Patents Examined by Todd Manahan
  • Method of performing osteotomy
    Patent number: 8939984
    Abstract: A method of performing an osteotomy including the steps of: providing a guide assembly; placing the guide assembly in operative relationship to a bone to be cut so that the guide assembly defines first and second guide edges that are in fixed relationship to each other to each guide movement of a cutting tool; guiding the cutting tool along each of the first and second guide edges to produce first and second cut lines in the bone to facilitate separation of a fragment of the bone from between first and second bone surfaces formed respectively at the first and second cut lines; separating the bone fragment so that a gap with a first width is formed between the first and second bone surfaces; and changing the width of the gap to be less than the first width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: TriMed, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Budoff
  • Suture-retaining sternal clamp assembly
    Patent number: 8936628
    Abstract: A sternal clamp having a first sliding body member and a second sliding body member telescopically mated, and a suture-receiving channel disposed on the exterior of the first sliding body member and the second sliding body member, wherein the first sliding body member and the second sliding body member are securable about a severed sternum by encircling and securing a suture about the first sliding body member and the second sliding body member, the suture being received and retained within the suture-receiving channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: KLS-Martin, L.P.
    Inventor: Charles Anderson
  • Surgical polymer molded and flexible covering material with or without secondary composite additive materials for providing anti-bacterial and tear resistant properties
    Patent number: 8932309
    Abstract: A surgically implantable mesh for covering a tear or rupture in a lining associated with an interior body cavity. A mat shaped polymer body has top and bottom spaced apart surfaces which are communicable at intervals by an interior configuration defined in the body and which promotes tissue in-growth following implantation. An antibacterial additive is intermixed with the polymer in a viscous state prior to formation and can included at least one of silver, gold, copper, bronze, or ground bamboo fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Linares Medical Devices, LLC
    Inventors: Miguel A. Linares, Miguel A. Linares, Jr., Ryan T. Greene
  • Systems and methods of anchoring surgical wires, catheters, and other medical objects
    Patent number: 8926660
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides systems and methods of anchoring surgical wires, catheters, leads, and other medical objects in an effective, efficient, and cost-sensitive manner. In one embodiment, the present disclosure could include a system to secure a medical object. The system could include a body having a first inner arm, a second inner arm, and a first outer arm. The first inner arm and the first outer arm could include a pronged structure. The system could also include a crossbar having a bore to receive a screw. The crossbar could be disposed between opposing surfaces of the first inner arm and the second inner arm and could be coupled to sliding grooves disposed along the opposing surfaces. When the screw is in an engaged position relative to the crossbar, the pronged structure could be configured to secure the medical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Anthony Alexander
  • Port device including retractable endoscope cleaner
    Patent number: 8926507
    Abstract: A surgical apparatus includes a housing member having leading and trailing ends that define a longitudinal axis. One or more ports longitudinally extend between the leading and trailing ends, and are configured and adapted to receive a surgical instrument therein in a substantially sealed relation. At least one cleaning port longitudinally extends between the leading and trailing ends, and is configured and adapted to receive a cleaning device therein. The cleaning device is configured and adapted to clean surgical instruments positioned within the one or more ports without necessitating removal of the surgical instruments from the one or more ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Gennady Kleyman
  • Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
    Patent number: 8926704
    Abstract: The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Glerum, Sean Suh, Mark Weiman
  • Hair brush systems
    Patent number: 8919353
    Abstract: Hairbrushes having removable handles, kits, methods of use, and methods of sale are provided. The hairbrushes attach to the handles with a rod-and-socket quick-release system that provides a single-button quick-release coupler between a hair brush and a hair brush handle. The system facilitates easier hair curling using the brushes to curl up the hair and then releasing the handle to allow the brush to remain in the hair. The kits comprise brush-heads, at least one handle, and a container. The method involves creating a hairstyle for a customer using the brushes and then providing the customer a custom kit of the same types of brushes for use at home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Aline D. Richardson
  • Hair comb
    Patent number: 8919350
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hair comb capable of reducing the resistance and improving the smoothness of combing hair, and the hair comb includes a slab-shaped main body, a plurality of parallel slash-shaped teeth implant areas disposed on a surface of the main body, a plurality of serial comb teeth sequentially implanted in the teeth implant areas and disposed opposite to the slash-shaped teeth implant areas respectively, a vacant area without any implanted tooth and disposed on a surface of the main body and the width of the vacant area falling between the serial comb teeth is greater than the distance between two adjacent comb teeth to achieve the effects of reducing the resistance of combining hair by the hair comb and the occurrence of tangled hair and providing a smooth combing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Inventor: Shih-Ling Hsu
  • Compact endoscopic surgical blade assembly and method of use thereof
    Patent number: 8911470
    Abstract: An endoscopic surgical device comprising a slotted clear cannula, a blade and a housing, wherein the cannula is attached to the housing, and wherein the blade is enclosed in the housing and is slidable into the cannula is disclosed. The blade is enclosed within the housing and cannula, and has a horizontally-oriented pushing component and a vertically-oriented cutting component that protrudes through the slot of the cannula. A method for a performing an operative procedure on a target tissue in a subject using the endoscopic surgical device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: A.M. Surgical, Inc.
    Inventors: Romi Mirza, Ather Mirza
  • Surgical milling cutter
    Patent number: 8900260
    Abstract: A surgical milling cutter includes a milling cutter bracket, a locking device and a bottom electric motor connected successively. The milling cutter bracket includes a fixing seat with a through hole. A finger guide apparatus with an L-type first bracket at the top end thereof is provided on the upper part of the fixing seat. The end of the L-type first bracket's short side is provided with a downward projection. The lowest point of the projection is lower than that of the milling cutter's cylindrical head when the milling cutter is working normally. The surgical milling cutter utilizes the projection to prevent the possibility of an object contacting with the cylindrical head, thus avoiding an object being cut unevenly. Meanwhile, the L-type bracket can be driven by the finger guide apparatus to rotate so as to change the running direction of the milling cutter, thus facilitating surgical procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Chongqing Runze Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Lei Ye, Jian Zhou, Hua Feng, Fei Li, Hengyang Zhu, Congxiao Li
  • Depth controllable and measurable medical driver devices and methods of use
    Patent number: 8894654
    Abstract: Disclosed is a medical driving device having a first motor coupled to a region of a first drive shaft; a second motor coupled to a second drive shaft; a coupler coupled to the second drive shaft and interchangeably connected to a working tool; a tool guide assembly comprising a tool guide surrounding the working tool and a surface guide having a distal region configured to couple to the tool guide and a proximal region configured to couple to the first motor, wherein the first motor causes axial motion of the tool guide assembly to a retracted state and drives a length of the working tool into a target region of a bone; a torque sensor configured to sense torque in at least the second motor by continuously measuring current used to drive the second motor; and programmable electronics package to keep RPMs constant. Related methods, systems, and/or articles are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Smart Medical Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Anderson
  • Locking plates having guided locking screws and methods therefor
    Patent number: 8894694
    Abstract: A locking plate system includes a locking plate having a screw hole with an inner diameter and internal threads, and a slot formed in a top surface of the locking plate adjacent the screw hole. The system includes a screw guide having a main body including an upper end and a lower end, and an attachment flange projecting from the lower end of the main body for insertion into the slot. The screw guide includes a central opening having an inner diameter that matches the inner diameter of the screw hole. The system includes a locking screw having external threads extending along the length thereof. The external threads have an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of the central opening of the screw guide. The locking screw is insertable into the central opening of the screw guide for being directed into the screw hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Mark Leonard Brandon
  • Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
    Patent number: 8888854
    Abstract: The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Glerum, Sean Suh, Mark Weiman
  • Inter dental tooth cleaner and delivery device
    Patent number: 8887740
    Abstract: An inter dental device which is a tooth cleaner and gum massager which cleans the area between anterior and posterior teeth, comprising a handle and a stem and flanges and a tip which is grooved or twisted in a spiral pattern, and the flanges extending from a central stem are arranged in a spiral pattern which is continuous with the spiral pattern of the grooves of the tip. This device also may serve as a delivery device which holds and delivers substances to the area between teeth, and does not remove said substances as the device is withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Allan Coopersmith
  • Expandable fusion device and method of installation thereof
    Patent number: 8888853
    Abstract: The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Glerum, Sean Suh, Mark Weiman
  • Method for deploying a fusion device for sacroiliac joint fusion
    Patent number: 8882818
    Abstract: A method for fusing a spinal sacroiliac joint and a surgical kit. The kit includes a bone-void filler, stabilization device or implant, a guide pin, a joint locator, a set of dilation tubes, a reamer, a novel directional cannula, a novel tapping cap, a novel drill guide, a drill bit, and a novel implant positioner. The method includes the steps of locating the sacroiliac joint, retracting the soft tissue exposing the graft site, removing any bone obstructions and preparing a relatively smooth graft site horizontal to the immediate sacroiliac joint, creating a cavity in the ilium and sacrum to a predetermined depth that spans the sacroiliac joint, inserting a novel stabilization implant into the cavity, and seating the implant within the cavity at a predetermined depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: VG Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Tov Inge Vestgaarden
  • Steel plate for funnel chest orthopaedic surgery
    Patent number: 8876823
    Abstract: A steel plate for funnel chest orthopaedic surgery includes a supporting plate (1), a fixing piece (2), a telescopic fixing piece (3), a guiding head (4) and screws (6). The supporting plate (1) is an elongate steel plate. One end of the supporting plate (1) is designed to be integrated with the fixing piece (2), and the other end is provided with a size-adjusting strap (5). The telescopic fixing piece (3) is an elongate steel plate with the same width as that of the supporting plate (1). One end of the telescopic fixing piece (3) is designed to be integrated with the fixing piece (2), and the other end is provided with a groove. The guiding head (4) is an elongate steel plate with the same width as that of the supporting plate (1). One end of the guiding head (4) is provided with a hook, and the other end is provided with a groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine
    Inventors: Guoqing Li, Ju Mei, Deyu Zhu
  • Apparatus and methods for hair extensions
    Patent number: 8863760
    Abstract: A new hair extension apparatus and method are employed to adhesively secure a hair weft at areas of exposed skin behind a wearer's ears to avoid damage to the wearer's natural hair. Two separate pieces of a flexible sheer material are each connected to a seam of the weft adjacent a respective one of two opposing ends thereof, thereby providing surfaces that face away from the seam and the strands adjacent the opposite ends of the seam for attachment of the hair weft behind the user's ears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Trista Verbonac
  • Kerrison rongeurs
    Patent number: 8864766
    Abstract: A Kerrison rongeur employing a shearing/cutting or grasping mechanism, and suited for specific cutting and sampling bone, cartilage and soft tissue. A slideable upper member has on its advancing face a cutting element that moves past an opposing cutting element on a stationary footplate to produce a shearing action of tissue positioned within the jaws. The cutting element of the slideable member may move past the stationary member on the outside in an overbite situation or on the inside in an underbite situation. A hybrid over/underbite jaw is also contemplated along with a guillotine cutting element and a textured grasping element. In operation, the tissue is placed between the jaw and footplate, and the former is advanced towards the latter to cut and/or grasp and remove for a surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Edgar Weaver
  • Oral care implement having a closed-loop arrangement of cleaning elements
    Patent number: 8863345
    Abstract: A toothbrush having an arrangement of cleaning elements for improved oral care and dentifrice retention. In one aspect, the invention is a toothbrush comprising a first set of cleaning elements forming a loop that extends from the distal periphery of the head to the proximal periphery of the head. The loop has the shape of a racetrack and comprises a first par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements at the distal periphery of the head and a second par-elliptical wall of cleaning elements located at the proximal periphery of the head. The par elliptical walls are connected first and second arcuate rows of cleaning elements. In one embodiment, the first and second arcuate rows are symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis so that peripheral convex surfaces of the first and second arcuate rows face the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Eduardo Jimenez, Michael Rooney, Robert Moskovich, Joachim Storz, Raimund Klausegger