Patents by Inventor Michael Fulton

Michael Fulton 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: 9265532
    Abstract: The present invention provides spinous process implant and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect of the invention, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. The spacer is provided in a variety of lengths and superior to inferior surface spacings. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and a cerclage element offset from the midline of the spacer in use so that the spacer defines a fulcrum and the cerclage element is operative to impart a moment to the vertebrae about the spacer. In another aspect of the invention, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects of the invention, methods for treating spine disease are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Lamborne, Justin Taber, Michael Fulton, Joseph Maddux
  • Patent number: 9247968
    Abstract: The present invention provides spinous process implant and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect of the invention, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. In another aspect of the invention, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects of the invention, methods for treating spine disease are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Taber, Andrew Lamborne, Michael Fulton, Jeff Thramann
  • Publication number: 20150351813
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spinal implant for placement between adjacent processes of the human spine. In some embodiments the spinal implant includes a spacer and one or more retention members. In some embodiments, the retention members are fixed relative to the spacer and in other embodiments the retention members are deployable from a first or compact or stowed position to a second or expanded or deployed position. In some embodiments the spacer is expandable from a first size to a second size. In some embodiments the spacer has a tapered body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew LAMBORNE, Lawrence BINDER, Terry ZIEMEK, Michael FULTON, Jeffrey J THRAMANN, Robert E. LINS
  • Patent number: 9119682
    Abstract: The described apparatus and method include a bone plating system comprising a plate longitudinally extending between a first plate end and a second plate end, wherein the plate further comprises a first plate surface spaced apart from an opposing second plate surface. Further, the bone plating system further includes a first spacer segment longitudinally extending between a first spacer end and a second spacer end, wherein the first spacer segment is shaped to adapt the plate to conform to an adjacent bone segment surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: LANX, INC.
    Inventors: Caleb Stoll, Morgan Lorio, Michael Fulton
  • Patent number: 9055981
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spinal implant for placement between adjacent processes of the human spine. In some embodiments the spinal implant includes a spacer and one or more retention members. In some embodiments, the retention members are fixed relative to the spacer and in other embodiments the retention members are deployable from a first or compact or stowed position to a second or expanded or deployed position. In some embodiments the spacer is expandable from a first size to a second size. In some embodiments the spacer has a tapered body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Lamborne, Lawrence Binder, Terry Ziemek, Michael Fulton, Jeffery Thramann, Robert Lins
  • Publication number: 20150157365
    Abstract: A bone fastener assembly for connecting a bone to a stabilizing construct includes a connecting member, a fastener seat, and a bone fastener. The connecting member includes a connecting member axis, a first opening, a second opening, and a first spherical surface. The connecting member axis extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The first opening is adjacent the proximal end. The second opening is adjacent the distal end. The fastener seat includes a first end, a second end, a passageway, and a second spherical surface. The passageway extends from the first end to the second end along a seat axis. The second spherical surface is configured to slidably engage the first spherical surface. The bone fastener includes a shank and a head. The shank extends though the passageway. The head engages a head-mating surface of the fastener seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Laurence McKinley, Michael Fulton, Gregory Causey, Jeffrey Thramann, Damon Belloni, Terry Ziemek, Alan Burkholder
  • Publication number: 20150087332
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a device that comprises a receiver and a movement sensor, the method comprising (a) deactivating the receiver; (b) while the receiver is deactivated, analyzing measurements from the movement sensor to determine a measure of the distance the device has moved from a first location; and (c) in the event that it is determined from the measurements from the movement sensor that the device has moved from the first location by more than a threshold distance, activating the receiver and using the receiver to obtain a second measurement of the location of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Marten Jeroen Pijl, Paul Michael Fulton, Heribert Baldus
  • Patent number: 8961568
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bone fastener assembly useful in constructs for stabilizing bones of a patient. In one aspect of the invention, a bone fastener assembly includes a connecting member, a fastener seat, and a bone fastener. The fastener seat and fastener are receivable in the connecting member and the fastener seat is movable from a first position to a second position to retain the fastener in the connecting member. In another aspect of the invention, a bone fastener assembly includes a rod holder, a fastener seat mounted to the rod holder for rotation about the rod holder axis; and a bone, fastener. The bone fastener is generally “T”-shaped and engages the fastener seat in pivoting relationship such that the bone fastener is able to pivot to vary the angle between the bone fastener and the fastener seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence McKinley, Michael Fulton, Gregory Causey, Jeffery Thramann, Damon Belloni, Terry Ziemek, Alan Burkholder
  • Patent number: 8920475
    Abstract: Various spinal fixation assemblies are presented that include a separator installable in relation to a coupler attached to the head of an anchor device, and disposable between the head of the anchor device and a cross member. The separators may be implemented in a variety of forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Ziemek, Greg Causey, Michael Fulton
  • Patent number: 8778001
    Abstract: A cervical plate having backout or reverse threading protection is provided. The cervical plate has one screw bores through which at least one screw extends to anchor the cervical plate to a vertebra. The plate further has at least one channel with at least one engaging edge. A cover plate has a cover plate that extends over a portion of a screw head of the screw. The cover plate also has a locking extension with at least one locking edge at a distal end. The locking extension is inserted into the channel such that the engaging edge and the locking edge engage and hold the cover plate such that the cover plate edge is substantially adjacent the portion of the screw head preventing the screw from backing out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Thramann, Michael Fulton
  • Publication number: 20140120950
    Abstract: There is therefore provided a method of estimating the location of a mobile device, the mobile device being configured for use in a cellular mobile communications network comprising a plurality of base stations, the method comprising generating a database of locations visited by the mobile device by obtaining measurements of the position of the mobile device over time using a satellite-based positioning system; obtaining the identity of the base station serving the mobile device at the time of each measurement of the position of the mobile device; and analyzing the measurements to identify locations visited by the mobile device, each location being associated with a particular base station, such that the mobile device is attached to said base station when at said location; and during subsequent use of the mobile device, in the event that it is not possible to use the satellite-based positioning system to measure the position of the mobile device, estimating the location of the mobile device as one or more ide
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Michael Fulton, Martin John Edwards, Steffen Reymann, Dennis Polling, Paul Richard Simons
  • Patent number: 8696558
    Abstract: There is disclosed a retractor system to facilitate surgical access to an intervertebral disc between an inferior vertebral body and a superior vertebral body. In an embodiment, the retractor system includes an elongate member having an anchor to attach to a pedicle of an inferior vertebral body with respect to an intervertebral disc. A retractor body has a collar to attach to the elongate member, slides coupled to the retractor body, and a pair of blades mounted to the slides. The blades have a proximal end and a distal end, a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of each one of the blades configured for displacing tissue for access to an intervertebral disc. An attachment portion is adjacent the proximal end of each one of the blades for attaching one of the slides thereto. Geometry of the blade end conforms to anatomy surrounding the pedicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Parker, Jeffery Thramann, Michael Fulton, Jeffrey Henn, Saman P. Javedan
  • Patent number: 8652181
    Abstract: Screw back out prevention devices to inhibit screws from reverse threading or backing out are provided. The devices include first bonding materials on either a bushing in a bore of a plate or directly on the bore and second bonding materials on the screw head. The bonding materials for a bond that inhibits back out or reverse threading of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery Thramann, Michael Fulton
  • Patent number: 8506567
    Abstract: There are provided orthopedic fixation systems for attachment of a rod to bone. In an embodiment, plate having top and bottom surfaces includes at least one pocket formed through the surfaces to engage an anchor to bone. At least one arm extends from the longitudinal section of the plate. A housing portion has a base configured for slideable engagement with a course defined in the arm to allow selective positioning of the housing portion. The housing defines a passageway for slideable engagement with a rod to allow selective positioning of the rod. A ring has an inner surface for engagement with the housing portion and a lower surface for engagement with the plate. Locking apparatus is configured for engagement with the arm, housing, and rod to allow selective fixation of (1) the housing along the arm and (2) the rod and the housing with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Ziemek, Greg Causey, Michael Fulton
  • Patent number: 8486115
    Abstract: A bone plate assembly includes a plate, at least one bone screw, and at least one cap member. The screw extends into a through hole of the plate and a head of the screw seats in the through hole. The plate includes an undercut slot adjacent to the through hole. The cap includes at least one tab member that extends radially outward. The cap is mounted in the through hole with the tab member positioned in the undercut slot to inhibit the screw from backing out of the plate. In some arrangements, the tab member is rotatable within the undercut slot from an unlocked position to a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fisher, Alan Burkholder, Michael Fulton
  • Publication number: 20130053895
    Abstract: The described apparatus and method include a bone plating system comprising a plate longitudinally extending between a first plate end and a second plate end, wherein the plate further comprises a first plate surface spaced apart from an opposing second plate surface. Further, the bone plating system further includes a first spacer segment longitudinally extending between a first spacer end and a second spacer end, wherein the first spacer segment is shaped to adapt the plate to conform to an adjacent bone segment surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: LANX, INC.
    Inventors: Caleb Stoll, Morgan Lorio, Michael Fulton
  • Patent number: 8382801
    Abstract: Spinous process implants and associated methods are shown and described. In one aspect, the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. The spacer is provided in a variety of lengths and superior to inferior surface spacings. In another aspect, an implant includes a spacer and a cerclage element offset from the midline of the spacer in use so that the spacer defines a fulcrum and the cerclage element is operative to impart a moment to the vertebrae about the spacer. In another aspect, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects, methods for treating spine disease are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Lamborne, Jeff Thramann, Michael Fulton
  • Patent number: 8341643
    Abstract: Shared memory and sockets are used to protect shared resources where multiple operating systems execute concurrently on the same hardware. Rather than using spinlocks for serializing access, when a thread is unable to acquire a shared resource because that resource is already held by another thread, the thread creates a socket with which it will wait to be notified that the shared resource has been released. The sockets may be network sockets or in-memory sockets that are accessible across the multiple operating systems; if sockets are not available, communication technology that provides analogous services between operating systems may be used instead. Optionally, fault tolerance is provided to address socket failures, in which case one or more threads may fall back (at least temporarily) to using spinlocks. A locking service may execute on each operating system to provide a programming interface through which threads can invoke lock operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Fulton, Angela Lin, Andrew R. Low, Prashanth K. Nageshappa
  • Patent number: 8251902
    Abstract: There is disclosed a retractor system to facilitate surgical access to an intervertebral disc between an inferior vertebral body and a superior vertebral body. In an embodiment, the retractor system includes an elongate member having an anchor to attach to a pedicle of an inferior vertebral body with respect to an intervertebral disc. A retractor body has a collar to attach to the elongate member, slides coupled to the retractor body, and a pair of blades mounted to the slides. The blades have a proximal end and a distal end, a distance between the proximal end and the distal end of each one of the blades configured for displacing tissue for access to an intervertebral disc. An attachment portion is adjacent the proximal end of each one of the blades for attaching one of the slides thereto. Geometry of the blade end conforms to anatomy surrounding the pedicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Parker, Jeffery Thramann, Michael Fulton, Jeffrey Henn, Saman P. Javedan
  • Patent number: 8241330
    Abstract: The present invention provides spinous process implant and associated methods. In one aspect of the invention the implant limits the maximum spacing between the spinous processes. In another aspect of the invention, a spacer has at least one transverse opening to facilitate tissue in-growth. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and separate extensions engageable with the spacer. The spacer is provided in a variety of lengths and superior to inferior surface spacings. In another aspect of the invention, an implant includes a spacer and a cerclage element offset from the midline of the spacer in use so that the spacer defines a fulcrum and the cerclage element is operative to impart a moment to the vertebrae about the spacer. In another aspect of the invention, instrumentation for inserting the implant is provided. In other aspects of the invention, methods for treating spine disease are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Lanx, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Lamborne, Michael Fulton, Jeffery Thramann