Patents by Inventor Graham Witherby

Graham Witherby 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: 12369897
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are surgical retractors and methods of using such surgical retractors where the surgical retractors include a base portion and two retractor blades. The base portion has (a) two extensions, each extension having a receiving area, and (b) and one or more engagement portions. Each retractor blade includes both a blade portion with proximal and distal ends and an arm portion extending from the proximal end of the blade portion. Each arm portion is received by a respective receiving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Rajek, Steven Vidmar, James Lee, David Considine, Graham Witherby
  • Patent number: 12201336
    Abstract: A surgical system may include a conductive stylet with a distal end advanceable into bone material and a proximal end coupled to a stylet hub. A handle is non-removably attached to the stylet hub, and removably attachable to an insulative cannula hub. The cannula hub is non-removably attached to a conductive cannula that surrounds the stylet when the handle is attached to the proximal end of the insulative cannula hub. An outer insulative sheath is slideably engaged to insulative cannula hub, and has a radio-opaque distal tip. An electrical signal source may be applied to the stylet hub to conduct a pedicle integrity assessment. The handle and stylet may be removed from the cannula assembly, leaving the cannula assembly in place at the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ALPHATEC SPINE, INC.
    Inventors: James Lee, Graham Witherby
  • Publication number: 20250000502
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to surgical retractors and surgical retractor systems configured to provide access to a surgical site, such as a portion of a patient's spine. Also disclosed are retractor blades or blade assemblies connectable to surgical retractors. A self-adjusting retractor blade includes a sheath extending from a proximal end to a distal end, with the sheath having an engagement portion at the proximal end configured for releasable engagement with a surgical retractor system, a channel extending to the distal end, and a blade tip at least partially contained within the channel, the blade tip configured to slide within the channel. The blade tip may be biased in a first position relative to the sheath. Methods of assembling and using the surgical retractors and surgical systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2024
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Andrew W. Rajek, Stephen Vidmar, James Lee, David Considine, Graham Witherby, Maximilian Garcia
  • Publication number: 20240307192
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to expandable interbodies that include superior and inferior shells and a control assembly positioned between and inside of the shells, the control assembly including nested cages operably connected to each other with an adjustment screw. Rotation of the adjustment screw translates the cages relative to each other, which in turn causes the shells to open or expand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: William Reimels, Max C. Zemezonak, Thomas Henry Hackathorn, II, Elizabeth Alexis Lukianov, Graham Witherby
  • Publication number: 20240058045
    Abstract: A surgical system may include a conductive stylet with a distal end advanceable into bone material and a proximal end coupled to a stylet hub. A handle is non-removably attached to the stylet hub, and removably attachable to an insulative cannula hub. The cannula hub is non-removably attached to a conductive cannula that surrounds the stylet when the handle is attached to the proximal end of the insulative cannula hub. An outer insulative sheath is slideably engaged to insulative cannula hub, and has a radio-opaque distal tip. An electrical signal source may be applied to the stylet hub to conduct a pedicle integrity assessment. The handle and stylet may be removed from the cannula assembly, leaving the cannula assembly in place at the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: James Lee, Graham Witherby
  • Patent number: 11819254
    Abstract: A surgical system may include a conductive stylet with a distal end advanceable into bone material and a proximal end coupled to a stylet hub. A handle is non-removably attached to the stylet hub, and removably attachable to an insulative cannula hub. The cannula hub is non-removably attached to a conductive cannula that surrounds the stylet when the handle is attached to the proximal end of the insulative cannula hub. An outer insulative sheath is slideably engaged to insulative cannula hub, and has a radio-opaque distal tip. An electrical signal source may be applied to the stylet hub to conduct a pedicle integrity assessment. The handle and stylet may be removed from the cannula assembly, leaving the cannula assembly in place at the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee, Graham Witherby
  • Publication number: 20220354477
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are surgical retractors and methods of using such surgical retractors where the surgical retractors include a base portion and two retractor blades. The base portion has (a) two extensions, each extension having a receiving area, and (b) and one or more engagement portions. Each retractor blade includes both a blade portion with proximal and distal ends and an arm portion extending from the proximal end of the blade portion. Each arm portion is received by a respective receiving area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew W. Rajek, Steven Vidmar, James Lee, David Considine, Graham Witherby
  • Publication number: 20220125495
    Abstract: A surgical system may include a conductive stylet with a distal end advanceable into bone material and a proximal end coupled to a stylet hub. A handle is non-removably attached to the stylet hub, and removably attachable to an insulative cannula hub. The cannula hub is non-removably attached to a conductive cannula that surrounds the stylet when the handle is attached to the proximal end of the insulative cannula hub. An outer insulative sheath is slideably engaged to insulative cannula hub, and has a radio-opaque distal tip. An electrical signal source may be applied to the stylet hub to conduct a pedicle integrity assessment. The handle and stylet may be removed from the cannula assembly, leaving the cannula assembly in place at the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: James Lee, Graham Witherby
  • Patent number: 11246637
    Abstract: A surgical system may include a conductive stylet with a distal end advanceable into bone material and a proximal end coupled to a stylet hub. A handle is non-removably attached to the stylet hub, and removably attachable to an insulative cannula hub. The cannula hub is non-removably attached to a conductive cannula that surrounds the stylet when the handle is attached to the proximal end of the insulative cannula hub. An outer insulative sheath is slideably engaged to insulative cannula hub, and has a radiopaque distal tip. An electrical signal source may be applied to the stylet hub to conduct a pedicle integrity assessment. The handle and stylet may be removed from the cannula assembly, leaving the cannula assembly in place at the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lee, Graham Witherby
  • Publication number: 20210346072
    Abstract: A surgical system may include a conductive stylet with a distal end advanceable into bone material and a proximal end coupled to a stylet hub. A handle is non-removably attached to the stylet hub, and removably attachable to an insulative cannula hub. The cannula hub is non-removably attached to a conductive cannula that surrounds the stylet when the handle is attached to the proximal end of the insulative cannula hub. An outer insulative sheath is slideably engaged to insulative cannula hub, and has a radiopaque distal tip. An electrical signal source may be applied to the stylet hub to conduct a pedicle integrity assessment. The handle and stylet may be removed from the cannula assembly, leaving the cannula assembly in place at the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: James Lee, Graham Witherby