Patents by Inventor Darrell C. Brett

Darrell C. Brett 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: 20180064554
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 9737412
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LDR Medical
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20170095350
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 9463091
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: LDR Medical
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20150127109
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 8932359
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Expanding Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20140052262
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 8617245
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20110178599
    Abstract: An intervertebral implant is configured to be fixed in an intervertebral space defined by a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body. The intervertebral implant includes an implant body sized to be inserted into an intervertebral space, and a fixation assembly configured to be attached to the implant body. The fixation assembly includes a housing that defines a first vertebral body facing surface and a second vertebral body facing surface spaced from the first vertebral body facing surface along a transverse direction. The fixation assembly further includes at least one fixation member supported by the housing and movable from a retracted position to an extended position, whereby in the extended position the fixation member extends out from the housing and into one of the vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 6916328
    Abstract: A percutaneous cellulite removal needle of the present invention can be used to make the appearance of cellulite less obvious by cutting the fibrous bridges that connect the skin to muscle/fascia or fibrous septae in the subcutaneous fat in a minimally invasive manner. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of the present invention preferably includes a body having an internal chamber that ends at a laterally disposed aperture. A cutting mechanism is substantially positioned within the internal chamber in a retracted position and at least partially protrudes through the laterally disposed aperture in a cutting position. A situating mechanism transitions the cutting mechanism between the retracted position and the cutting position. The present invention also includes a method in which the percutaneous cellulite removal needle is inserted through the skin with the cutting mechanism in the retracted position. The cutting mechanism is then extruded so that the cutting mechanism is in the cutting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Expanding Concepts, L.L.C
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20040111084
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating intervertebral discs includes an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region. A control member operationally connected to the energy application head preferably controls the energy application head during treatment. Significantly, the energy application head is preferably wedge-shaped and has a thin insertion edge sloped to a thick region for lifting vulnerable tissues away from a site of energy application to the at least one intervertebral disc. Preferably, the energy application head has a smooth surface suitable for gliding over surfaces of an annulus fibrosis without snagging other tissues. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Expanding Concepts, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20040006379
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating at least one intervertebral disc of the present invention includes an expandable and contractible energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region. A distance is defined between the energy application region and the tissue protecting region. The distance is variable to protect tissue associated with the intervertebral disc. In one preferred embodiment, the energy application head has smooth, rounded edges, a domed center section, and the edges are sloped to the domed center section such that the energy application head has a wedge-shaped head geometry. In another preferred embodiment, the energy application head is a ribbon-like energy application head. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an injured intervertebral disc while thermally protecting vulnerable tissues.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Expanding Concepts, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 6673063
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating intervertebral discs includes an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region. A control member operationally connected to the energy application head preferably controls the energy application head during treatment. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Expanding Concepts, LLC.
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20030158591
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermally treating intervertebral discs includes an energy application head having an energy application region and a tissue protecting region. A control member operationally connected to the energy application head preferably controls the energy application head during treatment. The present invention also includes a method for thermally treating an intervertebral disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Publication number: 20030158566
    Abstract: A percutaneous cellulite removal needle of the present invention can be used to make the appearance of cellulite less obvious by cutting the fibrous bridges that connect the skin to muscle/fascia or fibrous septae in the subcutaneous fat in a minimally invasive manner. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of the present invention preferably includes a body having an internal chamber that ends at a laterally disposed aperture. A cutting mechanism is substantially positioned within the internal chamber in a retracted position and at least partially protrudes through the laterally disposed aperture in a cutting position. A situating mechanism transitions the cutting mechanism between the retracted position and the cutting position. The present invention also includes a method in which the percutaneous cellulite removal needle is inserted through the skin with the cutting mechanism in the retracted position. The cutting mechanism is then extruded so that the cutting mechanism is in the cutting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Expanding Concepts, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 6409766
    Abstract: A collapsible and expandable interbody fusion cage primarily for use between adjacent vertebrae is designed to be collapsed so as to require the smallest opening necessary for insertion. An upper body is connected to a lower body by articulated supports. In the collapsed position, the articulated supports are folded inward between the upper body and the lower body. Once inserted, the fusion cage can be expanded to its fully open position to maintain spacing between adjacent vertebrae. The fusion cage is maintained in its fully open position by an overcenter latch. Bone material can be inserted in the space formed by the fully open fusion cage to aid in the fusion of the adjacent vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Expanding Concepts, LLC
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett
  • Patent number: 6126689
    Abstract: A collapsible and expandable interbody fusion cage primarily for use between adjacent vertebrae is designed to be collapsed so as to require the smallest opening necessary for insertion. An upper body is connected to a lower body by articulated supports. In the collapsed position, the articulated supports are folded inward between the upper body and the lower body. Once inserted, the fusion cage can be expanded to its fully open position to maintain spacing between adjacent vertebrae. The fusion cage is maintained in its fully open position by an overcenter latch. Bone material can be inserted in the space formed by the fully open fusion cage to aid in the fusion of the adjacent vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Expanding Concepts, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Darrell C. Brett