Patents by Inventor Erik O'Neil

Erik O'Neil 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: 7794417
    Abstract: Footwear has strap for medially directing the big toe. The footwear may be in a form of a sandal; the strap may be adjustable; and a bunion deformity may be addressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Erik O. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 7726002
    Abstract: A cortical bone implant is formed of two or more planks of bone which are connected with one or more offset pins. The pins may be right circular cylinders inserted into a corresponding offset bore which offset bends the inserted pin. The bending creates compression and tensile loads in the pin which loads creates friction compression forces on the planks connecting them to the pins by friction. The pins may have different shapes to form offset configurations in place of the offset bores for friction attachment to the planks. The implants may be formed of flat or L-shaped planks or bones formed into other shapes including interlocking arrangements. Processes and fixtures are disclosed for forming the pins, planks and implants. Various embodiments of the pins, planks, implants and processes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Osteotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Shimp, John M. Winterbottom, David R. Kaes, Todd M. Boyce, Erik O. Martz
  • Patent number: 7662185
    Abstract: A multipart intervertebral implant is provided which includes an implant portion and an implant extender portion. The implant portion and the implant extender portion can be fastened together using any known fastening means including pins, interlocking structure (e.g., dovetail, tongue and groove, etc.), adhesives, etc. The size of the implant extender portion can be selected during a surgical procedure to provide an implant suitable for a particular intervertebral receiving bed. An intervertebral implant is also provided which may be formed from a multiplicity of implant sections which are fastened together to provide an implant having a desired length. Implants having surface configurations which more closely correspond to the configuration of vertebral endplates are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Osteotech, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur A. Alfaro, Lawrence A. Shimp, James L. Russell, John W. Boyle, Erik O. Martz, Daniel E. Rosenthal, John W. Morris
  • Patent number: 7643011
    Abstract: Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each of which can be stimulated with a plurality of periodic waveforms having different frequencies to measure a touch value at the sense point. Noise at one or more of the frequencies can interfere with this measurement. Therefore, various noise detection (and rejection) techniques are described. The noise detection techniques include two-clean-frequency noise detection, one-clean-frequency noise rejection, and combined two-clean-frequency/one-clean-frequency noise detection. Each of the noise detection techniques can include statistical analyses of the sample values obtained. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Erik O'Connor, Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20090264939
    Abstract: A nuclectomy method for creating a nuclear cavity in an annulus located in an intervertebral disc space and for preparing the nuclear cavity to receive an intervertebral prosthesis. The method involves identifying a plurality of regions in at least a portion of the nucleus. A sequence for removing the regions is also determined. At least one annulotomy is formed in the annulus along an annular axis to provide access to the nucleus. A guide system is positioned relative to the annulotomy. The guide system is configured to limit motion of at least one surgical tool relative to the guide system. A portion of the nucleus is removed from a first region using the surgical tool. At least one of the guide system and the surgical tool are configured to remove a portion of the nucleus from a second region. A portion of the nucleus is removed from a second region using the surgical tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Erik O. Martz, Jean-Charles LeHuec, Michael Ahrens
  • Patent number: 7588233
    Abstract: A winch assembly includes a housing member, a drum rotatably coupled to the housing member, a drive shaft extending through the drum and into the housing member, a gear train located within the housing member and driven by the shaft, a coupling member axially fixed to the shaft, and a clutch assembly including a clutch knob. The shaft is fixed for rotation with and axially displaceable relative to a drive input. The clutch knob is rotatably coupled to the housing member and includes an axially extending ramped surface that axially displaces the shaft in first and second axial directions upon rotation of the clutch knob in first and second rotary directions. Rotation in the first rotary direction rotationally couples the drum to the gear train through engagement with the coupling member and rotation in the second rotary direction disengages the drum from rotational engagement with the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Warn Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik O. Roe, Darren K. Johnson, Bryon M. Borntrager
  • Publication number: 20090131939
    Abstract: A system for the in situ formation of prostheses between adjacent vertebrae of a patient. The system includes a first mold adapted to be located in an intervertebral disc space between the adjacent vertebrae and at least a second mold adapted to be positioned between adjacent posterior elements. Lumens are fluidly coupled to each of the molds. One or more in situ curable biomaterials are delivered through the lumens to the molds. The at least partially cured biomaterial and the molds cooperate to maintain a desired alignment and spacing of the intervertebral disc space and the posterior elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Disc Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ahrens, Erik O. Martz, Ronald Burke, Benjamin F. Carter
  • Publication number: 20090112326
    Abstract: A system for forming a spinal prosthesis in situ within an intervertebral space located between first and second adjacent vertebrae includes at least one mold having at least one internal compartment adapted to receive at least one flowable biomaterial. The system also includes a retaining member adapted to secure the mold between the first and second vertebrae, the retaining member including first and second portions adapted to be engaged with first and second surfaces of the first and second vertebrae, respectively. The retaining member also includes an intermediate body operatively coupling the first portion to the second portion, the intermediate body adapted to be positioned in or adjacent to the intervertebral space. A biomaterial delivery apparatus is in fluid communication with the mold at a pressure sufficient for the mold to engage with the retaining member. The spinal prosthesis selectively position the first vertebrae relative to the second vertebrae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Disc Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jean-Charles Lehuec, Erik O. Martz
  • Publication number: 20090088848
    Abstract: A nuclectomy method for creating a nuclear cavity in an annulus located in an intervertebral disc space and for preparing the nuclear cavity to receive an intervertebral prosthesis. The method involves identifying a plurality of regions in at least a portion of the nucleus. A sequence for removing the regions is also determined. At least one annulotomy is formed in the annulus along an annular axis to provide access to the nucleus. A guide system is positioned relative to the annulotomy. The guide system is configured to limit motion of at least one surgical tool relative to the guide system. A portion of the nucleus is removed from a first region using the surgical tool. At least one of the guide system and the surgical tool are configured to remove a portion of the nucleus from a second region. A portion of the nucleus is removed from a second region using the surgical tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Erik O. Martz, Jean-Charles LeHuec, Michael Ahrens
  • Publication number: 20090054990
    Abstract: A multi-lumen mold is for the in situ formation of a prosthesis in an intervertebral disc space located between adjacent vertebrae of a patient. The multi-lumen mold a flexible mold, a first lumen, a second lumen and a curable biomaterial. The flexible mold is shaped to be positioned in the intervertebral disc space. The first lumen and the second lumen each have a distal end is fluidly coupled to the flexible mold at a first location and a second location, respectively. The first lumen is shaped to extend out through a first opening extending through one of the adjacent vertebrae when the mold is positioned in the intervertebral disc space. The curable biomaterial is delivered into the flexible mold through at least one of the first and second lumens. The first and second locations can optionally be located on generally opposite sides of the mold, on the same side of the mold, or a variety of other configurations. One or more securing members can be used to secure the mold in the intervertebral disc space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: Disc Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Khin Myint, Erik O. Martz, Benjamin F. Carter, Ronald Burke
  • Publication number: 20090012618
    Abstract: An assembly for the in situ formation of a prosthesis in an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae of a patient. At least one retention structure is located in the intervertebral disc space. A distal end of at least one lumen is located proximate the at least one retention structure. One or more in situ curable biomaterials are delivered to the intervertebral disc space through the first lumen and into engagement with the retention structure. The retention structure serves to retain at least a portion of the biomaterial in the intervertebral disc space by surface tension, adhesion, mechanical capture, friction, viscosity, and/or a variety of other mechanisms. The at least partially cured biomaterial and the at least one retention structure cooperate to comprise the prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: Disc Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ahrens, Erik O. Martz
  • Publication number: 20080309628
    Abstract: The identification of low noise stimulation frequencies for detecting and localizing touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a separate sense line in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers, each mixer using a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency, phase and delay. With no stimulation signal applied to any drive lines in the touch sensor panel, pairs of mixers can demodulate the sum of the output of all sense channels using the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals of a particular frequency. The demodulated outputs of each mixer pair can be used to calculate the magnitude of the noise at that particular frequency, wherein the lower the magnitude, the lower the noise at that frequency. Several low noise frequencies can be selected for use in a subsequent touch sensor panel scan function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Steve Porter Hotelling, Sean Erik O'Connor, Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20080309626
    Abstract: Gestures for converting from a position control mode to a motion continuation mode are disclosed. A position control mode can be invoked when the user simultaneously places two or more fingers upon a sensor panel. The fingers can then be moved around to effect position control. A motion continuation mode can be invoked when one or more fingers are lifted off (but at least one finger remains in contact with the sensor panel). If the motion continuation mode is invoked, a virtual control ring can be generated, and scrolling of the viewable area or dragging of the cursor or object can continue in a particular direction specified by a velocity vector pointed in the direction of finger movement at the time the motion continuation mode is invoked, and having a magnitude proportional to the velocity of the finger at the time the motion continuation mode was invoked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, Sean Erik O'Connor
  • Publication number: 20080309625
    Abstract: The use of multiple stimulation frequencies and phases to generate an image of touch on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. Each of a plurality of sense channels can be coupled to a column in a touch sensor panel and can have multiple mixers. Each mixer in the sense channel can utilize a circuit capable generating a demodulation frequency of a particular frequency. At each of multiple steps, various phases of selected frequencies can be used to simultaneously stimulate the rows of the touch sensor panel, and the multiple mixers in each sense channel can be configured to demodulate the signal received from the column connected to each sense channel using the selected frequencies. After all steps have been completed, the demodulated signals from the multiple mixers can be used in calculations to determine an image of touch for the touch sensor panel at each frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Horst Krah, Steve Porter Hotelling, Sean Erik O'Connor, Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20080203800
    Abstract: A latch mechanism may include a housing, a claw rotatably supported within the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position, a first cam rotatably supported within the housing and operable to lock the claw in the latched position, and a second cam supported within the housing and slidably coupled to the first cam to selectively translate and rotate the first cam relative to the claw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Bernardus W. G. van de Geer, Erik O. Pettersson
  • Publication number: 20080158169
    Abstract: Multi-touch touch-sensing devices and methods are described herein. The touch sensing devices can include multiple sense points, each of which can be stimulated with a plurality of periodic waveforms having different frequencies to measure a touch value at the sense point. Noise at one or more of the frequencies can interfere with this measurement. Therefore, various noise detection (and rejection) techniques are described. The noise detection techniques include two-clean-frequency noise detection, one-clean-frequency noise rejection, and combined two-clean-frequency/one-clean-frequency noise detection. Each of the noise detection techniques can include statistical analyses of the sample values obtained. The touch sensing methods and devices can be incorporated into interfaces for a variety of electronic devices such as a desktop, tablet, notebook, and handheld computers, personal digital assistants, media players, and mobile telephones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
    Inventors: Sean Erik O'Connor, Wayne Carl Westerman
  • Publication number: 20080125782
    Abstract: An instrument for cutting an extension, such as a catheter or biomaterial, coupled to a prosthesis, such as a prosthesis located in an intervertebral disc space, that includes at least one axial member having a distal opening and at least one cutting device, such as for example a wire or blade, coupled to the at least one axial member that is capable of moving across at least a portion of the distal opening when a force is applied to the at least one cutting wire. A method for cutting a catheter is also disclosed. The removal instrument may be inserted into an introduction lumen. A force is applied to the at least one cutting device after the catheter is in the distal opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: DISC DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. RYDELL, Khin MYINT, Robert Garryl HUDGINS, Erik O. MARTZ
  • Publication number: 20070276491
    Abstract: A mold assembly for the in situ formation of a prosthesis in an annulus located in an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebrae of a patient. The mold assembly includes at least a first mold having at least one interior cavity adapted to be located in the intervertebral disc space. At least a first lumen has a distal end fluidly coupled to the mold at a first location. One or more discrete reinforcing structures are located in the intervertebral disc space with the mold. One or more biomaterials are provided to be delivered to the interior cavity through the first lumen. The at least partially cured biomaterial, the reinforcing structures and the mold cooperating to form the prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: DISC DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael AHRENS, Erik O. MARTZ, Ronald BURKE, Benjamin F. CARTER
  • Patent number: 7185950
    Abstract: A head restraint assembly may include a head restraint, a cam, and an arm. The head restraint may be rotatably supported by a seat back and configured to be automatically rotated as the seat back is rotated. The cam may be rotatably coupled to the seat back and include an engagement surface. The arm may include a first portion non-rotatably coupled to the head restraint and a second portion engaged with the cam engagement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Fisher Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Erik O. Pettersson, Bernardus W. G. van de Geer
  • Patent number: 7001577
    Abstract: A method for improving the toughness of a CBN product made by a high temperature/high pressure (HP/HT) process commences by forming a blend of an oxygen getter and CBN product-forming feedstock. The blend is subjected to a CBN high temperature/high pressure (HP/HT) process for forming a CBN product. The amount of oxygen getter in the blend is sufficient to improve the toughness of the CBN product. The resulting CBN product desirably has an oxygen content of less than about 300 ppm. Oxygen getters include Al, Si, and Ti. The HP/HT process is conducted in the absence or presence of catalytic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Diamond innovaitons, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Zimmerman, Erik O. Einset