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).

  • Intervertebral spacer device utilizing a belleville washer having radially extending grooves
    Publication number: 20040172136
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, coupled to one another by a convex element mounted to one of the plates and maintained against the other plate by a retaining wall and a retaining ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a radially thinning belleville spring
    Publication number: 20040167627
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a subassembly including a ball captured in a curvate volume, at least a portion of the curvate volume being formed in a convex element that is maintained against a first plate by a retaining wall and a retaining ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Anterior cervical plate having polyaxial locking screws and sliding coupling elements
    Patent number: 6780186
    Abstract: A polyaxial locking cervical screw and plate assembly for immobilization of cervical bones, via fixation to surfaces thereof, including a plate, having a pair of elongated tapered holes in the top and bottom thereof, into which holes elongated coupling elements and screws may be inserted. Each coupling element has an equivalent taper which matches the taper of the holes in the plate, and an interior semi-spherical curvate surface in which the curvate head of the screw may be polyaxially mounted. The coupling elements are initially disposed in the holes in the plate such that they may slide axially therein. The bone screws are inserted through the respective coupling elements until the heads thereof enter the curvate volumes thereof. Once the head is fully seated in the coupling element, advancement of the screw causes the coupling element to crush lock to the plate and to the head of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Third Millennium Engineering LLC
    Inventors: Joseph P. Errico, Thomas J. Errico, James D. Ralph
  • Instruments for reorienting vertebral bones for the treatment of scoliosis
    Publication number: 20040158326
    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 3, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Spacer device and insertion instrument for use in anterior cervical fixation surgery
    Publication number: 20040153088
    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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: SpineCore Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell
  • Intervertebral spacer device utilizing a spirally slotted belleville washer and a rotational mounting
    Patent number: 6764515
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer having opposing plates seatable against opposing vertebral bones, separated by at least one spring mechanism, preferably a spirally slotted belleville washer having a wide end rigidly fixed to an upper plate and a narrow end rotatably mounted to a lower plate. The lower plate includes an inwardly deflecting central post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the lower plate, the post including a head that is received through a central opening in the narrow end of the washer so that the washer is restricted from angulation with respect to the lower plate, but allowed to rotate with respect to the lower plate so that the plates can rotate relative to one another. The plates can angulate relative to one another because the washer deflects under lateral deflection forces and return to its undeflected shape when the forces are relieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas J. Errico
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a wave washer force restoring element
    Patent number: 6758861
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one force restoring element. The preferred force restoring mechanism is a wave washer. In a first embodiment the wave washer is ring-shaped. In a second embodiment the wave washer is spiral-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico
  • Intervertebral spacer device utilizing a spirally slotted belleville washer having radially extending grooves
    Publication number: 20040111158
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is at least one spirally slotted belleville washer having radially extending grooves. In a preferred embodiment there is a single such belleville washer which is modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The modified belleville washer can be rotatably mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the upper plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a slotted domed arch strip spring
    Publication number: 20040111157
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is a slotted domed arch strip spring which is coupled to the upper plate by set screws. The spring includes a socket formed in the peak thereof and mounts onto a ball-shaped head extending outwardly from the lower plate. The spring and post members are thereby flexibly coupled such that the upper and lower plates may rotate relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a domed arch shaped spring
    Publication number: 20040111156
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is a domed arched strip spring which is coupled to the upper plate by set screws. The spring includes a socket formed in the peak thereof and mounts onto a ball-shaped head extending outwardly from the lower plate. The spring and post members are thereby flexibly coupled such that the upper and lower plates may rotate relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico
  • Longitudinal plate assembly having an adjustable length
    Publication number: 20040106924
    Abstract: An orthopedic device including a longitudinal plate assembly having an adjustable length and two ends. Each of the ends includes a feature that can be used to couple the end to a body structure, such as, for example, a vertebral bone. Preferably, the assembly includes two longitudinal plates that can translate longitudinally with respect to one another through a plurality of positions and be secured with respect to one another at one of the positions, thereby enabling the length of the assembly to be adjusted. Inasmuch as the length of the plate assembly can be adjusted, the surgeon can set the length to the most clinically appropriate length for effective coupling of the plate assembly to the body structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Femoral ring loader
    Publication number: 20040102790
    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: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Intervertebral spacer device having arch shaped spring elements
    Publication number: 20040102849
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is an arched strip spring. In a first embodiment there are multiple springs positioned independently about the area of the opposing plates. In a second embodiment there is a single arched strip spring modified to mount onto a ball-shaped head. The lower plate of this second embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The spring and post members are flexibly coupled such that the upper and lower plates may rotate relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a radially thinning slotted belleville spring
    Patent number: 6740117
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by at least one spring mechanism. A first plate of this embodiment includes a post extending upwardly from the inner surface of the plate, the post including a ball-shaped head. The post is designed to flexibly support a slotted belleville washer, which can be selectively mounted to the head such that the wider portion of the washer seats against the second plate. Compression of the assembly causes a deflection of the slotted belleville washer. The slotted belleville washer of this invention has a radially varying thickness which permits the load deflection profile to mimic that of the natural cartilage which is being replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: SpineCore, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar
  • Method of distracting vertebral bones
    Patent number: 6740119
    Abstract: A surgical treatment for distracting vertebral bodies to their proper anatomical spacing including sequentially inserting and removing a series of progressively wider cylindrical spacer elements into the intervertebral space between adjacent vertebral bones until the distance between the vertebral bones is anatomically appropriate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Spine Cove, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a multi-pronged domed spring
    Publication number: 20040098130
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a spring mechanism. The preferred spring mechanism is a multi-pronged domed spring which is coupled to the upper plate by set screws. The spring includes a socket formed in the peak thereof and mounts onto a ball-shaped head extending outwardly from the lower plate. The spring and post members are thereby flexibly coupled such that the upper and lower plates may rotate relative to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico
  • Intervertebral spacer device having a slotted partial circular domed arch strip spring
    Publication number: 20040093088
    Abstract: An intervertebral spacer device having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces. Each of the opposing plates has an external surface with a deflectable wire mesh thereon, into which the bone can readily grow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico
  • Porous intervertebral distraction spacers
    Publication number: 20040093089
    Abstract: An intervertebral space distraction and implantable device assembly provides sequentially axially wider spacers that are to be sequentially inserted into and removed from an intervertebral space to widen the space until a desired anatomical spacing of the adjacent vertebral bones is restored. The set of spacers includes a porous spacer that is as wide as the spacer that restores the desired anatomical spacing. The porous spacer can therefore be left implanted in the intervertebral space to promote fusion of the adjacent vertebral bones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Thomas J. Errico
  • Distraction instrument for use in anterior cervical fixation surgery
    Publication number: 20040087945
    Abstract: An intervertebral distraction tool has a clamshell head with upper and lower halves, each having a curvate outer surface and a flat inner surface. The distal side of the head is hinged so that the head opens and closes from the proximal side of the head. The hinge is a separating hinge that allows the halves to not only angulate with respect to one another about the hinge axis, but also to vertically separate from one another at the hinge. A distraction separator has decreasing taper at its distal end and a longitudinal bore that accommodates the elongate shaft of the trial so that the separator can be moved longitudinally relative to the shaft. Upon forward movement of the separator, the tapered upper and lower surfaces engage the flat inner surfaces of the head, causing the halves to angulate about the hinge axis of the head, thereby opening the head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell
  • Artificial intervertebral disc having a wave washer force restoring element
    Patent number: 6723127
    Abstract: An artificial disc having a pair of opposing plates for seating against opposing vertebral bone surfaces, separated by a wave washer having a circumferential extent surrounding a central bore. Various wave washer embodiments disclosed include circumferential extents that are ring-shaped, spiral-shaped, straight, bowed, grooved, wavy, thinning, thickening, and slotted. Various central bores disclosed include simple bores and bores that form a curvate socket. Various plate embodiments disclosed include plates having, on inwardly facing surfaces, a flat surface, a circular recess, or a ball-shaped protuberance that is mateable with the curvate socket. The wave washers are disposable between the plates, through various disclosed couplings, so that the plates compress, rotate and angulate freely relative to one another, enabling the artificial disc to mimic a healthy natural intervertebral disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Spine Core, Inc.
    Inventors: James D. Ralph, Stephen Tatar, Joseph P. Errico