Patents by Inventor Keith A. Heier

Keith A. Heier 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).

  • Publication number: 20240130769
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Patent number: 11937859
    Abstract: A plantar bone plate and a method are provided for treating fractures of metatarsal bones. The plantar bone plate comprises a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface. Two or more fixation apertures and a compression slot are disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member. The fixation apertures receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to a metatarsal bone. The compression slot receives a fastener at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion. A curvature along the elongate member is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone. In one embodiment, the curvature is comprised of at least a first bend and a second bend, such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5th metatarsal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Patent number: 11857235
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Publication number: 20220409249
    Abstract: A plantar bone plate and a method are provided for treating fractures of metatarsal bones. The plantar bone plate comprises a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface. Two or more fixation apertures and a compression slot are disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member. The fixation apertures receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to a metatarsal bone. The compression slot receives a fastener at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion. A curvature along the elongate member is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone. In one embodiment, the curvature is comprised of at least a first bend and a second bend, such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5th metatarsal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Patent number: 11426217
    Abstract: A plantar bone plate and a method are provided for treating fractures of metatarsal bones. The plantar bone plate comprises a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface. Two or more fixation apertures and a compression slot are disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member. The fixation apertures receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to a metatarsal bone. The compression slot receives a fastener at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion. A curvature along the elongate member is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone. In one embodiment, the curvature is comprised of at least a first bend and a second bend, such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5th metatarsal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Publication number: 20210259753
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Patent number: 11020159
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Publication number: 20190321086
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Applicant: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Publication number: 20190231403
    Abstract: A plantar bone plate and a method are provided for treating fractures of metatarsal bones. The plantar bone plate comprises a generally elongate member having an upper surface and a lower, bone contact surface. Two or more fixation apertures and a compression slot are disposed along a longitudinal dimension of the elongate member. The fixation apertures receive fasteners suitable for fastening the plantar bone plate to a metatarsal bone. The compression slot receives a fastener at an oblique angle for compressing adjacent portions of the metatarsal bone so as to encourage bone fusion. A curvature along the elongate member is configured to mate the plantar bone plate with the anatomy of the plantar aspect of the metatarsal bone. In one embodiment, the curvature is comprised of at least a first bend and a second bend, such that the plantar bone plate mates with the plantar anatomy of the 5th metatarsal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Patent number: 10349992
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl
  • Publication number: 20170348033
    Abstract: A differential compression bone screw and a method are provided for compressing adjacent bone portions together to encourage bone fusion. The compression bone screw is comprised of a head portion and a shank. A center hole extends from the head portion to a distal end of the shank. A superior end of the head portion includes a shaped opening that receives a tool for driving the compression bone screw into a hole drilled in a patient's bone. An inferior end of the head portion includes barbs that engage with surrounding bone tissue. A smooth portion of the shank is disposed between proximal threads and distal threads that rotatably engage within the hole in the patient's bone. A thread pitch of the distal threads is greater than a thread pitch of the proximal threads, such that the compression bone screw comprises a differential pitch configured to compress the adjacent bone portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: In2Bones USA, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin E. Varner, Keith A. Heier, Travis W. Hanson, Casey M. Chambers, Rebecca Hawkins Wahl