Patents by Inventor Chris Culhane

Chris Culhane 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).

  • Publication number: 20240024010
    Abstract: Instruments and related methods for breaking reduction tabs are disclosed herein, e.g., for breaking reduction tabs of a bone anchor or other implant. In some embodiments, the instrument can be configured to minimize the space needed to operate the instrument. For example, the instrument can be configured to receive a reduction tab that is to be broken while the instrument is coaxially positioned with respect to a bone anchor receiver to which the reduction tab is attached. As another example, the instrument can have a maximum outer transverse dimension that is less than, equal to, or only slightly greater than a corresponding dimension of a bone anchor from which a reduction tab is to be broken. Guide rods for positioning a tab breaker instrument over a reduction tab are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Seetal Erramilli, Frank Spratt, Grant Mellor, Chris Culhane, Ben Stungo, Joanna Talis
  • Patent number: 11744628
    Abstract: Instruments and related methods for breaking reduction tabs are disclosed herein, e.g., for breaking reduction tabs of a bone anchor or other implant. In some embodiments, the instrument can be configured to minimize the space needed to operate the instrument. For example, the instrument can be configured to receive a reduction tab that is to be broken while the instrument is coaxially positioned with respect to a bone anchor receiver to which the reduction tab is attached. As another example, the instrument can have a maximum outer transverse dimension that is less than, equal to, or only slightly greater than a corresponding dimension of a bone anchor from which a reduction tab is to be broken. Guide rods for positioning a tab breaker instrument over a reduction tab are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Medos International Sarl
    Inventors: Seetal Erramilli, Frank Spratt, Grant Mellor, Chris Culhane, Ben Stungo, Joanna Talis
  • Patent number: 11678894
    Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument for balancing a knee. The instrument has a first plate (10) coupled to a second plate (50) by a plurality of adjusters (152A, 152B, 152C). The adjusters are actuatable to vary the gap between the first and second plates. Each adjuster is coupled to the second plate by a joint having at least two degrees of freedom. Also disclosed is an outrigger (300). The outrigger includes a body featuring a connection component configured to be received and held by a slot (34) of the instrument. The slot is arranged to align a blade of a surgical saw with a portion of a knee to be cut. Also disclosed is a method of balancing a knee using the instrument and a method of fabricating the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventors: Chris Culhane, Peter J McMahon, Grant Mellor
  • Publication number: 20210177439
    Abstract: Disclosed is an instrument for balancing a knee. The instrument has a first plate (10) coupled to a second plate (50) by a plurality of adjusters (152A, 152B, 152C). The adjusters are actuatable to vary the gap between the first and second plates. Each adjuster is coupled to the second plate by a joint having at least two degrees of freedom. Also disclosed is an outrigger (300). The outrigger includes a body featuring a connection component configured to be received and held by a slot (34) of the instrument. The slot is arranged to align a blade of a surgical saw with a portion of a knee to be cut. Also disclosed is a method of balancing a knee using the instrument and a method of fabricating the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Chris Culhane, Peter J McMahon, Grant Mellor
  • Publication number: 20210000519
    Abstract: Instruments and related methods for breaking reduction tabs are disclosed herein, e.g., for breaking reduction tabs of a bone anchor or other implant. In some embodiments, the instrument can be configured to minimize the space needed to operate the instrument. For example, the instrument can be configured to receive a reduction tab that is to be broken while the instrument is coaxially positioned with respect to a bone anchor receiver to which the reduction tab is attached. As another example, the instrument can have a maximum outer transverse dimension that is less than, equal to, or only slightly greater than a corresponding dimension of a bone anchor from which a reduction tab is to be broken. Guide rods for positioning a tab breaker instrument over a reduction tab are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Seetal Erramilli, Frank Spratt, Grant Mellor, Chris Culhane, Ben Stungo, Joanna Talis
  • Patent number: 10806498
    Abstract: Instruments and related methods for breaking reduction tabs are disclosed herein, e.g., for breaking reduction tabs of a bone anchor or other implant. In some embodiments, the instrument can be configured to minimize the space needed to operate the instrument. For example, the instrument can be configured to receive a reduction tab that is to be broken while the instrument is coaxially positioned with respect to a bone anchor receiver to which the reduction tab is attached. As another example, the instrument can have a maximum outer transverse dimension that is less than, equal to, or only slightly greater than a corresponding dimension of a bone anchor from which a reduction tab is to be broken. Guide rods for positioning a tab breaker instrument over a reduction tab are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Medos International Sarl
    Inventors: Seetal Erramilli, Frank Spratt, Grant Mellor, Chris Culhane, Ben Stungo, Joanna Talis
  • Publication number: 20180263675
    Abstract: Instruments and related methods for breaking reduction tabs are disclosed herein, e.g., for breaking reduction tabs of a bone anchor or other implant. In some embodiments, the instrument can be configured to minimize the space needed to operate the instrument. For example, the instrument can be configured to receive a reduction tab that is to be broken while the instrument is coaxially positioned with respect to a bone anchor receiver to which the reduction tab is attached. As another example, the instrument can have a maximum outer transverse dimension that is less than, equal to, or only slightly greater than a corresponding dimension of a bone anchor from which a reduction tab is to be broken. Guide rods for positioning a tab breaker instrument over a reduction tab are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Seetal Erramilli, Frank Spratt, Grant Mellor, Chris Culhane, Ben Stungo, Joanna Talis