Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Martin & Ferraro, LLP
  • Patent number: 7128760
    Abstract: Interbody spinal fusion implants being at least in part radially expandable at one of the leading or trailing ends to expand both the height and at least a portion of the width of the implant, and instruments and methods for inserting the implants into an implantation space in the spine are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7127835
    Abstract: A shoe has an upper and a sole including a member having a top wall with a lower surface. The member has a bottom wall with an upper surface. The bottom wall has at least two portions approximately planer with each other, parallel with the ground, and separated by a gap therebetween. The top wall and the bottom wall each are connected at a closed end by a curved wall proximate the mid-foot region of the shoe. The top, bottom, and curved walls are integral. The top and bottom walls are spaced a distance from each other so that during the wearer's gait cycle when the shoe is in contact with the ground the predetermined distance is reduced. The sole includes at least one element positioned between the top wall and the bottom wall. The element has an interior sidewall. A void is located beneath the lower surface of the top wall and above the upper surface of the bottom wall and defined at least in part by the interior sidewall of the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Akeva L.L.C.
    Inventor: David F. Meschan
  • Patent number: 7118573
    Abstract: An anterior cervical plating system includes moveable plate segments to vary the overall length of the plate and allow and/or cause intersegmental compression of vertebral bodies. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and has the ability to produce the former from the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7118579
    Abstract: Instruments and methods for inserting and expanding interbody spinal fusion implants having an expandable height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7115128
    Abstract: An artificial spinal implant is disclosed which when placed between two adjacent vertebrae directly participates and is incorporated in the ensuing fusion. Instrumentation and procedure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Karlin Michelson
  • Patent number: 7115143
    Abstract: The present invention is a specialized orthopedic implant having an exterior surface for engaging bone. The surface comprises arrayed projections having at least one forward facing facet directed at least in part toward the leading end of the implant and at least one rearward portion directed at least in part toward the opposite trailing end of the implant. Each of the forward facet and rearward portion has a length and a slope. The length of the forward facet is longer than the length of the rearward facet. The slope of the rearward facet is steeper than the slope of the forward facet. The surface projections also have opposed side facets directed generally toward the sides of the implant. The side facets are located between the forward facet and rearward facet and converge toward each other in a direction away from the base of the surface projections. The surface may also include projections having left and right forward side facets and a rearward facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7114269
    Abstract: A shoe has an upper, a foot support region positioned below at least a portion of the upper to support the bottom of a user's foot, a sole secured below the foot support region, and a flexible member positioned below at least a portion of the foot support region and above at least a portion of the sole. The flexible member has a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral portion, and an interior portion. The interior portion of the flexible member deflects in use in a direction substantially perpendicular to a major longitudinal axis of the shoe. At least a portion of the peripheral portion is restrained from movement relative to the interior portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Akeva L.L.C.
    Inventor: David F. Meschan
  • Patent number: 7115130
    Abstract: An anterior cervical plating system having moveable and modular plate segments that are assembleable to vary the overall length of the plate, moveable to allow and/or cause intersegmental compression of vertebral bodies, and coupled together by a detachable fastener. The plating system includes locking elements, each locking element adapted to lock at least two bone screws to the plate, instrumentation, and method for installation thereof. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and the ability to produce the former from the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7112202
    Abstract: An anterior cervical plating system having modular plate segments that are assembleable to vary the overall length of the plate, moveable to allow and/or cause intersegmental compression of vertebral bodies, and coupled together by a detachable fastener. The plating system includes locking elements for locking only one bone screw to the plate, instrumentation, and method for installation thereof. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and the ability to produce the former from the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7112206
    Abstract: Instrumentation is disclosed for inserting an interbody spinal fusion implant for implantation at least in part within and across the generally restored height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies of a human spine. The implant has an external housing and a substantially hollow internal rotatable member having bone engaging projections that are deployable through the housing to penetrably engage the adjacent vertebral bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7097645
    Abstract: An anterior cervical plating system having moveable plate segments to vary the overall length of the plate, moveable to allow and/or cause intersegmental compression of vertebral bodies, and coupled together by a non-detachable fastener. The plating system includes locking elements for locking only one bone screw to the plate, instrumentation, and method for installation thereof. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and the ability to produce the former from the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7094239
    Abstract: A screw formed of cortical bone for use in the human body with an implant having a screw hole for receiving at least a portion of a screw therethrough, includes a shaft with a thread along at least a portion of its length. The thread has an outer diameter dimensioned to pass through the screw hole in the implant. The trailing end of the screw is configured to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the screw hole of the implant so as to prevent the screw from linear motion along the mid-longitudinal axis of the shaft in a direction opposite to the direction of insertion when the screw is threaded through the screw hole to attach the implant to a bone portion of the human body. The screw is formed substantially of cortical bone of a single cortical thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7089689
    Abstract: A heel support for an athletic shoe that in one embodiment includes a recumbent-U shaped member to assist in shock absorption. The member may include a tent-shaped wall with an upper perimeter in contact with a non-ground-engaging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Akeva L.L.C.
    Inventor: David F. Meschan
  • Patent number: 7082700
    Abstract: A heel support for an athletic shoe that in one embodiment includes a recumbent-U shaped member to assist in shock absorption. The member may include a tent-shaped wall with an opening exposing the interior of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Akeva L.L.C.
    Inventor: David F. Meschan
  • Patent number: 7083623
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for placing adjacent vertebrae at a fixed distance and angular relationship relative to each other, fixing said vertebrae in said position by use of a milling block engaging each of said adjacent vertebrae and then using a milling means, the depth, length and excursion of which from side to side are controlled by said apparatus to machine out a defined thickness of bone and a space of defined length, height, width and shape in preparation for receiving an interbody spinal implant or graft of known size and configuration are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7076892
    Abstract: A shoe including a plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe, an arch bridge integral with the plate, and at least one inflated cushion spaced apart from the plate during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer, during the entire running gait cycle of the wearer, when the shoe is in an unloaded state and at all other times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Akeva L.L.C.
    Inventor: David F. Meschan
  • Patent number: 7077844
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a segmentable plating system which can be made to a selected length by the surgeon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7074221
    Abstract: Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The bone screws have a tapered self-tapping leading end, an increasing root diameter with a generally constant outer diameter with a thread that is narrow and sharp throughout and an enlarged head portion capable of an interference fit to the receiving holes of the plate. Instrumentation consists of plate holders, a compression apparatus and a pilot hole forming device that interlocks with the plate. Methods for spinal compression and bone hole preparation are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary K. Michelson
  • Patent number: 7069671
    Abstract: A shoe including a plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe and an arch bridge integral with the plate. The arch bridge has a lower surface that is at least in part visible from outside the shoe and has a portion that is approximately planar with the lower surface of the plate for at least a substantial portion of the full extension of the arch bridge as measured along an axis that is parallel with the major longitudinal axis of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Akeva L.L.C.
    Inventor: David F. Meschan
  • Patent number: 7070070
    Abstract: An improved lifting assembly for removing contents from containers consistent with mechanized containerizing operations are disclosed. The lifting assembly of the present invention comprises a support plate for lifting contents coupled to the top of a container by a connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventors: Gary K. Michelson, Wiley Alan Kittrell