Patents by Inventor Peter F. Ullrich, Jr.

Peter F. Ullrich, Jr. 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: 20120312778
    Abstract: Processes for producing interbody spinal implants having a body with a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture; and optionally, one or two integration plates affixed to the body. The processes include applying an additive process, a subtractive process, or both processes to at least one surface of the interbody spinal implant to form a roughened surface topography having a regular repeating pattern. The roughened surface topography is specifically designed to provide certain frictional characteristics, load dispersion, and to influence the biological responses that occur during bone healing and fusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120316651
    Abstract: A composite interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, and opposing anterior and posterior portions; a first integration plate affixed to the top surface of the body; and an optional second integration plate affixed to the bottom surface of the body. At least a portion of the first integration plate, optional second integration plate, or both has a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures, adapted to grip bone through friction, inhibit migration of the implant, and promote bone growth. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating a roughened surface topography, which may include separate and sequential macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson, Jennifer M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120316653
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and optionally a substantially hollow center. The implant includes at least one transverse aperture on one or more of the posterior portion, the anterior portion, and at least one of the opposing lateral sides, and if the substantially hollow center is present, one or more of the transverse apertures may be in communication with the hollow center. The transverse aperture may comprise a notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120316650
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant having at least three distinct surfaces including (1) at least one integration surface having a roughened surface topography including macro features, micro features, and nano features, without sharp teeth that risk damage to bone structures; (2) at least one graft contact surface having a coarse surface topography including micro features and nano features; and (3) at least one soft tissue surface having a substantially smooth surface including nano features. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the different surface topographies, which may include separate macro processing, micro processing, and nano processing steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson, Jennifer M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120310354
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a substantially hollow center in communication with a vertical aperture. The body, vertical aperture, and bone contact surfaces of the implant each have a surface area that may be independently varied to enhance load support and facilitate implant integration with vertebral bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120303128
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body and an integration plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a substantially hollow center in communication with a vertical aperture. The body is recessed in a way that portions of the integration plate protrude above the top and/or bottom surface of the body to enhance the resistance of the implant to expulsion from the intervertebral space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120303127
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant, such as a solid-body or composite implant, includes at least one graft contact surface as one or more of the internal surfaces of the implant. The graft contact surface, for example, having at least one ridge or groove is designed to contact and promote retention and stabilization of bone growth-inducing materials placed within the internal openings of the implant body. In addition, the ridges or grooves may influence the biological processes to promote bone healing and fusion. Also disclosed are processes of fabricating the graft contact surfaces and other surface topographies on the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Jennifer M. Schneider, Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120303129
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and defines a transverse rim. The body may be non-metallic and may form one component of a composite implant; the other component is a metal plate disposed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Charanpreet S. Bagga, Peter F. Ullrich, JR.
  • Publication number: 20120277876
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, and a substantially hollow center in communication with a vertical aperture, which are filled with a bone graft material. The dimensions, shape, and position of the vertical aperture facilitate contact between the bone graft material and vertebral endplate bone to support and enhance bone growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120245694
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface. The integration plate and implant body are joined together with a durable connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson, Michelle B. Gallagher
  • Publication number: 20120239150
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, a single vertical aperture, and a roughened surface topography on at least the top surface. The posterior portion has a generally rounded nose profile, and has a shorter height than the anterior portion such that the spinal implant comprises a lordotic angle for aligning the spine of a patient. The junctions of the top and bottom surfaces and the anterior portion comprise a sharp edge to resist expulsion of the spinal implant upon implantation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson, Jennifer M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120239154
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface. The integration plate and implant body are joined together durable, complementary tongue and groove connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120239152
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Publication number: 20120239153
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and single vertical aperture, as well as an integration plate having a roughened surface topography on its top surface. The integration plate and implant body are joined together with a durable connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Titan Spine, LLC.
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8262737
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and defines a transverse rim. The body may be non-metallic and may form one component of a composite implant; the other component is a metal plate disposed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Titan Spine, LLC
    Inventors: Charanpreet S. Bagga, Peter F. Ullrich, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120158144
    Abstract: An implant that has a predefined ratio of load bearing surface area to the overall size of the implant body and specifically to the surface area of a centrally located opening of a vertical aperture which connects to a center void area or passage defined by the implant body shape. This invention discloses a critical ratio or balance between loading of contained graft material through the hollow center or central passage of the implant and the implant's frictional load bearing or contact area with e.g., adjacent vertebral bones. Application of this invention to a spinal implant provides an improved integration and integration rate of the graft material or the fusion of the adjacent vertebral bone structures. The ratio between implant load bearing surface area and implant central opening area maximizes implant internal volume and allows a large passage disposed medial laterally to allow for radiographic verification of fusion growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Chad J. Patterson, Jennifer M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110282454
    Abstract: An interbody spinal implant including a body, the body comprising: a top surface; a bottom surface; opposing lateral sides; and opposing anterior and posterior portions; the top surface, bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, internal wall surface, and opposing anterior and posterior portions defining a substantially hollow center having a single vertical aperture defining an internal wall surface, the single vertical aperture (a) extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, (b) having a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and (c) defining a transverse rim, wherein at least a portion of the internal wall surface has a roughened surface topography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: TITAN SPINE, LLC
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Kevin W. Gemas, Chad J. Patterson, Jennifer M. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110224672
    Abstract: The present invention relates to surgical instruments particularly suitable for preparing vertebral endplates during spinal inter-body surgical procedures. Methods of using such instruments are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Orthovita, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, JR., Charanpreet S. Bagga
  • Patent number: 7947044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to surgical instruments particularly suitable for preparing vertebral endplates during spinal interbody surgical procedures. Methods of using such instruments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Orthovita, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., Charanpreet S. Bagga
  • Publication number: 20100076559
    Abstract: A composite telescoping interbody spinal implant and method of using the implant. The implant includes a cage formed of metal, a metal alloy, or both. The cage is able to change size following manufacture, and has a top plate with a plurality of posts and a bottom plate with a corresponding plurality of columns. The posts telescopically engage the columns upon assembly of the top plate with the bottom plate. The posts extend partially outside the columns when the top plate is in a raised first position with respect to the bottom plate; the posts and columns are fully engaged when the top plate is in a second position closest to the bottom plate. The implant also includes a non-metallic body inserted between the top plate and the bottom plate and defining the adjustable height of the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Charanpreet S. Bagga, Peter F. Ullrich, JR.