Patents by Inventor Douglas H. Wentz

Douglas H. Wentz 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: 11395743
    Abstract: An expandable implant having superior and inferior endplates is disclosed. The superior endplate includes a first inside surface having a crossbar extending in the widthwise direction. The inferior endplate includes a second inside surface having a medial support structure, a threaded core, and a receiving cavity. A threaded locking screw may be disposed in the threaded core, and a proximal saddle may be disposed in the receiving cavity. In various embodiments, in a locked position, a relative position of the inferior endplate with respect to the superior endplate is fixed, and the threaded locking screw directly contacts, pushes, applies a force against, and/or compresses, the proximal saddle, the proximal saddle directly contacts, pushes, applies a force against, and/or compresses the crossbar, the crossbar directly contacts, pushes, applies a force against, and/or compresses the distal saddle, and the distal saddle directly contacts and is engaged against the second interior distal wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: Richard A. Hynes, Jonathan M. Dewey, Joshua A. Ruth, Douglas H. Wentz
  • Patent number: 10070961
    Abstract: A prosthetic hip stem for use in a prosthetic hip joint. The hip stem generally includes a core having a stem portion and a neck portion, a polymer matrix layer substantially covering the stem portion of the core, and a porous metal layer substantially covering the polymer matrix layer. The polymer matrix layer connects the core and the porous metal layer, and may be injection molded therebetween. The neck portion of the hip stem has a relatively thin or slender profile which allows for an increased degree of articulating movement of the hip stem with respect to the acetabular component of a prosthetic hip joint. The neck portion of the hip stem additionally includes a version indicator element, such as a bump or a protrusion, which may be tactilely felt by a surgeon to aid the surgeon in positioning the hip stem during a minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty procedure, for example, where direct visualization of the hip stem by the surgeon may not be possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Hoag, Dale A. Degroff, Douglas H. Wentz, Leslie N. Gilbertson, Roy D. Crowninshield