Patents by Inventor Michael Black

Michael Black 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: 11172967
    Abstract: A fastener, for example a bone screw, is sized to pass into an aperture of an implant, for example, a bone plate, the fastener having an anchor portion engageable with body tissue, and a head portion formed by an assembly of an insert and an anchor extension. The insert and anchor extension cooperate to form a reduced dimension passable into the aperture, and an expanded dimension not passable out of the aperture. The size of the assembly may be configurable, for example, by tabs, ramped surfaces, or an expanding diameter of a threadable insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Black, Matthew Hansell, Jon Suh
  • Patent number: 11167797
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a vehicle structural component that has a plurality of open cells surrounding an open center section. The open center section comprises a multi-corner open center. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, extruding a vehicle structural component from a metallic material, wherein the vehicle structural component includes a plurality of open cells surrounding an open center section, and wherein the plurality of open cells each comprise a polygonal cross-section and the open center section comprises a multi-corner open center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Krish E. Aekbote, Michael Black, Maria J. Heirtzler
  • Patent number: 11127163
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically obtaining pose and shape parameters of a human body. The method includes obtaining a sequence of digital 3D images of the body, recorded by at least one depth camera; automatically obtaining pose and shape parameters of the body, based on images of the sequence and a statistical body model; and outputting the pose and shape parameters. The body may be an infant body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignees: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V., MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN
    Inventors: Nikolas Hesse, Sergi Pujades, Javier Romero, Michael Black
  • Patent number: 11090093
    Abstract: A fastener, for example a bone screw, is sized to pass through a hole of an implant, for example a bone plate, the fastener having a shaft or anchor portion engageable with body tissue, and a head portion. A locking cap secures to the bone plate and covers the head to block the head and inhibit screw back out. Alternatively, or additionally, a locking disc located in the plate hole resiliently deflects downward to allow screw insertion, but is blocked to limit or prevent upward deflection so that screw back out is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Black
  • Patent number: 11077284
    Abstract: Ureteral catheters and assemblies are provided including: a drainage lumen including a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's ureter and/or kidney, the distal portion including a coiled retention portion including at least a first coil having a first diameter and a second coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter; or wherein the retention portion extends radially outwardly from a portion of the distal end of the drainage lumen portion, the retention portion including a proximal end having a first diameter, a distal end having a second diameter, and a wall and/or surface extending therebetween, the retention portion having a second diameter is greater than the first diameter when deployed; or wherein the retention portion includes a plurality of drainage tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Inventors: John R. Erbey, II, Jacob L. Upperco, Michael Allen Fisher, Patrick William Strane, Lance Michael Black
  • Patent number: 11045623
    Abstract: Ureteral catheters and assemblies are provided including: a drainage lumen including a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's ureter and/or kidney, the distal portion including a coiled retention portion including at least a first coil having a first diameter and a second coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter; or wherein the retention portion extends radially outwardly from a portion of the distal end of the drainage lumen portion, the retention portion including a proximal end having a first diameter, a distal end having a second diameter, and a wall and/or surface extending therebetween, the retention portion having a second diameter is greater than the first diameter when deployed; or wherein the retention portion includes a plurality of drainage tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: John R. Erbey, II, Jacob L. Upperco, Michael Allen Fisher, Patrick William Strane, Lance Michael Black
  • Publication number: 20210145535
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for illuminating a patient's face during performing anesthesia (or other medical procedures) may comprise mounting a lighting device to a breathing circuit having a mask or an intubation tube. A clamp having two clips may be used to mount the lighting device, which may be a glowstick. One clip may hold the glow stick, while the other clip may mount the device to an appropriate portion of the breathing circuit. In use, the user (anesthesiologist) would activate the lighting device (e.g., glowstick) and attach (mount) the lighting device to the breathing circuit using the clamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Boaz Barry Groman, Michael Black
  • Publication number: 20210138190
    Abstract: A negative pressure therapy system is provided for inducing negative pressure in a portion of a urinary tract of a patient, the system including: (a) at least one ureteral catheter configured to be positioned within a ureter and/or kidney of a patient; (b) one or more sensor(s) configured to determine information about urine produced within a urinary tract of the patient; and (c) a controller configured to increase urine production of the patient by adjusting one or more operating parameters of a negative pressure source for inducing negative pressure through the at least one ureteral catheter into the urinary tract of the patient, based at least in part upon the information determined by the one or more sensor(s).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: John R. Erbey, II, Jacob L. Upperco, Michael Alan Fisher, Patrick William Strane, Lance Michael Black
  • Publication number: 20210134042
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for indexing a database of human body shapes, wherein the human body shapes are represented in terms of coefficient vectors in a geometric body space. The method includes predicting, for human body shapes in the database, a vector of word ratings, based on parameters of the human body shape, using a mapping between the geometric body space and a linguistic body space, wherein the linguistic body space is represented in terms of body descriptor words; and storing the body descriptor words and their predicted rating values in the database with each human body shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Stephan STREUBER, Maria Alejandra QUIRÓS RAMÍREZ, Michael BLACK, Silvia ZUFFI, Alice O'TOOLE, Matthew Q. HILL, Carina A. HAHN
  • Publication number: 20210128208
    Abstract: A bone stabilizing plate includes two plate portions, each affixable to bones of a patient, the plate portions telescoping together with mating rails and grooves. A limiter associated with one of the plate portions sliding engages one a catch associated with the other of the plate portions, when the plate portions are telescoped together, and resists stops telescoping when the plate portions are telescoped a predetermined distance apart. Once the limiter and catch are engaged, the plate portions enable imposition of a minimum compressive force between bones connected to the plates. The limiter is resiliently positioned to deflect into a relief formed in its respective plate portion. A groove positioned proximate the catch enables free telescoping motion limited by the engagement of the catch and limiter, whereby the minimum compressive force between bones is maintained, and Wolfe's Law may apply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Angelucci, Michael Black, Brian Garvey, James Himmelberger, Colm McLaughlin, Robert W. Trout
  • Publication number: 20210114663
    Abstract: An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a vehicle structural component that has a plurality of open cells surrounding an open center section. The open center section comprises a multi-corner open center. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, extruding a vehicle structural component from a metallic material, wherein the vehicle structural component includes a plurality of open cells surrounding an open center section, and wherein the plurality of open cells each comprise a polygonal cross-section and the open center section comprises a multi-corner open center.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Tau Tyan, Krish E. Aekbote, Michael Black, Maria J. Heirtzler
  • Patent number: 10980970
    Abstract: Ureteral catheters and assemblies are provided including: a drainage lumen including a proximal portion configured to be positioned in at least a portion of a patient's urethra and a distal portion configured to be positioned in a patient's ureter and/or kidney, the distal portion including a coiled retention portion including at least a first coil having a first diameter and a second coil having a second diameter, the first diameter being less than the second diameter; or wherein the retention portion extends radially outwardly from a portion of the distal end of the drainage lumen portion, the retention portion including a proximal end having a first diameter, a distal end having a second diameter, and a wall and/or surface extending therebetween, the retention portion having a second diameter is greater than the first diameter when deployed; or wherein the retention portion includes a plurality of drainage tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventors: John R. Erbey, II, Jacob L. Upperco, Michael Allen Fisher, Patrick William Strane, Lance Michael Black
  • Publication number: 20210097529
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for setting a fixed currency conversion rate for a transaction, as determined during authorization of the transaction. One exemplary method includes receiving a clearing file for the transaction, where the clearing file includes a clearing transaction amount based on a final transaction amount for the transaction and a clearing currency conversion rate. The method also includes determining a billing transaction amount for the transaction based on the final transaction amount and the fixed currency conversion rate, and appending the billing transaction amount to the clearing file so that a user associated with an account used in the transaction is billed based on the fixed currency conversion rate instead of the clearing currency conversion rate. The method then also includes reconciling a difference between the billing transaction amount and the clearing transaction amount with the issuer as part of settlement of funds for the transaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Brian O'Sullivan, Theodore Michael Black
  • Patent number: 10945775
    Abstract: The invention encompasses a bone screw for use in the human body including a shaft having a threaded region along at least a portion of its length and a screw head including a locking mechanism to secure the screw, for example to a bone plate. In certain embodiments, the thread has an outer diameter dimensioned to pass through the screw hole in the implant. The screw head is configured to cooperatively engage at least a portion of the screw hole of the implant so as to prevent the screw from coming out of the implant and avoided soft tissue damage and other complications associated with unintended screw removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Black, Jon Suh
  • Patent number: 10918825
    Abstract: Ureteral catheters and assemblies are provided including: a proximal portion; and a distal portion, the distal portion including a retention portion, wherein the retention portion includes an inwardly facing side including one or more drainage ports and an outwardly facing side, and wherein, when negative pressure is applied through the ureteral catheter, fluid is drawn into the ureteral catheter through the one or more drainage ports while mucosal tissue is prevented from appreciably occluding the one or more drainage ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: John R. Erbey, II, Jacob L. Upperco, Michael Allen Fisher, Patrick William Strane, Lance Michael Black
  • Patent number: 10915695
    Abstract: A system and method includes dividing content of an electronic document into components. A document type of the electronic document is identified by comparing a document score against a document type criterion, the document score being based on a combination of a component score of each of the components. A user interface provides an indication of the document type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Taleghani, Kevin Michael Black, Kevin Roland Powell, Laura Licari, Leah Joy Brown, Domenic J. Cipollone, Paul Rustam Karimov, Robert Andrew Little, Sean Aubrey Oldridge
  • Patent number: 10905475
    Abstract: A bone stabilizing plate includes two plate portions, each affixable to bones of a patient, the plate portions telescoping together with mating rails and grooves. A limiter associated with one of the plate portions sliding engages one a catch associated with the other of the plate portions, when the plate portions are telescoped together, and resists stops telescoping when the plate portions are telescoped a predetermined distance apart. Once the limiter and catch are engaged, the plate portions enable imposition of a minimum compressive force between bones connected to the plates. The limiter is resiliently positioned to deflect into a relief formed in its respective plate portion. A groove positioned proximate the catch enables free telescoping motion limited by the engagement of the catch and limiter, whereby the minimum compressive force between bones is maintained, and Wolfe's Law may apply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Angelucci, Michael Black, Brian Garvey, James Himmelberger, Colm McLaughlin, Robert W. Trout
  • Publication number: 20210018669
    Abstract: A reflective wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of wires 12 on a face of a substrate 11, with channels 15 between adjacent wires 12. The wires 12 can have certain characteristics for WGP performance, such as index of refraction, alternating high/low index continuous thin films, thickness of layer(s), duty cycle, reflective rib shape, a curved side of transparent ribs 21 or 32, aspect ratio, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel Bacon-Brown, Michael Black, R. Stewart Nielson, Bradley R. Williams, Benjamin Downard, Jeffrey H. Rice, Jim Pierce
  • Patent number: 10860782
    Abstract: A system and method includes dividing content of an electronic document into components. A document type of the electronic document is identified by comparing a document score against a document type criterion, the document score being based on a combination of a component score of each of the components. A user interface provides an indication of the document type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ali Taleghani, Kevin Michael Black, Kevin Roland Powell, Laura Licari, Leah Joy Brown, Domenic J. Cipollone, Paul Rustam Karimov, Robert Andrew Little, Sean Aubrey Oldridge
  • Publication number: 20200349572
    Abstract: Provided herein is a method for monitoring message content processed over a payment processor for a cardholder using a rules engine computing device. The rules engine computing device is associated with the payment processor that maintains a transaction history database that includes records for a plurality of payment transactions, and each of the records including a payment account number (PAN), a merchant identifier, and a transaction amount. The method includes (i) receiving a message from a registration computing device indicating that the cardholder is enrolled in a transaction monitoring service; (ii) associating the at least one PAN with the transaction monitoring service; (iii) querying the transaction history database to retrieve records including the at least one PAN; (iv) identifying a subset of transactions from the retrieved records; and (v) transmitting a list of the identified subset of transactions to at least one of the cardholder and the registration computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel Brian O'Sullivan, Theodore Michael Black, JR.