract: A blade assembly for a tissue retractor includes a blade, a mount, and a positioner member. The blade includes a length extending from a proximal portion with a coupling to a distal portion for retracting soft tissue. The mount includes a receiving portion that receives the coupling. The positioner member is rotatably coupled to the mount and engages the proximal portion to apply a force that positions the blade relative to the mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventor: William Reimels
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Publication number: 20140316212Abstract: A system for interchangeable retractor blades includes a shell, a first retractor blade, and a second retractor blade. The shell includes a rigid proximal end configured to attach to a surgical retractor and an opening, a distal closed end, and a pliable portion including a pocket in communication with the opening and extending along a length of the shell to the distal closed end. The first retractor blade includes a first geometry received through the opening into the pocket and that shapes the pliable portion to configure the shell in a first configuration. The second retractor blade includes a second geometry received through the opening into the pocket and that shapes the pliable portion to configure the shell in a second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventor: William REIMELS