Patents Examined by Melissa Golob
  • Patent number: 8231624
    Abstract: A surgical implant device capable of conforming to a variety of surface topographies facilitates the growth and regeneration of site to which the device is applied. The device employs a plurality of elongate members supporting a column of discrete, rotatable elements in contact with each adjacent element. Anchor plates secure the respective ends of the elongate members, such anchor plates attachable to bone. The implant device provides and ordered array of individually rotatable elements to form a surface that permits bodily fluids to pass therethough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Walter E. Strippgen
  • Patent number: 8231662
    Abstract: A system and a method for bone fixation are provided. A bone plate may be secured to at least one bone. A monolithic region of the bone plate may be bent to a bent configuration. A strut may be connected to the bone plate. In some embodiments, the strut may be connected at spaced positions of the bone plate that opposingly flank the monolithic region, such that the bent configuration is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Acumed LLC
    Inventor: Randall J. Huebner
  • Patent number: 8197520
    Abstract: A bone loss plate for the rigid fixation of a bone having a bone gap where portions of the bone are absent, the plate includes an elongated fixation plate having a first plate side, a second plate side, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a middle portion and a tubularly-shaped containment cage connected to the second plate side of the elongated fixation plate, the tubular containment cage having a length shorter than the elongated fixation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventors: Anthony A. Salemi, Glenn S. Lieberman
  • Patent number: 8197491
    Abstract: Methods and devices are shown for forming polymer fasteners into bone by expelling the polymer from a cannula. Devices and methods shown allow a user to form multiple fasteners of various sizes without re-loading a device. Devices and methods shown further provide temperature profiles during fastener formation that reduce or eliminate thermal necrosis. Devices and methods shown further provide fasteners with increased strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Synthes USA, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Kerr, Edward August Kurek, III, Junior Julien
  • Patent number: 8187277
    Abstract: An occipital plating system includes a fixation assembly with a plate and a coupling member extending from a respective one of opposite lateral portions of the plate. The coupling members include a channel to receive a connecting element extending from the spinal column. The coupling members are rotatable and translatable relative to the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc T. Paul, William Barry Null
  • Patent number: 8167950
    Abstract: A system, device and method are disclosed for minimally invasive lateral intervertebral fixation. An intervertebral fixation device includes a weight-bearing shell configured to fit into a disk space between plural vertebrae, the weight-bearing shell including a keyway opening between and through plural sidewalls. A first plurality of anchors is rotatably disposed in a first orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell. A second plurality of anchors is rotatably disposed in a second orientation in relation to the weight-bearing shell. A key is adapted to rotate the first plurality of anchors in divergent directions from the second plurality of anchors and to secure a first vertebra and a second vertebra, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Spinal Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Aferzon, Jeffrey A. Bash
  • Patent number: 8167918
    Abstract: The present invention is a MTP plate that has a first embodiment with a profile having bilateral mirror symmetry of the about a transverse plane with an angle of about 5° for dorsiflexion and an angle of about 10° for valgus. Both ends of the plate include a central arm having a slot for compression and two offset arms having offset ears with locking screw holes that provide for multiplanar compressive fixation. The bone contacting surface of the plate is radiused to allow the plate to be in snug contact with the bone. In a second embodiment of the plate for revision surgery, the proximal end of the plate includes a metatarsal extension and the plate has a central locking hole for securing bone graft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Orthohelix Surgical Designs, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee A. Strnad, Vinay Korlepara, Derek S. Lewis, Dustin Ducharme, Gordon Bennett, James Sferra
  • Patent number: 8142505
    Abstract: An intervertebral disc replacement has two members attached to vertebral body endplates of two adjacent vertebrae. The two members are formed with respective articulation surfaces which form at least part of an articulation arrangement. When loaded with compressive axial force, the articulation arrangement supports the vertebral contact surfaces against the compressive force to ensure a predefined minimum intervertebral spacing, and allows a range of turning motion in all directions. The articulation arrangement is formed to provide an increase in the intervertebral spacing as a smooth function of angular displacement from a neutral position over at least part of the range of motion in each direction for each direction of motion, thereby providing motion attenuation and restoring forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Inventor: Michael Tauber
  • Patent number: 8133227
    Abstract: In a sternum closure device for fixing two sternum portions to be connected to one another, comprising an inner contact element for abutment on the inner surface of the sternum, at least one clamping element fixed to this contact element and projecting transversely from it and at least one outer contact element for abutment on the outer side of the sternum which can be clamped against the inner contact element by means of the clamping element guided through the intermediate space between the sternum portions, it is suggested in order to hinder the separation of the sternum as little as possible during any renewed operation that the inner contact element consist of two parts which are separate from one another and each of which is designed to abut on one of the two sternum portions and that connecting means be provided for the releasable connection of the two parts arranged next to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventors: Pedro Morales, Dieter Weisshaupt, Theodor Lutze, Manfred Dworschak
  • Patent number: 8100953
    Abstract: A bone plate is described which is adapted for use in situ to fix a spatial relationship of at least two bone parts. The bone plate has at least one pair of the bone screw apertures that are adjoined by a relief-space contiguous with the open space of the screw apertures themselves. An adjoined aperture pair forms a complex aperture and has a center-to-center distance d of the apertures along an axis running through the centers of the apertures. The center-to-center distance d is equal to or greater than the sum of the radii (r1+r2) of the heads of the individual bone screw used with the aperture pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Swiss Pro Orthpedic SA
    Inventors: Patrick White, Steve Forbes, Gary Thau
  • Patent number: 8088152
    Abstract: An orthopedic retaining system comprising at least one bone screw which has a head part and a threaded shaft pivotally mounted thereon is disclosed. A clamping element is mounted in the head part, which can be pressed against the threaded shaft from its upper side and, as a result, secure the threaded shaft relative to the head part. A retaining bar is arranged in a receptacle of the head part and extends essentially transversely to the threaded shaft. A clamping device is provided on the upper side of the head part, by means of which the clamping element and the retaining bar are pressed into the head part such that the threaded shaft and the retaining bar are secured in position relative to the head part. The clamping device comprises an elastically deformable pressure element which is displaced into a clamping position during actuation of the clamping device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aesculap AG
    Inventor: Joerg Schumacher
  • Patent number: 8029508
    Abstract: A bone-cutting apparatus and associated method and system. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide removably attachable to a bone, and a rotatable mill coupled to the guide. The guide has a box-cut opening and the mill is pivotable within the opening. In one embodiment, the mill is laterally adjustable relative to the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: John M. Cuckler, Robert Metzger, Kurt Schmidt, Trevor S. Schlueter, James M. McKale