Patents by Inventor James D. Ralph

James D. Ralph 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: 9814577
    Abstract: Biocompatible mesh materials are employed to make implants for repairing or replacing a bone or for soft tissue repair. The mesh materials can be comprised of bioabsorbable materials, non-bioabsorbable materials or bioabsorbable and non-bioabsorbable materials. Pharmaceutical actives, bone growth enhancers and the like can be combined with the implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: BioDynamics LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell, Mark Michels
  • Publication number: 20160319563
    Abstract: A method and system for extending a vertical structural member supporting a structure, where a sleeve is coupled to the vertical structural member such that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeve is about the structural member, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap to attach the system to the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Michael E. Gable, James D. Ralph, III, Thomas N. Troxell, Gary S. Smrtic
  • Patent number: 9416556
    Abstract: A method and system for extending a vertical structural member supporting a structure, where a sleeve is coupled to the vertical structural member such that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeve is about the structural member, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap to attach the system to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Composite Structural Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Gable, James D. Ralph, III, Thomas N. Troxell, Gary S. Smrtic
  • Patent number: 9289241
    Abstract: Craniotomy closures comprising surgical fasteners are described for use in reattaching a skull flap removed from the skull of a patient during brain surgery. Methods of using the same are also described. Surgical strips used in combination with the fasteners are shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The craniotomy closures are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement materials to the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: BioDynamics LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell, Mark Michels
  • Publication number: 20150345171
    Abstract: A method and system for extending a vertical structural member supporting a structure, where a sleeve is coupled to the vertical structural member such that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeve is about the structural member, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap to attach the system to the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Michael E. Gable, James D. Ralph, III, Thomas N. Troxell, Gary S. Smrtic
  • Patent number: 9140024
    Abstract: A method and system for extending a vertical structural member supporting a structure, where a sleeve is coupled to the vertical structural member such that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeve is about the structural member, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap to attach the system to the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Composite Structural Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Gable, James D. Ralph, III, Thomas N. Troxell, Gary S. Smrtic
  • Patent number: 8915921
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting particulate bone from the operating site during an osteotomy or bone drilling procedure so that it can be used subsequently to augment the bone fusion process. A bone cutting or drilling tool is provided with a module for collecting particulate bone simultaneously with cutting or drilling the bone. The collected particulate bone is transferred continuously to a sterile containment module and maintained under sterile conditions until it is prepared for re-use in the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: BioDynamics LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell, Mark Michels
  • Patent number: 8870958
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer has curvate upper and lower rough surfaces that stimulate bone growth and is formed from a porous material that facilitates bone growth thereinto. The spacer has a plurality of smooth linear grooves to facilitate insertion of the spacer into an intervertebral space using a spacer insertion tool that has a scissor-style body. Each of the insertion tool's arm's heads has an inner surface having a pair of smoothed linear protrusions that fit within the linear grooves of the spacer when the heads are closed about the spacer. When the spacer is held, spaces are present between the spacer's rough surfaces and the heads' inner surfaces so that when the protrusions are longitudinally slid from the grooves to leave the spacer in the intervertebral spacer, the rough surfaces are not disturbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell
  • Publication number: 20140303734
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes a first plate and a second plate, each plate having an outer surface for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. The device includes a ball captured in a central opening of a coupling element, the coupling element being maintained against the first plate by a retaining ring coupled with the first plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SPINECORE, INC.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Publication number: 20140223856
    Abstract: A method and system for extending a vertical structural member supporting a structure, where a sleeve is coupled to the vertical structural member such that a portion of the sleeve extending from a first end of the sleeve is about the structural member, a cap is coupled to a second end of the sleeve opposite the first end, and a structure attachment device is coupled to the cap to attach the system to the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Composite Structural Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Gable, James D. Ralph, III, Thomas N. Troxell, Gary S. Smrtic
  • Patent number: 8790377
    Abstract: A bone plate and system is provided. The bone fixation plate conforms to the contour of an irregularly shaped bone and eliminates the need for pre-bending or intraoperative bending of the plate. The bone plate is applied to the bone in a generally flat condition and the process of installing and tightening the bone screws in the prescribed order serves to contour the plate to the underlying bone while providing sufficient strength to effect bone healing. The geometry of the plate allows the plate to follow the contour of an irregularly shaped bone, preventing prominence and patient palpability and streamlining the surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: MBD Medical LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell, Mark Michels, Thomas D. Meade
  • Publication number: 20140172110
    Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SPINECORE, INC.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Publication number: 20140172109
    Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SPINECORE, INC.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Publication number: 20140142704
    Abstract: An instrument for holding an intervertebral spacer is provided. The instrument includes a compression assembly and a fixed shaft forming a handle and a compression surface. The compression assembly includes a selectively engageable shaft axially movable relative to a longitudinal axis of the fixed shaft. The engageable shaft forms a hook having a surface complimentary to the compression surface to define an enclosure for engagement with an annular groove of the spacer. The compression assembly includes a compression trigger mechanically connected to the engageable shaft for axially moving the hook from a first position relative to the fixed shaft in which the enclosure engages the spacer such that the spacer is held by the enclosure to a second position relative to the fixed shaft in which the spacer is disengaged from at least one of the hook surface and the compression surface such that the enclosure disengages the spacer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Patent number: 8715349
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device includes a first plate and a second plate, each plate having an outer surface for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. The device includes a ball captured in a central opening of a coupling element, the coupling element being maintained against the first plate by a retaining ring coupled with the first plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Patent number: 8690877
    Abstract: An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebral bodies, including a holder adapted to hold the implant during insertion of the implant between the vertebral bodies, a retractor adapted to retract the holder away from the implant after the insertion, and a guard adapted to prevent the implant from being removed from between the vertebral bodies during the retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Patent number: 8685094
    Abstract: An orthopedic device set, including: a plurality of intervertebral spacer elements, each spacer element having a different axial thickness from each other element, the axial thicknesses being selected to increase by an increment from one element to another; and an instrument for holding ones of the intervertebral spacer elements, the instrument comprising a shaft having a distal end, a selectively grasping subassembly for alternatively rigidly holding each spacer element at the distal end so that the spacer element cannot move relative to the instrument, and releasing the spacer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Patent number: 8608752
    Abstract: An insertion tool for inserting an intervertebral spacer is provided. The tool includes first and second pincers. The first pincer is fixed and the second pincer is pivotably coupled to the first pincer at a pivot location in open-biased opposition to the first pincer. The tool includes a compression slide which may be selectively translated into and out of engagement with the second pincer. When the compression slide is in a predetermined engagement position with the second pincer, the first and second pincers are in a closed position for holding the intervertebral spacer. When the compression slide is out of engagement with the second pincer, the first and second pincers are in an open position for releasing the intervertebral spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Patent number: 8597335
    Abstract: Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: BioDynamics LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell
  • Publication number: 20130245698
    Abstract: Craniotomy closures comprising surgical fasteners are described for use in reattaching a skull flap removed from the skull of a patient during brain surgery. Methods of using the same are also described. Surgical strips used in combination with the fasteners are shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The craniotomy closures are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement materials to the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BioDynamics LLC
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell, Mark Michels