Patents by Inventor Norbert Johnson

Norbert Johnson 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: 12688579
    Abstract: System and method of registering a medical image of a patient in an imaging space to the patient in a physical space preferably without the use of any embedded radiopaque fiducials in medical images is provided. In one way, intra-op 2D medical images are used to register a pre-op unregistered 3D medical image. The 2D medical images are registered based on simultaneous tracking of the tracking markers on the imaging device and on the patient by a tracking device at the time of image capture. The 2D images are matched to corresponding simulated 2D images generated from the pre-op 3D image volume. Thus, registration of a pre-op 3D image to the patient is accomplished without performing another 3D scan of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Johnson, Paden Troxell, Caroline Conrad, Mert Erad, Nicholas Maritato, Michael Brauckmann, Neil R. Crawford
  • Patent number: 12678293
    Abstract: An interbody spacer configured for implantation between spinal vertebrae. The interbody spacer including electrical circuitry within an electronics housing of the interbody spacer and a plurality of load sensors spaced apart on carriers of the interbody spacer. The plurality of load sensors electrically connectable to the electrical circuitry and configured to provide to the electrical circuitry a load signal indicative of a measurement of force exerted onto the plurality of load sensors of the interbody spacer. The interbody spacer further including a plurality of electrodes spaced apart on a surface of the interbody spacer. The plurality of electrodes electrically connectable to the electrical circuitry and configured to at least one of provide to the electrical circuitry an electrode signal indicative of an impedance measurement and generate an electrical field between at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Paden Troxell, David C. Paul, Norbert Johnson
  • Publication number: 20260191652
    Abstract: Custom patient-specific interbody implants, systems, and methods of generating custom implants. The implants may include upper and lower surfaces with an irregular surface topography, which are custom contoured to match the adjacent vertebral endplates of a specific patient. The method may include uploading images of the spine for the patient and processing the images into a virtual three-dimensional model of the spine including topography of individual vertebral bodies. The user may automatically and/or manually manipulate the virtual three-dimensional model to pre-operatively simulate a desired correction to the spine. The virtual implant model may be generated based on the desired correction and the topography of adjacent vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2026
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: George Yacoub, Norbert Johnson, Sanjay Joshi, Cassie Rapp, Caleb Goneau, Jody L. Seifert, Bess Lorman, Neil Crawford
  • Publication number: 20260191650
    Abstract: Custom patient-specific interbody implants, systems, and methods of generating custom implants. The implants may include upper and lower surfaces with an irregular surface topography, which are custom contoured to match the adjacent vertebral endplates of a specific patient. The method may include uploading images of the spine for the patient and processing the images into a virtual three-dimensional model of the spine including topography of individual vertebral bodies. The user may automatically and/or manually manipulate the virtual three-dimensional model to pre-operatively simulate a desired correction to the spine. The virtual implant model may be generated based on the desired correction and the topography of adjacent vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: George Yacoub, Norbert Johnson, Sanjay Joshi, Cassie Rapp, Caleb Goneau, Jody L. Seifert, Bess Lorman, Neil Crawford
  • Publication number: 20260191651
    Abstract: Custom patient-specific interbody implants, systems, and methods of generating custom implants. The implants may include upper and lower surfaces with an irregular surface topography, which are custom contoured to match the adjacent vertebral endplates of a specific patient. The method may include uploading images of the spine for the patient and processing the images into a virtual three-dimensional model of the spine including topography of individual vertebral bodies. The user may automatically and/or manually manipulate the virtual three-dimensional model to pre-operatively simulate a desired correction to the spine. The virtual implant model may be generated based on the desired correction and the topography of adjacent vertebral bodies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2025
    Publication date: July 9, 2026
    Inventors: George Yacoub, Norbert Johnson, Sanjay Joshi, Cassie Rapp, Caleb Goneau, Jody L. Seifert, Bess Lorman, Neil Crawford
  • Patent number: 12672926
    Abstract: A drill guide fixture may be configured to prepare a skull for attachment of a cranial insertion fixture. The drill guide fixture may include a central drill guide and a bone anchor guide at a base of the drill guide fixture. The central drill guide may define a central drill guide hole therethrough, wherein the central drill guide hole has a first opening at a base of the drill guide fixture and a second opening spaced apart from the base of the drill guide fixture. The bone anchor drill guide may define a bone anchor drill guide hole therethrough, and the bone anchor drill guide hole may be offset from the central drill guide hole in a direction that is perpendicular with respect to a direction of the central drill guide hole. Related cranial insertion fixtures, robotic systems, and methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Hayden Cameron, Stephen Cicchini, Danielle Reinhard, Spiros Mantzavinos, James Cascarano, Neil Crawford, Raul Wirz, Francisco Ponce, Patrick Senatus, Arnold Vardiman, Norbert Johnson
  • Patent number: 12667441
    Abstract: Active end-effectors for guiding an instrument during a robot-assisted surgery. The surgical robot system may include a robot having a robot base, a robot arm coupled to the robot base, and the active end-effector coupled to the robot arm. The active end-effector may have a slide mechanism, which may provide for a greater range of motion of a surgical instrument along a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Johnson, Neil R. Crawford, Steven Chang
  • Patent number: 12661196
    Abstract: A surgical robot system includes a surgical robot, a robot arm connected to such surgical robot, and an end-effector connected to the robot arm. A registration fixture is used in conjunction with various registration systems in the surgical robot system. Such registration systems likewise include a detachable base in the form of a detachable dynamic reference base, along with an associated mount, the dynamic reference base and mount having certain features which permit the dynamic reference base to be selectively attached, detached, and reattached at different phases of an operation, whether pre-operative or intra-operative, and such successive attachments are done without the dynamic reference base, and tracking markers associated therewith, losing registration. Related methods allow for the more efficient and effective performance of operations by virtue of the dynamic reference base maintaining its registration during attachments and reattachments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Hayden Cameron, Spiros Mantzavinos, Neil R. Crawford, Sanjay Joshi, Norbert Johnson, James Cascarano, Justin Larson
  • Patent number: 12661150
    Abstract: Systems providing robotic bending used to bend a surgical rod are disclosed. Such systems may include a processor and memory coupled with the processor. The memory includes computer readable program code so that when the computer readable program code is executed by the processor, the processor performs operations including providing a set of transformation points corresponding to respective attachment implants, generating a bend plan for the surgical rod based on the set of transformation points, and generating an image output to render the set of transformation points and the bend plan on a display. Related methods and computer program products are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Sritam Parashar Rout, Norbert Johnson, Olivier Chappuis, David Cleary, Samuel Paster, Michael Brauckmann, Kyle VanLeer
  • Patent number: 12657769
    Abstract: A computer implemented method includes obtaining a plurality of 2D images of an object implanted in a patient and obtaining a computer-aided design (CAD) model corresponding to the object. The method further includes augmenting a 3D scan of the patient to provide a representation of the CAD model with a pose in a reference system of the 3D scan determined based on pose of the object in the 2D images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanjay M. Joshi, Norbert Johnson, Samuel Paster
  • Patent number: 12653631
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for automatically exchanging a first end-effector on a robot arm with a second end-effector housed in a docking station. The first end-effector has a clamp that either engages or disengages the robot arm based upon an application of force of the robot arm onto the end-effector. The clamp has a spring loaded clip that disengages the first end-effector to allow the robot arm to move away from the released first end-effector. The robot arm is configured to automatically move to a port of a docking station housing the desired second end-effector using magnetic coils on the robot arm and the docking station to guide the robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil R. Crawford, Norbert Johnson
  • Patent number: 12657702
    Abstract: System and method of registering a medical image of a patient in an imaging space to the patient in a physical space preferably without the use of any embedded radiopaque fiducials in medical images is provided. In one way, intra-op 2D medical images are used to register a pre-op unregistered 3D medical image. The 2D medical images are registered based on simultaneous tracking of the tracking markers on the imaging device and on the patient by a tracking device at the time of image capture. The 2D images are matched to corresponding simulated 2D images generated from the pre-op 3D image volume. Thus, registration of a pre-op 3D image to the patient is accomplished without performing another 3D scan of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Norbert Johnson, Paden Troxell, Caroline Conrad, Mert Erad, Nicholas Maritato, Michael Brauckmann, Neil R. Crawford
  • Publication number: 20260157712
    Abstract: A medical imaging system includes a movable station having a C-arm, a collector, an X-ray beam emitter, and a controller. The collector is attached to a first end of the C-arm. The X-ray beam emitter faces the collector to emit an X-ray beam in a direction of the collector and is attached to a second end of the C-arm. The controller moves one of the X-ray beam emitter and the collector to a first offset position along a lateral axis orthogonal to the arc, and obtains a first set of images by rotating the collector and the X-ray beam emitter along the arc about a scanned volume. The controller moves the one of the X-ray beam emitter and the collector to a second offset position along the lateral axis, and obtains a second set of images. The controller combines the first and second set of images to generate a three-dimensional image of the scanned volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2025
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Neil R. Crawford, Norbert Johnson
  • Publication number: 20260157803
    Abstract: Methods may be provided to operate an image-guided surgical system using imaging information for a 3-dimensional anatomical volume. A pose of a probe that defines a longitudinal axis may be detected based on information received from a tracking system. A placement of a virtual implant for the 3-dimensional anatomical volume may be determined based on the pose of the probe and based on an offset from an end of the probe along the longitudinal axis, such that a trajectory of the virtual implant is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the probe in the pose. After determining the placement of the virtual implant, the virtual implant may be adjusted in response to movement of the probe while maintaining the trajectory of the virtual implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2025
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Ryan Decker, Jeffrey Forsyth, Neil R. Crawford, Norbert Johnson, Mir Hussain, Andrew Berkowitz, Michael Brauckmann
  • Publication number: 20260157776
    Abstract: A system includes a screw tower, an instrument, and a housing. The instrument includes a driver shaft extendable longitudinally through the screw tower, and a threaded sleeve mounted on a proximal portion of the driver shaft. The housing includes one or more retention members coupleable to the screw tower, and a threaded button threadably coupleable to the threaded sleeve. The threaded sleeve is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to urge the driver shaft longitudinally relative to the screw tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2026
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Inventors: Matthew Bechtel, Caelan Allen, Neil R. Crawford, Thomas Calloway, Steven Chang, Norbert Johnson, Jeffrey Forsyth
  • Patent number: 12648858
    Abstract: An implant can be configured to transition between a first stable state and a second stable state. The implant can include a first surface and a second surface coupled to the first surface. The first surface can include a first structure configured to form a stable planar shape during the first stable state of the implant and to form a stable three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) shape during the second stable state of the implant. The second surface can include a second structure configured to form a stable planar shape during the first stable state of the implant and to form a stable 3D shape during the second stable state of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Paden Troxell, David C. Paul, Norbert Johnson
  • Patent number: 12642667
    Abstract: An interbody spacer configured for implantation between spinal vertebrae. The interbody spacer including electrical circuitry within an electronics housing of the interbody spacer and a plurality of load sensors spaced apart on carriers of the interbody spacer. The plurality of load sensors electrically connectable to the electrical circuitry and configured to provide to the electrical circuitry a load signal indicative of a measurement of force exerted onto the plurality of load sensors of the interbody spacer. The interbody spacer further including a plurality of electrodes spaced apart on a surface of the interbody spacer. The plurality of electrodes electrically connectable to the electrical circuitry and configured to at least one of provide to the electrical circuitry an electrode signal indicative of an impedance measurement and generate an electrical field between at least two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Paden Troxell, David C. Paul, Norbert Johnson
  • Patent number: 12642610
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for providing a degree of freedom to a guide tube associated with a robotic surgical system. The surgical robot system may be configured to have six degrees of freedom associated with a vertical lift, rotation about a shoulder, rotation about an elbow, roll of a forearm, pitch of the end-effector, and rotation of a guide tube independent from the end-effector. The robotic surgical system allows for the proper orientation of an instrument in the guide tube along a trajectory to the operational site of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Globus Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Neil R. Crawford, Norbert Johnson
  • Publication number: 20260124019
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a surgical robot system may include an end-effector element configured for controlled movement and positioning and tracking of surgical instruments and objects relative to an image of a patient's anatomical structure. In some embodiments the end-effector and instruments may be tracked by surgical robot system and displayed to a user. In some embodiments, tracking of a target anatomical structure and objects, both in a navigation space and an image space, may be provided by a dynamic reference base located at a position away from the target anatomical structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2025
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Neil R. Crawford, Christopher Major, Michael Bartelme, Norbert Johnson, Stephen Cicchini
  • Publication number: 20260114929
    Abstract: A surgical system for computer assisted navigation during surgery, includes at least one processor that obtains a 3D radiological representation of a targeted anatomical structure of a patient and a set of fiducials of a registration fixture. The operations attempt to register locations of the set of fiducials in the 3D radiological representation to a 3D imaging space tracked by a camera tracking system. Based on determining one of the fiducials of the set has a location that was not successfully registered to the 3D imaging space, the operations display at least one view of the 3D radiological representation with a graphical overlay indicating the fiducial has not been successfully registered to the 3D imaging space, receive user-supplied location information identifying where the fiducial is located in the 3D radiological representation, and register the location of the fiducial to the 3D imaging space based on the user-supplied location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2024
    Publication date: April 30, 2026
    Inventors: Douglas Legere, Norbert Johnson, Gerd Schmieta, Thomas Calloway, Dana Wisniewski, Dale Earle, Ryan Fischer