Patents by Inventor Michael Wack

Michael Wack 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: 20080147066
    Abstract: A system for fixing bone using an intramedullary nail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Serene H. Longsworth, Michael A. Wack
  • Publication number: 20070191848
    Abstract: A hydrogel bone plate spacer is provided for placement between a bone plate and an underlying bone to form a fracture fixation construct at a bone fracture site. The spacer includes a hydrogel able to absorb fluid from the fracture site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Wack, Lisa Schroder, Hallie Brinkerhuff
  • Publication number: 20050261555
    Abstract: Apparatus (20, 120, 300) and methods for use in the performance of minimally invasive orthopaedic procedures, including apparatus and methods for use in the performance of such procedures under the visualization of an endoscope (22), are herein disclosed. Such procedures include a minimally invasive intramedullary nailing procedure, a minimally invasive bone graft harvesting procedure, a minimally invasive pelvic osteotomy procedure, an orthopaedic implant revision procedure, and a minimally invasive percutaneous bone plating procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 24, 2005
    Inventors: Pamela Guzman, Michael Wack, Dale Schulze, Gary Knight, Christopher Hess, Rudolph Nobis, Michael Clem, Ronald Kolata
  • Publication number: 20050177153
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in the performance of minimally invasive orthopaedic procedures, including apparatus and methods for use in the performance of such procedures under the visualization of an endoscope, are herein disclosed. Such procedures include a minimally invasive intramedullary nailing procedure, a minimally invasive bone graft harvesting procedure, a minimally invasive pelvic osteotomy procedure, an orthopaedic implant revision procedure, and a minimally invasive percutaneous bone plating procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Pamela Guzman, Michael Wack, Dale Schulze, Gary Knight, Christopher Hess, Rudolph Nobis, Michael Clem, Ronald Kolata
  • Publication number: 20050177159
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for use in the performance of minimally invasive orthopaedic procedures, including apparatus and methods for use in the performance of such procedures under the visualization of an endoscope, are herein disclosed. Such procedures include a minimally invasive intramedullary nailing procedure, a minimally invasive bone graft harvesting procedure, a minimally invasive pelvic osteotomy procedure, an orthopaedic implant revision procedure, and a minimally invasive percutaneous bone plating procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Publication date: August 11, 2005
    Inventors: Pamela Guzman, Michael Wack, Dale Schulze, Gary Knight, Christopher Hess, Rudolph Nobis, Michael Clem, Ronald Kolata
  • Publication number: 20050049594
    Abstract: A system for percutaneous fracture repair of a bone is provided. The system includes a plate having a first feature and a second feature. The first feature and the second feature are spaced apart from each other. The plate defines a longitudinal axis of the plate. The system also includes a first attachment component operably associated with the first feature. The first attachment component cooperates with the bone. The system also includes a second attachment component operably associated with the second feature. The second attachment component is percutaneously inserted into the second feature. The second attachment component is operably associated with the plate to provide a compressive force in the bone. The compressive force has a component of the force in the longitudinal axis. The second attachment component is adapted for cooperation with the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Wack, Pamela Guzman, Dennis Stoller, Christopher Bremer, Rebecca Oberst, Mark Fenton, George Haidukewych, Lawrence Bone, Roy Sanders
  • Patent number: 6699290
    Abstract: A modular elbow prosthesis includes a humeral and ulnar components and three bearing components. The ulnar component includes a stem and a body including a slot. Two of the three bearing components include flanges that mate with the slot of the ulnar component. The humeral component includes a stem and two arms extending from one end of the stem. An opening is formed in each arm and in two of the three bearing components. The modular elbow may be used in an unconstrained mode by attaching one bearing component to the ulnar component and the other to the humeral component by inserting a pin through the openings in the arms and the bearing component. The two bearing components are then placed adjacent each other such that they articulate about their bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Wack, Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, D. Steven Block, Austin W. Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20040030339
    Abstract: A fracture repair system for engagement with a bone having a condylar portion and a shaft portion is provided. The system includes a plate. The plate includes a head portion and a body portion. The head portion has an internal wall defining a head hole therethrough and is adapted for cooperation with the condylar portion. The body portion has an internal wall defining a body hole through the wall. The system further includes a bushing having a generally spherical exterior surface adapted for cooperation with the head hole and an opposed interior surface defining a passageway through the bushing. The exterior surface of the bushing and the head hole of the plate are configured to permit polyaxial rotation of the bushing within the head hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Michael A. Wack, Pamela C. Guzman, Dennis A. Stoller, Christopher K. Bremer, Mark A. Fenton, Lawrence B. Bone, Roy W. Sanders
  • Publication number: 20030208277
    Abstract: A modular elbow prothesis includes a humeral component, an ulnar component and three bearing components. The ulnar component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of an ulna and a body including a slot. Two of the three bearing components include flanges that mate with the slot of the ulnar component. The humeral component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of the humerus and two arms extending from one end of the stem. An opening is formed in each arm and in two of the three bearing components. The modular elbow may be used in an unconstrained mode by attaching one bearing component to the ulnar component and the other to the humeral component by inserting a pin through the openings in the arms and the bearing component. The two bearing components are then placed adjacent each other such that they articulate about their bearing surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, D. Steven Block, Michael A. Wack, Austin W. Mutchler
  • Publication number: 20030004513
    Abstract: A bone plating apparatus includes a handle having extending therefrom a tissue expander for insertion through a skin incision and through the subcutaneous tissue surrounding a fractured bone. A bone plate may be secured to the handle during advancement of the tissue expander so as to deliver the bone plate to a desired location proximate to the fractured bone. Both the tissue expander and the bone plate may be advanced to the desired location proximate to the fractured bone under the visualization of an endoscope. A screw alignment jig is secured to the handle and has a guide hole which aligns with an access hole of the tissue expander. The alignment of the guide hole and the access hole allow for percutaneous screw insertion into the delivered bone plate. A method for plating a fractured bone is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Inventors: Pamela C. Guzman, Michael A. Wack, Dale R. Schulze, Gary W. Knight, Christopher J. Hess, Rudolph H. Nobis, Michael F. Clem, Ronald J. Kolata
  • Publication number: 20020156474
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a fracture repair system for engagement with a bone is provided. The system includes a plate. The plate has a body portion and an internal wall defining a plate hole through the body portion. The system also includes one or more bushings having a radially exterior surface and an opposite radially interior surface defining a passageway. The exterior surface of the bushings and the interior wall of the plate are configured to permit polyaxial rotation of the bushings within the plate hole. The system also includes an attachment component having a distal portion sized for clearance passage through the passageway and into the bone and an opposite proximate portion sized to press the bushings against the internal wall of the plate to form a friction lock between the bushings and the plate in a selected polyaxial position. The attachment component is positionable in an orientation extending divergently from the center of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Michael Wack, Lawrence B. Bone, Roy W. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6290725
    Abstract: A modular elbow prothesis includes a humeral component, an ulnar component and three bearing components. The ulnar component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of an ulna and a body including a slot. Two of the three bearing components include flanges that mate with the slot of the ulnar component. The humeral component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of the humerus and two arms extending from one end of the stem. An opening is formed in each arm and in two of the three bearing components. The modular elbow may be used in an unconstrained mode by attaching one bearing component to the ulnar component and the other to the humeral component by inserting a pin through the openings in the arms and the bearing component. The two bearing components are then placed adjacent each other such that they articulate about their bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, D. Steven Block, Michael A. Wack, Austin W. Mutchler
  • Patent number: 6126659
    Abstract: An instrument and method are provided for compacting bone chips into a prepared metaphyseal portion of a femur, in order to conform the femur to receive a femoral implant stem. The instrument comprises a tamping stem having a shape and size corresponding to the implant stem. The instrument also comprises a plurality of wedge-shaped enlarging portions ranging from largest to smallest. The method involves selecting appropriate sized enlarging portions, attaching the largest wedges to the instrument, placing the instrument into the femur, supplying bone chips, impacting the instrument to compact bone chips, and repeating compaction with successively smaller wedges until the femur is conformed to receive the femoral implant stem. Once inserted into the femur, the distal end of the instrument remains in contact with the diaphysis throughout the bone chip compaction process. Thus, bone chips cannot enter the diaphysis, and the instrument remains in proper alignment throughout the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Wack
  • Patent number: 6027534
    Abstract: A modular elbow prothesis includes a humeral component, an ulnar component and three bearing components. The ulnar component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of an ulna and a body including a slot. Two of the three bearing components include flanges that mate with the slot of the ulnar component. The humeral component includes a stem for implantation in the intramedullary canal of the humerus and two arms extending from one end of the stem. An opening is formed in each arm and in two of the three bearing components. The modular elbow may be used in an unconstrained mode by attaching one bearing component to the ulnar component and the other to the humeral component by inserting a pin through the openings in the arms and the bearing component. The two bearing components are then placed adjacent each other such that they articulate about their bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: DePuty Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Wack, Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, D. Steven Block