Patents by Inventor Eugene A. Dickhudt
Eugene A. Dickhudt 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).
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Publication number: 20080195156Abstract: Spinal motion preservation assemblies adapted for use in a spinal motion segment are disclosed including the process for delivering and assembling the spinal motion preservation assemblies in the spinal motion segment via an axial channel created with a trans-sacral approach. The spinal motion preservation assemblies make use of a dual pivot. A number of different embodiments of spinal motion preservation assemblies are disclosed which include at least one component adapted for elastic deformation under compressive loads. The disclosed mobility preservation assemblies provide for dynamic stabilization (DS) of the spinal motion segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2008Publication date: August 14, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Stephen D. Ainsworth, Robert L. Assell, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
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Publication number: 20080188895Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: August 7, 2008Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
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Publication number: 20080154275Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Robert L. Assell, Stephen D. Ainsworth, Andrew H. Cragg, Eugene A. Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080097452Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2007Publication date: April 24, 2008Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Robert Assell, Stephen Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080071282Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Robert Assell, Steven Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080071278Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: March 20, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Robert Assell, Steven Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080065076Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Inventors: Andrew Cragg, Robert Assell, Steven Alnsworth, Eugene Dickhudt, Bradley Wessman
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Publication number: 20080065093Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Robert Assell, Stephen Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080065092Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: TranS1 INC.Inventors: Robert Assell, Stephen Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080065080Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Robert Assell, Steven Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080065094Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2007Publication date: March 13, 2008Applicant: TRANS1 INC.Inventors: Robert Assell, Stephen Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20080033466Abstract: Cutters for disrupting tissue include a cutter body and replaceable cutter blades. The cutter blades may be placed in one of three positions (sheathed for transport, unsheathed for use, and sufficiently exposed for blade exchange) by the relative movement of a cutter sheath with respect to the engagement zone between the cutter blade and the cutter body. The relative movement of the cutter sheath may be limited to an operational range to preclude inadvertent exposure of the cutter blade to prevent unintended disengagement from the cutter body. Various sheath limiters are disclosed that selectively limit movement of the cutter sheath to an operational range or allow extraordinary movement to allow blade exchange. In some instances other intermediate stops may be used to further limit the relative motion. The relative motion could be imparted by the movement of a cutter rod (rather than the movement of the cutter sheath) and thus limited by a rod limiter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2007Publication date: February 7, 2008Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Robert Assell, Eugene Dickhudt, Thomas Womble
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Publication number: 20070265652Abstract: Cutter blades made of shape memory materials. Rotation of a cutter blade as part of a cutter assembly within an intervertebral disc space cuts the material present there for removal from the intervertebral disc space. Cutter blades with different attributes (such as throw length, cutter blade angle, type and location of blade edges) are adapted to achieve different objectives within the intervertebral disc space. The use of a hollow ground to enhance the cutting action of a blade edge is described in connection with the creation of cutter blades. A variety of thin cutter blades are described which may be used in the interior of a thin intervertebral disc (having a reduced distance between the endplates of the adjacent vertebral bodies).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: November 15, 2007Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Robert Assell, Thomas Womble, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20070260270Abstract: Cutter assemblies for use with cutter blades made of shape memory materials. The cutter blades may be deployed in the interior of an intervertebral disc space and rotated relative to a central axis of the cutter assembly to cut the material present for removal from the intervertebral disc space. Cutter blades with different attributes (such as throw length, cutter blade angle, type and location of blade edges) are adapted to achieve different objectives within the intervertebral disc space. Some cutter blades are adapted to promote bleeding of cartilage and vertebral body endplates and some cutter blades are adopted to avoid causing such bleeding. Closed loop cutter blades are described which have certain desirable attributes including the ability to remove the entire cutter blade from the intervertebral disc space after a break in the blade. Serration patterns are disclosed including a serration pattern that makes use of trapezoidal serrations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2007Publication date: November 8, 2007Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Robert Assell, Stephen Ainsworth, Bradley Wessman, Michael Barnhouse, Brandon Arthurs, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20070168036Abstract: Spinal motion preservation assemblies adapted for use in a spinal motion segment are disclosed including the process for delivering and assembling the spinal motion preservation assemblies in the spinal motion segment via an axial channel created with a trans-sacral approach. Many of the spinal motion preservation assemblies make use of a dual pivot. A number of different embodiments of spinal motion preservation assemblies are disclosed which include at least one component adapted for elastic deformation under compressive loads. The disclosed mobility preservation assemblies provide for dynamic stabilization of the spinal motion segment. Other variations and implementations of the teachings are disclosed, including the sheathed delivery of membranes in order to protect the membranes before and during deployment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Stephen Ainsworth, Brandon Arthurs, Robert Assell, Eugene Dickhudt, Bradley Wessman
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Publication number: 20070167951Abstract: Spinal motion preservation assemblies adapted for use in a spinal motion segment are disclosed including the process for delivering and assembling the spinal motion preservation assemblies in the spinal motion segment via an axial channel created with a trans-sacral approach. Many of the spinal motion preservation assemblies make use of a dual pivot. A number of different embodiments of spinal motion preservation assemblies are disclosed which include at least one component adapted for elastic deformation under compressive loads. The disclosed mobility preservation assemblies provide for dynamic stabilization of the spinal motion segment. Other variations and implementations of the teachings are disclosed, including the sheathed delivery of membranes in order to protect the membranes before and during deployment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2006Publication date: July 19, 2007Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Stephen Ainsworth, Brandon Arthurs, Robert Assell, Eugene Dickhudt, Bradley Wessman
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Publication number: 20070112351Abstract: An alignment jig that creates a plurality of parallelograms may be used to align an external alignment line with an internal target path. The internal target path is within the patient's body and may be defined by two guide pin tips. The alignment jig may be created so that it creates the external alignment line to be co-linear with the internal target path or the external alignment line may be parallel to the internal target path by offset a distance from being co-linear. The external alignment line may be used in the provision of therapy such as the delivery of a screw to a precise location in the provision of therapy to a portion of the spine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2006Publication date: May 17, 2007Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Robert Assell, Eugene Dickhudt
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Publication number: 20070066977Abstract: An exchange system is disclosed, for providing a protected path to a subcutaneous procedure site. An exchange cannula is provided with a central lumen, and a drill wire lumen that serves as a portal for a drill wire for coupling the assembly to bone. The wall thickness of the exchange cannula may be eccentric, to accommodate the drill wire lumen within the exchange cannula wall. A tensioning handle may be carried over the exchange cannula, for engaging adjacent tissue. The exchange cannula may have a proximal âTâ handle. An exchange rod is movably positionable within the central lumen of the exchange cannula.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2006Publication date: March 22, 2007Inventors: Robert Assell, Stephen Ainsworth, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt, Michael Barnhouse
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Publication number: 20060079898Abstract: Spinal motion preservation assemblies adapted for use in a spinal motion segment are disclosed including the process for delivering and assembling the spinal motion preservation assemblies in the spinal motion segment via an axial channel created with a trans-sacral approach. The spinal motion preservation assemblies make use of a dual pivot. A number of different embodiments of spinal motion preservation assemblies are disclosed which include at least one component adapted for elastic deformation under compressive loads. The disclosed mobility preservation assemblies provide for dynamic stabilization (DS) of the spinal motion segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2005Publication date: April 13, 2006Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Stephen Ainsworth, Robert Assell, Eugene Dickhudt, Bradley Wessman
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Publication number: 20060058800Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for the provision of spinal therapy to two or more adjacent motion segments accessed through a trans-sacral approach. The spinal therapies include fusion and dynamic stabilization with and without a distraction of the most cephalad motion segment of the two or more adjacent motion segments provided therapy. The disclosure includes methods and apparatus to impart a distraction on a second more caudal motion segment after providing therapy to the more cephalad motion segment. Related concepts for the extraction of previously inserted devices and the delivery and removal of plugs for plugging the interior cavities of implantable devices are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2005Publication date: March 16, 2006Applicant: TranS1 Inc.Inventors: Stephen Ainsworth, Robert Assell, Andrew Cragg, Eugene Dickhudt, Tawney Schwarz, Bradley Wessman