Patents by Inventor Laurel Blakemore

Laurel Blakemore 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: 20220202454
    Abstract: A tether tensioner includes a handle assembly, an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly, and an engaging portion. The handle assembly includes a stationary member, a trigger pivotably coupled to the stationary member, and a spool rotatably supported on the stationary member. The spool is configured to wrap a tether thereabout. The spool is operatively coupled with the trigger such that pivoting of the trigger relative to the stationary member causes rotation of the spool. The elongate member includes a channel configured to slidably receive a tether therethrough. The engaging portion is configured to receive a head portion of a bone screw such that a tether extends from the head portion disposed in the engaging portion to the spool through the channel of the elongate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Brian Kunes, Stacy Hollins, Laurel Blakemore, Brian Hsu, John Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11298164
    Abstract: A tether tensioner includes a handle assembly, an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly, and an engaging portion. The handle assembly includes a stationary member, a trigger pivotably coupled to the stationary member, and a spool rotatably supported on the stationary member. The spool is configured to wrap a tether thereabout. The spool is operatively coupled with the trigger such that pivoting of the trigger relative to the stationary member causes rotation of the spool. The elongate member includes a channel configured to slidably receive a tether therethrough. The engaging portion is configured to receive a head portion of a bone screw such that a tether extends from the head portion disposed in the engaging portion to the spool through the channel of the elongate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Kunes, Stacy Hollins, Laurel Blakemore, Brian Hsu, John Ferguson
  • Patent number: 11246629
    Abstract: A transverse connector includes a cross member connecting assembly, and first and second spinal rod connection members rotatably coupled to opposing end portions of the cross member connecting assembly. The cross member connecting assembly includes a first band slot defined therethrough and a threaded opening extending through an upper surface of the cross member connecting assembly and into the first band slot. The cross member connecting assembly includes a band set screw threadingly engaged with the threaded opening and movable relative to the first band slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, Jr., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Patent number: 11051860
    Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, Jr., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Publication number: 20210137571
    Abstract: A tether tensioner includes a handle assembly, an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly, and an engaging portion. The handle assembly includes a stationary member, a trigger pivotably coupled to the stationary member, and a spool rotatably supported on the stationary member. The spool is configured to wrap a tether thereabout. The spool is operatively coupled with the trigger such that pivoting of the trigger relative to the stationary member causes rotation of the spool. The elongate member includes a channel configured to slidably receive a tether therethrough. The engaging portion is configured to receive a head portion of a bone screw such that a tether extends from the head portion disposed in the engaging portion to the spool through the channel of the elongate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Brian Kunes, Stacy Hollins, Laurel Blakemore, Brian Hsu, John Ferguson
  • Publication number: 20200138481
    Abstract: A tethering screw system includes a bone screw, a fastening member, and a securing member. The bone screw includes a threaded shank and a head portion. The head portion includes inner walls defining a slot and a recess distal of the slot. The fastening member is received in the recess of the head portion of the bone screw. The securing member has an engaging portion and a set screw rotatably coupled with the engaging portion. The engaging portion is configured to secure the fastening member in the recess of the head portion. The set screw is configured to threadably engage the inner walls of the head portion of bone screw, wherein when the set screw threadably engages the inner walls of the head portion of the bone screw, the engaging portion advances relative to the fastening member to secure the fastening member in the recess of the head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Laurel Blakemore, Catherine Ross
  • Publication number: 20200100816
    Abstract: A transverse connector includes a cross member connecting assembly, and first and second spinal rod connection members rotatably coupled to opposing end portions of the cross member connecting assembly. The cross member connecting assembly includes a first band slot defined therethrough and a threaded opening extending through an upper surface of the cross member connecting assembly and into the first band slot. The cross member connecting assembly includes a band set screw threadingly engaged with the threaded opening and movable relative to the first band slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, Jr., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Patent number: 10548639
    Abstract: A tethering screw system includes a bone screw, a fastening member, and a securing member. The bone screw includes a threaded shank and a head portion. The head portion includes inner walls defining a slot and a recess distal of the slot. The fastening member is received in the recess of the head portion of the bone screw. The securing member has an engaging portion and a set screw rotatably coupled with the engaging portion. The engaging portion is configured to secure the fastening member in the recess of the head portion. The set screw is configured to threadably engage the inner walls of the head portion of bone screw, wherein when the set screw threadably engages the inner walls of the head portion of the bone screw, the engaging portion advances relative to the fastening member to secure the fastening member in the recess of the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurel Blakemore, Catherine Ross
  • Patent number: 10390861
    Abstract: A spinal stabilization device includes a rod receiving member, a collet, a plug, and a first bone screw. The rod receiving member defines a first throughhole, a collet recess aligned with the first throughhole, and a rod receiving slot offset from the first throughhole. The collet is insertable into the collet recess and defines an aperture, a plug recess aligned with the aperture, and a wall portion defining a rod securing slot configured to fix the spinal rod therein. The collet is transitionable between a first diameter, where the rod securement region defines a first diameter, and a second diameter, where the rod securement region defines a second diameter. The plug is insertable within the plug recess, and transitions the collet between the first and second diameters. The first bone screw includes a head portion and a threaded portion, and is insertable through the rod receiving member and the collet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurel Blakemore, Robert Gaines, Rune Hedlund, Jwalant Mehta, Kan Min, Hilali Noordeen, Brandon Moore
  • Publication number: 20190247100
    Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, JR., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Patent number: 10292740
    Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, Jr., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Publication number: 20180064469
    Abstract: A tethering screw system includes a bone screw, a fastening member, and a securing member. The bone screw includes a threaded shank and a head portion. The head portion includes inner walls defining a slot and a recess distal of the slot. The fastening member is received in the recess of the head portion of the bone screw. The securing member has an engaging portion and a set screw rotatably coupled with the engaging portion. The engaging portion is configured to secure the fastening member in the recess of the head portion. The set screw is configured to threadably engage the inner walls of the head portion of bone screw, wherein when the set screw threadably engages the inner walls of the head portion of the bone screw, the engaging portion advances relative to the fastening member to secure the fastening member in the recess of the head portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Laurel Blakemore, Catherine Ross
  • Publication number: 20180028240
    Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, JR., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Publication number: 20170333084
    Abstract: A spinal stabilization device includes a rod receiving member, a collet, a plug, and a first bone screw. The rod receiving member defines a first throughhole, a collet recess aligned with the first throughhole, and a rod receiving slot offset from the first throughhole. The collet is insertable into the collet recess and defines an aperture, a plug recess aligned with the aperture, and a wall portion defining a rod securing slot configured to fix the spinal rod therein. The collet is transitionable between a first diameter, where the rod securement region defines a first diameter, and a second diameter, where the rod securement region defines a second diameter. The plug is insertable within the plug recess, and transitions the collet between the first and second diameters. The first bone screw includes a head portion and a threaded portion, and is insertable through the rod receiving member and the collet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Laurel Blakemore, Robert Gaines, Rune Hedlund, Jwalant Mehta, Kan Min, Hilali Noordeen, Brandon Moore
  • Patent number: 9795421
    Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, Jr., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus
  • Publication number: 20170007299
    Abstract: A system for securing a flexible member to a vertebra includes a flexible member, a fixation member, and an inserter. The flexible member includes two ends. The fixation member includes a head and a shank that defines a longitudinal axis of the fixation member. The head defines a slot that passes through the head orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The slot receives a portion of the flexible member. The inserter includes a handle and a tubular member that has proximal and distal end portion. The proximal end portion is attached to the handle and the distal end portion extends from the handle. The tubular member defines a passage between the proximal and distal end portions. The distal end portion includes a couple for receiving the head of the fixation member with the portion of the flexible member received in the slot of the flexible member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Gregory Mundis, JR., Han Jo Kim, John Ferguson, Laurel Blakemore, Michael Barrus