Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Joseph P. Errica, Esq.
  • Patent number: 6644087
    Abstract: A rod bender includes a ram shaft, having a distal end with an arcuate rod contact surface, that is movable along a shaft path that passes between two rollers, each having a curved roller surface. Each of the rollers is positionable, in an analog manner, at a variety of positions along a respective roller path, relative to a distal position of the arcuate rod contact surface. A straight rod, positioned against the rollers so that it spans the space separating the rollers and crosses the shaft path, can be rammed with the ram shaft so that the rod is bent into an arc. The rod is bent as the movement of the ram shaft pushes the arcuate rod contact surface forward against the center of the rod, while the curved roller surfaces prevent corresponding forward movement of the lateral portions of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Third Millennium Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas N. Troxell
  • Patent number: 5735851
    Abstract: A modular polyaxial pedicle screw and orthopaedic rod implant device including same includes a shaft portion, a cuff, a stem portion, and a rod coupling sub-assembly. The shaft portion is designed to be inserted into the pedicle, has a recess formed in its top, and includes a threading formed on the exterior surface around the recess. The stem portion is a threaded post having an enlarged ball formed at the base thereof, the ball being ideally suited to polyaxially rotate within the recess of the shaft. The cuff is a cylindrical element designed to seat around the interface of the ball portion of the stem and the recess of the shaft, initially so that the stem and shaft may polyaxially rotate relative to one another, and subsequently to hold the stem and shaft in final securement. The rod coupling sub-assembly consists of a rod coupling element which is mountable on the post portion of the stem, and a top locking nut which secures the rod coupling element to the post between the nut and the cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Third Millennium Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Errico, Thomas J. Errico, James D. Ralph, Steve Tatar