Patents by Inventor Michael Wallick

Michael Wallick 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: 8998987
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to orthopedic implants including a porous, non-metallic, bone interface or outer bone contacting surface adapted for promoting bone ingrowth into the pores of such surface. The present disclosure also relates to orthopedic implants having a porous, non-metallic and/or polymeric bone interface or outer bone contacting surface wherein the implant has a stiffness that approaches or substantially matches the stiffness of the surrounding bone and thereby reduces the effects of stress shielding. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making such implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Wallick
  • Patent number: 8927616
    Abstract: Methods of forming polymeric articles using plasma treated polymer resins, and orthopedic implants comprising a polymeric article wherein the polymeric article has reactive groups bonded to polymer molecules in an interior region of the polymeric article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Thomas, Donald L. Yakimicki, Oludele O. Popoola, Michael Wallick
  • Patent number: 8814567
    Abstract: Dental implants made at least in part of a porous tantalum material for enhancing the osseointegration of the dental implant into surrounding bone. For example, there is provided a dental implant which includes a porous tantalum portion and an outer portion having a color generally replicating the color of natural teeth. The dental implant further comprises a core portion and the porous tantalum portion at least partially surrounds the core portion. An esthetic portion is disposed at least the outer portion and the porous tantalum portion is disposed for at least partially reinforcing the esthetic portion. After implantation of the implant, bone tissue may osseointegrate into the porous tantalum portion to anchor the implant in position within the surrounding bone. Other embodiments of implants are provided, each implant including at least a portion thereof formed of porous tantalum for improved osseointegration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer Dental, Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Zhang, Michael Wallick, Jeffrey A. Bassett, Michael Collins
  • Publication number: 20140031496
    Abstract: Methods of forming polymeric articles using plasma treated polymer resins, and orthopedic implants comprising a polymeric article wherein the polymeric article has reactive groups bonded to polymer molecules in an interior region of the polymeric article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Thomas, Donald L. Yakimicki, Oludele O. Popoola, Michael Wallick
  • Publication number: 20130345827
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to orthopedic implants including a porous, non-metallic, bone interface or outer bone contacting surface adapted for promoting bone ingrowth into the pores of such surface. The present disclosure also relates to orthopedic implants having a porous, non-metallic and/or polymeric bone interface or outer bone contacting surface wherein the implant has a stiffness that approaches or substantially matches the stiffness of the surrounding bone and thereby reduces the effects of stress shielding. The present disclosure also relates to methods of making such implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicants: Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Wallick
  • Publication number: 20120313270
    Abstract: Injection molding units and methods of delivering a cooled molding material to portions of an injection molding unit are disclosed. An injection molding unit can comprise a barrel having a feed zone, a feeding portion configured for dispensing a molding material into the feed zone, and a cooling apparatus configured for cooling at least one of the feed zone or the feeding portion to a temperature that is selected to avoid or reduce bridging or obstruction of the molding material. The cooling apparatus can include a jacket configured to cover at least a portion of the feed zone or the feeding portion. The injection molding unit can further comprise an insulation shield. A method can comprise feeding the molding material into the feed zone and cooling the molding material prior to dispensing it into the feed zone or while it is in the feed zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Wallick, Brian H. Thomas, Brion R. Mimnaugh
  • Publication number: 20120109301
    Abstract: Methods of forming polymeric articles using plasma treated polymer resins, and orthopedic implants comprising a polymeric article wherein the polymeric article has reactive groups bonded to polymer molecules in an interior region of the polymeric article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER, INC.
    Inventors: Brian Thomas, Donald Yakimicki, Oludele Popoola, Michael Wallick
  • Patent number: 7512883
    Abstract: A “virtual video studio”, as described herein, provides a highly portable real-time capability to automatically capture, record, and edit a plurality of video streams of a presentation, such as, for example, a speech, lecture, seminar, classroom instruction, talk-show, teleconference, etc., along with any accompanying exhibits, such as a corresponding slide presentation, using a suite of one or more unmanned cameras controlled by a set of videography rules. The resulting video output may then either be stored for later use, or broadcast in real-time to a remote audience. This real-time capability is achieved by using an abstraction of “virtual cameramen” and physical cameras in combination with a scriptable interface to the aforementioned videography rules for capturing and editing the recorded video to create a composite video of the presentation in real-time under the control of a “virtual director.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wallick, Yong Rui, Le-wei He
  • Publication number: 20080050699
    Abstract: Dental implants made at least in part of a porous tantalum material for enhancing the osseointegration of the dental implant into surrounding bone. For example, there is provided a dental implant which includes a porous tantalum portion and an outer portion having a color generally replicating the color of natural teeth. The dental implant further comprises a core portion and the porous tantalum portion at least partially surrounds the core portion. An esthetic portion is disposed at least the outer portion and the porous tantalum portion is disposed for at least partially reinforcing the esthetic portion. After implantation of the implant, bone tissue may osseointegrate into the porous tantalum portion to anchor the implant in position within the surrounding bone. Other embodiments of implants are provided, each implant including at least a portion thereof formed of porous tantalum for improved osseointegration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Kai Zhang, Michael Wallick, Jeffrey Bassett, Michael Collins
  • Publication number: 20070111165
    Abstract: A prosthetic dental device has an inner portion formed of an inner material and an outer portion formed of an outer material that covers at least a part of the inner portion. The inner material is substantially different from the color of natural teeth while the outer material is substantially the same color as natural teeth. Both the inner material and the outer material comprise a polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Michael Wallick, Kai Zhang, Jeffrey Bassett
  • Publication number: 20060005136
    Abstract: A “virtual video studio”, as described herein, provides a highly portable real-time capability to automatically capture, record, and edit a plurality of video streams of a presentation, such as, for example, a speech, lecture, seminar, classroom instruction, talk-show, teleconference, etc., along with any accompanying exhibits, such as a corresponding slide presentation, using a suite of one or more unmanned cameras controlled by a set of videography rules. The resulting video output may then either be stored for later use, or broadcast in real-time to a remote audience. This real-time capability is achieved by using an abstraction of “virtual cameramen” and physical cameras in combination with a scriptable interface to the aforementioned videography rules for capturing and editing the recorded video to create a composite video of the presentation in real-time under the control of a “virtual director.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Wallick, Yong Rui, Li-wei He