Patents by Inventor Frank LaMarca

Frank LaMarca 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: 20230255793
    Abstract: A system for dilating tissue includes a retractor having a pair of retractor blades that are movable towards and away from each other to retract tissue of a patient. The retractor blades have longitudinal guide channels. A first pin is attachable to a first vertebra. The system also includes an interbody spacer insertion device that has a guide channel for slidably engaging the longitudinal channel guide and is releasably attachable to an interbody spacer. The interbody spacer insertion device is configured to guide the interbody spacer into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for using the system includes advancing the retractor blades towards first and second vertebrae. The first retractor blade is attached to the first vertebra using the first pin and the retractor blades are moved away from each other. The interbody spacer insertion device is translated towards the vertebrae to position the interbody spacer between the vertebrae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Frank LaMarca, Robert Lee, Gregory Poulter, Steven Tresser, Michael Wang, Josh Rubin, Hadley Sis, Nick Padovani
  • Patent number: 11679004
    Abstract: A system for dilating tissue includes a retractor having a pair of retractor blades that are movable towards and away from each other to retract tissue of a patient. The retractor blades have longitudinal guide channels. A first pin is attachable to a first vertebra. The system also includes an interbody spacer insertion device that has a guide channel for slidably engaging the longitudinal channel guide and is releasably attachable to an interbody spacer. The interbody spacer insertion device is configured to guide the interbody spacer into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for using the system includes advancing the retractor blades towards first and second vertebrae. The first retractor blade is attached to the first vertebra using the first pin and the retractor blades are moved away from each other. The interbody spacer insertion device is translated towards the vertebrae to position the interbody spacer between the vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank LaMarca, Robert Lee, Gregory Poulter, Steven Tresser, Michael Wang, Josh Rubin, Hadley Sis, Nick Padovani
  • Publication number: 20210236301
    Abstract: A system for dilating tissue includes a retractor having a pair of retractor blades that are movable towards and away from each other to retract tissue of a patient. The retractor blades have longitudinal guide channels. A first pin is attachable to a first vertebra. The system also includes an interbody spacer insertion device that has a guide channel for slidably engaging the longitudinal channel guide and is releasably attachable to an interbody spacer. The interbody spacer insertion device is configured to guide the interbody spacer into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for using the system includes advancing the retractor blades towards first and second vertebrae. The first retractor blade is attached to the first vertebra using the first pin and the retractor blades are moved away from each other. The interbody spacer insertion device is translated towards the vertebrae to position the interbody spacer between the vertebrae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Frank LaMarca, Robert Lee, Gregory Poulter, Steven Tresser, Michael Wang, Josh Rubin, Hadley Sis, Nick Padovani
  • Patent number: 11013616
    Abstract: A system for dilating tissue includes a retractor having a pair of retractor blades that are movable towards and away from each other to retract tissue of a patient. The retractor blades have longitudinal guide channels. A first pin is attachable to a first vertebra. The system also includes an interbody spacer insertion device that has a guide channel for slidably engaging the longitudinal channel guide and is releasably attachable to an interbody spacer. The interbody spacer insertion device is configured to guide the interbody spacer into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for using the system includes advancing the retractor blades towards first and second vertebrae. The first retractor blade is attached to the first vertebra using the first pin and the retractor blades are moved away from each other. The interbody spacer insertion device is translated towards the vertebrae to position the interbody spacer between the vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank LaMarca, Robert Lee, Gregory Poulter, Steven Tresser, Michael Wang, Josh Rubin, Hadley Sis, Nick Padovani
  • Publication number: 20200113713
    Abstract: A system for dilating tissue includes a retractor having a pair of retractor blades that are movable towards and away from each other to retract tissue of a patient. The retractor blades have longitudinal guide channels. A first pin is attachable to a first vertebra. The system also includes an interbody spacer insertion device that has a guide channel for slidably engaging the longitudinal channel guide and is releasably attachable to an interbody spacer. The interbody spacer insertion device is configured to guide the interbody spacer into a space between adjacent vertebrae. A method for using the system includes advancing the retractor blades towards first and second vertebrae. The first retractor blade is attached to the first vertebra using the first pin and the retractor blades are moved away from each other. The interbody spacer insertion device is translated towards the vertebrae to position the interbody spacer between the vertebrae.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Frank LaMarca, Robert Lee, Gregory Poulter, Steven Tresser, Michael Wang, Josh Rubin, Hadley Sis, Nick Padovani
  • Publication number: 20180125675
    Abstract: A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: William L. Murphy, Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, Scott J. Hollister
  • Patent number: 9439948
    Abstract: A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, William L. Murphy, Scott J. Hollister
  • Publication number: 20120330423
    Abstract: Methods for the engineering and preparation of intervertebral disc repair scaffolds and articulating joint repair scaffolds are disclosed. The methodology utilizes either magnetic resonance images or combined magnetic resonance and computed tomography images as a template for creating either the intervertebral scaffold or the joint repair scaffold (e.g., osteochondral scaffold) with fixation to the underlying bone. The disc scaffold design may include an outer annulus that may contain desired structures and a central nucleus pulposus region that could either contain a designed microstructure or a contained hydrogel. The osteochondral scaffold may include a bone compartment interface with a cartilage compartment. The bone compartment may interface with a cutout portion of the bone through fixation components. Different microstructure designs may be created for the bone and cartilage compartment to represent desired mechanical and mass transport properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, Stephen E. Feinberg, William L. Murphy, James R. Adox, Scott J. Hollister
  • Patent number: 8275594
    Abstract: Methods for the engineering and preparation of intervertebral disc repair scaffolds and articulating joint repair scaffolds are disclosed. The methodology utilizes either magnetic resonance images or combined magnetic resonance and computed tomography images as a template for creating either the intervertebral scaffold or the joint repair scaffold (e.g., osteochondral scaffold) with fixation to the underlying bone. The disc scaffold design may include an outer annulus that may contain desired structures and a central nucleus pulposus region that could either contain a designed microstructure or a contained hydrogel. The osteochondral scaffold may include a bone compartment interface with a cartilage compartment. The bone compartment may interface with a cutout portion of the bone through fixation components. Different microstructure designs may be created for the bone and cartilage compartment to represent desired mechanical and mass transport properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, Stephen E. Feinberg, William L. Murphy, James R. Adox, Scott J. Hollister
  • Publication number: 20110282392
    Abstract: A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TISSUE REGENERATION SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: William L. Murphy, Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, Scott J. Hollister
  • Publication number: 20080215093
    Abstract: A cage for facilitating fusion of bones, such as vertebrae, or fusion of adjacent bone surfaces is disclosed. In one form, the cage includes a plurality of spaced apart walls comprising a biodegradable polymeric material (e.g., polycaprolactone); an osteoconductive mineral coating (e.g., a calcium compound) on at least a portion of the walls; and a bioactive agent (e.g., a bone morphogenetic protein) associated with the polymeric material and/or the coating. The bioactive agent is present in amount that induces ossification between the bones or adjacent bone surfaces. The cage may also include a fixation plate connected to at least one of the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, William L. Murphy, Scott J. Hollister
  • Publication number: 20080195211
    Abstract: Methods for the engineering and preparation of intervertebral disc repair scaffolds and articulating joint repair scaffolds are disclosed. The methodology utilizes either magnetic resonance images or combined magnetic resonance and computed tomography images as a template for creating either the intervertebral scaffold or the joint repair scaffold (e.g., osteochondral scaffold) with fixation to the underlying bone. The disc scaffold design may include an outer annulus that may contain desired structures and a central nucleus pulposus region that could either contain a designed microstructure or a contained hydrogel. The osteochondral scaffold may include a bone compartment interface with a cartilage compartment. The bone compartment may interface with a cutout portion of the bone through fixation components. Different microstructure designs may be created for the bone and cartilage compartment to represent desired mechanical and mass transport properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Chia-Ying Lin, Frank LaMarca, Stephen E. Feinberg, William L. Murphy, James R. Adox, Scott J. Hollister