Patents by Inventor Alan R. Burkholder

Alan R. Burkholder 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).

  • Patent number: 11857173
    Abstract: Retractors for surgical procedures such as spinal surgical procedures includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction. Methods of use for the retractors during surgical procedures are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Publication number: 20210153859
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Patent number: 10299777
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Patent number: 10076320
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Patent number: 10070852
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable at nature in a linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Publication number: 20180199927
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Publication number: 20180055504
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable at nature in a linear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Publication number: 20170340318
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical retractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: November 30, 2017
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Schifle, Adam Kanter, David O. Okonkwo
  • Patent number: 9572560
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical refractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Zimmer Biomet Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Shifle, Adam Kanter
  • Patent number: 8540724
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes selecting a countersink depth setting with a linear countersink adjustment mechanism of a distractor-inserter, positioning distal ends of blades of the distractor-inserter between the two vertebral bodies to be separated, driving a head block assembly of the distractor-inserter forward until the retraction members of the distractor-inserter engages respective outer faces of the vertebral bodies, and retracting the distal ends of the blades and the tip from between the vertebral bodies, wherein the vertebral bodies compress the disc implant and hold the disc implant between the vertebral bodies at the countersink depth. A distractor-inserter includes first and second retraction members disposed within channels of the blades, and a countersink adjustment mechanism configured to linearly adjust a distance between a tip and the retraction members to thereby linearly adjust a countersink depth of an implantable element inserted between two distracted elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, G. Andrew Grim
  • Publication number: 20130190575
    Abstract: Technology disclosed herein relates to retractors and methods of use for surgical procedures, and in particular, spinal surgical procedures. In one embodiment, a surgical refractor includes a pair of pivotable armatures and a translatable armature. A body for supporting the armatures is provided, with a handle connected thereto. The handle includes a first rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator moves the pair of pivotable armatures in opposite arcuate directions, and a second rotary actuator, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator translates the translatable armature in a linear direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: LANX, INC.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, Andrew Shifle, Adam Kanter
  • Publication number: 20110270261
    Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes selecting a countersink depth setting with a linear countersink adjustment mechanism of a distractor-inserter, positioning distal ends of blades of the distractor-inserter between the two vertebral bodies to be separated, driving a head block assembly of the distractor-inserter forward until the retraction members of the distractor-inserter engages respective outer faces of the vertebral bodies, and retracting the distal ends of the blades and the tip from between the vertebral bodies, wherein the vertebral bodies compress the disc implant and hold the disc implant between the vertebral bodies at the countersink depth. A distractor-inserter includes first and second retraction members disposed within channels of the blades, and a countersink adjustment mechanism configured to linearly adjust a distance between a tip and the retraction members to thereby linearly adjust a countersink depth of an implantable element inserted between two distracted elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: LANX, INC.
    Inventors: Randall G. Mast, Alan R. Burkholder, G. Andrew Grim