Patents by Inventor John B. Sledge

John B. Sledge 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: 8323345
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a cage device for performing spinal fusion, including, in some embodiments: a housing defining one or more ports that is selectively disposed in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae; one or more extensible retention structures that are selectively advanced out of the housing through the one or more ports and into one or more endplates of the adjacent vertebrae; and one or more actuation mechanisms for selectively advancing the one or more extensible retention structures out of the housing through the one or more ports and into the one or more endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: U.S. Spine, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Sledge
  • Publication number: 20090209989
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a micro-flail assembly and associated method of use for the preparation of a nucleus/vertebral end cap of a spine. The micro-flail assembly is utilized in the formation of a nucleus/vertebral end cap between adjacent vertebrae while simultaneously protecting an adjacent annulus with a protective sheath. The protective sheath also acts as a guide while the micro-flail assembly is pivoted to form the end cap. Advantageously, the present invention can be utilized with a variety of surgical procedures including minimally invasive surgery. The formation of the end cap can be done in preparation of providing an insert device (e.g., bone graft, cage, artificial disc, or the like).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: U. S. SPINAL TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Doris M. BLAKE, John B. SLEDGE
  • Publication number: 20090210061
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cage device for performing spinal fusion, including: a housing defining one or more ports that is selectively disposed in an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae; one or more extensible retention structures that are selectively advanced out of the housing through the one or more ports and into one or more endplates of the adjacent vertebrae; and one or more actuation mechanisms for selectively advancing the one or more extensible retention structures out of the housing through the one or more ports and into the one or more endplates of the adjacent vertebrae. In one exemplary embodiment, the one or more actuation mechanisms consist of at least one worm gear/mandrel pair. The one or more extensible retention structures are selectively advanced out of the housing through the one or more ports and into the one or more endplates of the adjacent vertebrae with a rotational motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: U. S. SPINAL TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventor: John B. Sledge