Patents by Inventor M. Howell

M. Howell 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: 8647385
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: James Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek
  • Publication number: 20130345845
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: OtisMed Corporation
    Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
  • Publication number: 20130297176
    Abstract: An approach to tracking the engine off time of a system including an internal combustion engine. A timer apparatus may electrically couple to the engine control unit by way of a power connection that provides electrical power to the timer apparatus from the engine control unit. The timer apparatus may include a monitor module that monitors the power connection. A timer module may begin a time interval in response to the power connection transitioning from a powered state to an unpowered state. The timer module may end the time interval in response to the power connection transitioning from the unpowered state to the powered state. A communication module may communicate the time interval to the engine control unit by switching the power connection between the high state and the low state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: CUMMINS IP, INC
    Inventors: Clayton M. Howell, William D. Meyer
  • Patent number: 8545509
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: OtisMed Corporation
    Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
  • Patent number: 8480679
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated portion of the patient bone; identifying a degenerated portion associated with a generally degenerated portion of the patient bone; and using information from at least one image associated with the reference portion to modify at least one aspect associated with at least one image associated the generally degenerated portion. The method may further include employing the computerized bone model representative of the at least a portion of the patient bone in the pre-degenerated state in defining manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of a customized arthroplasty jig. Also disclosed herein is a customized arthroplasty jig manufactured according to the above-described method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: OtisMed Corporation
    Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
  • Publication number: 20120310400
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: OtisMed Corporation
    Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell
  • Patent number: 8308780
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
  • Publication number: 20120283832
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek
  • Patent number: 8257754
    Abstract: A natural formulation of compounds that would to modulate inflammation is disclosed. The formulation would also inhibit expression of COX-2, inhibit synthesis of prostaglandins selectively in target cells, and inhibit inflammatory response selectively in target cells. The compositions containing at least one fraction isolated or derived from hops. Other embodiments relate to combinations of components, including at least one fraction isolated or derived from hops, tryptanthrin and conjugates thereof, rosemary, an extract or compound derived from rosemary, a triterpene species, or a diterpene lactone or derivatives or conjugates thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Metaproteomics, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew L. Tripp, John G. Babish, Jeffrey S. Bland, Gary K. Darland, Robert Lerman, Daniel O. Lukaczer, DeAnn J. Liska, Terrence M. Howell
  • Patent number: 8221430
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: OtisMed Corporation
    Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell
  • Patent number: 8221498
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: James Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek
  • Publication number: 20120045553
    Abstract: Flavorants are emulsified in tobacco-derived lipids and encapsulated with biopolymers and polysaccharides. The emulsions include oil-in-water emulsions, oil-in-water-in-oil emulsions, water-in oil emulsions, or water-in-oil-in-water emulsions, and optionally include ethanol and/or propylene glycol in an oil phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Tapashi Sengupta, Munmaya K. Mishra, Douglas A. Fernandez, William R. Sweeney, Tony M. Howell
  • Publication number: 20120016474
    Abstract: Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: James A. Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek, Troy M. Walters
  • Patent number: 7919125
    Abstract: A natural formulation of compounds that would to modulate inflammation is disclosed. The formulation would also inhibit expression of COX-2, inhibit synthesis of prostaglandin selectively in target cells, and inhibit inflammatory response selectively in target cells. The compositions containing at least one fraction isolated or derived from hops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Metaproteomics, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew L. Tripp, John G. Babish, Jeffrey S. Bland, Gary K. Darland, Robert Lerman, Daniel O. Lukaczer, DeAnn J. Liska, Terrence M. Howell
  • Publication number: 20100312341
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
  • Patent number: 7821227
    Abstract: An electronic disconnect switch module (12) in a motor vehicle has one or more pairs of high-current, high-side solid state switch devices (30A, 30B, 32A, and 32B). The source terminal of one device of each pair is connected to vehicle load circuits (27), the source terminal of the other device of each pair is connected to the vehicle battery bank (16), and the drain terminals of the devices of each pair are connected in common. The module also has a microcontroller (34) that interfaces the switch devices with the vehicle electrical system. Four feature groups are provided: Vehicle Electrical System Protection, Battery Charge Control, Battery Disconnect, and Battery Monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Clayton M. Howell, John D. Jervis, H. Edward Kelwaski
  • Patent number: 7776077
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicince, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
  • Patent number: 7695503
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
  • Patent number: 7682636
    Abstract: A novel formulation is provided that serves to inhibit the inflammatory response in animals. The formulation comprises, as a first component an effective amount of a curcuminoid species and an effective amount of a second component selected from the group consisting of an alpha-acid species or a beta-acid species or derivatives thereof. The composition provides synergistic anti-inflammatory effects in response to physical or chemical injury or abnormal immune stimulation due to a biological agent or unknown etiology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Metaproteomics, LLC
    Inventors: John G. Babish, Terrence M. Howell, Linda M. Pacioretty
  • Publication number: 20100049195
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: OtisMed Corporation
    Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell