Patents by Inventor Frank Kuwamura, III

Frank Kuwamura, III 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: 11058552
    Abstract: A stand-alone ALIF implant that comprises a cage and a rotatable plate attached to an anterior portion of the cage by a fastener mechanism. The plate may also be integrally formed with the cage, and both are typically manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques. Support material may be added during the additive manufacturing process to lend support to the implant, and may be positioned around the fastener mechanism during manufacturing of the implant. Once formed, the support material may be dissolved away, thereby allowing the plate to rotate independently from the cage, but still remain movably attached via the fastener mechanism. The cage may further comprise webbing thereon to promote bone growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Zink, Frank Kuwamura, III, Zeshan Hyder
  • Patent number: 10888430
    Abstract: A structurally encoded implant comprising a pair of endplates movably secured at the posterior end via a slip joint and a wedge component. The wedge component is inserted between the pair of endplates to increase implant height and change the lordotic angle. The pair of endplates may be manufactured together as one integral component using additive manufacturing techniques. During this additive manufacturing process, water-soluble support material may be positioned around the slip joint. Once the pair of endplates is formed, the support material may be dissolved away, allowing the pair of endplates to move independently from one another, but to still remain movably attached via the slip joint, such that the pair of endplates allow for height expansion and lordotic angle change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Kieser, Thomas Zink, Nicholas Cordaro, Frank Kuwamura, III
  • Patent number: 10888643
    Abstract: An implantable interbody negative pressure device that permits reduced or negative pressure therapies to be applied to a portion of a patient's body. More specifically, the implantable interbody negative pressure device comprises a body portion having a plurality of openings in fluid communication with both an internal passageway and a vacuum source, and that serves as a manifold and permits reduced or negative pressure therapy to be applied to a surgical site, such as a wound or damaged bone. The application of the reduced or negative pressure to the body improves circulation and the disposal of cellular waste, and promotes bone growth and healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Zink, Zeshan Hyder, Frank Kuwamura, III, Nicholas Cordaro
  • Publication number: 20200129679
    Abstract: A dual therapy device for delivering reduced pressure therapy and regenerative therapy to a degenerated vertebral disc and a method of using the same is disclosed herein. The dual therapy device is preferably comprised of a cannulated trocar for accessing a disc space, a probe that coils within said disc space and a cannulated and fenestrated catheter that also coils within the disc space, adjacent to the probe. The catheter is useful for applying reduced or negative pressure therapy to the entire or substantially entire disc space and, upon completion of said therapy, delivering regenerative therapy to the disc space in the form of a biological material. Nonetheless, it is also contemplated that the catheter may be eliminated, and the dual therapies delivered via a cannulated and fenestrated probe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Zink, Frank Kuwamura, III
  • Publication number: 20190105432
    Abstract: An implantable interbody negative pressure device that permits reduced or negative pressure therapies to be applied to a portion of a patient's body. More specifically, the implantable interbody negative pressure device comprises a body portion having a plurality of openings in fluid communication with both an internal passageway and a vacuum source, and that serves as a manifold and permits reduced or negative pressure therapy to be applied to a surgical site, such as a wound or damaged bone. The application of the reduced or negative pressure to the body improves circulation and the disposal of cellular waste, and promotes bone growth and healing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Zink, Zeshan Hyder, Frank Kuwamura, III, Nicholas Cordaro
  • Publication number: 20180368984
    Abstract: A structurally encoded implant comprising a pair of endplates movably secured at the posterior end via a slip joint and a wedge component. The wedge component is inserted between the pair of endplates to increase implant height and change the lordotic angle. The pair of endplates may be manufactured together as one integral component using additive manufacturing techniques. During this additive manufacturing process, water-soluble support material may be positioned around the slip joint. Once the pair of endplates is formed, the support material may be dissolved away, allowing the pair of endplates to move independently from one another, but to still remain movably attached via the slip joint, such that the pair of endplates allow for height expansion and lordotic angle change.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: NVision Biomedical Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Kieser, Thomas Zink, Nicholas Cordaro, Frank Kuwamura, III
  • Publication number: 20180368992
    Abstract: A stand-alone ALIF implant that comprises a cage and a rotatable plate attached to an anterior portion of the cage by a fastener mechanism. The plate may also be integrally formed with the cage, and both are typically manufactured using additive manufacturing techniques. Support material may be added during the additive manufacturing process to lend support to the implant, and may be positioned around the fastener mechanism during manufacturing of the implant. Once formed, the support material may be dissolved away, thereby allowing the plate to rotate independently from the cage, but still remain movably attached via the fastener mechanism. The cage may further comprise webbing thereon to promote bone growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: NVision Biomedical Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Zink, Frank Kuwamura, III, Zeshan Hyder