Patents by Inventor James W. Reams, III

James W. Reams, 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: 6431869
    Abstract: An implant for implantation into bone tissue having an exterior surface includes an elongated body and at least one thread. The elongated body has a distal end portion for being submerged in the bone tissue, a proximal end portion for being located near the exterior surface of the bone tissue, a central axis, and an outer surface. When viewed in cross-section, the elongated body has a non-circular cross-section. The non-circular cross-section includes a plurality of lobes and a plurality of dwells. Each of the plurality of dwells is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of lobes. The thread extends radially outward with respect to the central axis from the outer surface of the elongated body between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. As the implant is screwed into the bone tissue, only the lobes on the elongated body engage the bone tissue. Because no contact exists between the dwells and the bone tissue, the amount of torque required to insert the implant is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Implant Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Reams, III, Ralph E. Goodman, Dan Paul Rogers
  • Patent number: 5902109
    Abstract: An implant for implantation into bone tissue having an exterior surface includes an elongated body and at least one thread. The elongated body has a distal end portion for being submerged in the bone tissue, a proximal end portion for being located near the exterior surface of the bone tissue, a central axis, and an outer surface. When viewed in cross-section, the elongated body has a non-circular cross-section. The non-circular cross-section includes a plurality of lobes and a plurality of dwells. Each of the plurality of dwells is disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of lobes. The thread extends radially outward with respect to the central axis from the outer surface of the elongated body between the distal end portion and the proximal end portion. As the implant is screwed into the bone tissue, only the lobes on the elongated body engage the bone tissue. Because no contact exists between the dwells and the bone tissue, the amount of torque required to insert the implant is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Implant Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Reams, III, Ralph E. Goodman, Dan Paul Rogers