Patents by Inventor Robert A. KIEFER
Robert A. KIEFER 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: 12207854Abstract: An attachment device with a radially expandable section is disclosed. The attachment device can have helical threads, for example, to facilitate screwing the attachment device into a bone. Methods of using the same are also disclosed. The attachment device can be positioned to radially expand the expandable section in cancellous bone substantially surrounded by cortical bone.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, John-Paul Romano, Michael P. Igoe, Robert A. Kiefer, Wade K. Trexler
-
Patent number: 11737800Abstract: Attachment devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The attachment devices can be fenestrated. The fenestrations can control the flow of fluid out of and/or into the device.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, Robert A. Kiefer
-
Patent number: 11458669Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: ATEX Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Kiefer, Nathan Spangenberg, Stephanie Burke, Matthew Oltman, Thomas R. Molz
-
Publication number: 20220266502Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Applicant: US BioDesign, LLCInventors: Robert A. KIEFER, Nathan SPANGENBERG, Stephanie BURKE, Matthew OLTMAN, Thomas R. MOLZ
-
Patent number: 11155947Abstract: Methods and systems for braiding sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The sutures can have alternating bifurcated and non-bifurcated lengths. The sutures can have looped-ends, with both ends of the loop having contiguous braiding with the adjacent body or remainder of the suture. Braiding machines can have one or more bifurcating bars that can controllably obstruct or allow passage of the shuttle and carriers of the braiding machine. The controllable bifurcating bars can result in u-turns in the shuttle and carrier paths, such as a path encircling a horngear adjacent to the bifurcating bar, or passage of the shuttle and carrier across the bifurcating bar.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Kiefer, Nathan Spangenberg
-
Patent number: 10888363Abstract: Attachment devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The attachment devices can be fenestrated. The fenestrations can control the flow of fluid out of and/or into the device.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, Robert A. Kiefer
-
Publication number: 20200330142Abstract: Attachment devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The attachment devices can be fenestrated. The fenestrations can control the flow of fluid out of and/or into the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Applicant: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott GREENHALGH, Robert A. KIEFER
-
Publication number: 20200056312Abstract: Methods and systems for braiding sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The sutures can have alternating bifurcated and non-bifurcated lengths. The sutures can have looped-ends, with both ends of the loop having contiguous braiding with the adjacent body or remainder of the suture. Braiding machines can have one or more bifurcating bars that can controllably obstruct or allow passage of the shuttle and carriers of the braiding machine. The controllable bifurcating bars can result in u-turns in the shuttle and carrier paths, such as a path encircling a horngear adjacent to the bifurcating bar, or passage of the shuttle and carrier across the bifurcating bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2018Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Robert A. Kiefer, Nathan Spangenberg
-
Publication number: 20200015873Abstract: An attachment device with a radially expandable section is disclosed. The attachment device can have helical threads, for example, to facilitate screwing the attachment device into a bone. Methods of using the same are also disclosed. The attachment device can be positioned to radially expand the expandable section in cancellous bone substantially surrounded by cortical bone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: E. Skott GREENHALGH, John-Paul ROMANO, Michael P. IGOE, Robert A. KIEFER, Wade K. TREXLER
-
Publication number: 20190374269Abstract: Attachment devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The attachment devices can be longitudinally expandable and/or compressible. The attachment devices can have an increasable and/or decreasable length.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2019Publication date: December 12, 2019Applicant: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: Robert A. KIEFER, E. Skott GREENHALGH
-
Publication number: 20190167326Abstract: Attachment devices and methods of using the same are disclosed. The attachment devices can be fenestrated. The fenestrations can control the flow of fluid out of and/or into the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott GREENHALGH, Robert A. KIEFER
-
Publication number: 20190168441Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for changing cross-sectional sizes and/or shapes of flat braided sutures and the resulting constructs are disclosed. The flat braided sutures can have a textile first cross-sectional shape that can be changed to a textile second cross-sectional shape. The systems can have a heater and a die. The flat braided sutures can be movable through the heater and the die. When the flat braided sutures are in the heater, the flat braided sutures can be heatable from a textile first temperature to a textile second temperature greater than the textile first temperature. When the flat braided sutures are at the textile second temperature, the textile first cross-sectional shape can be changeable to the textile second cross-sectional shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: US BioDesign, LLCInventors: Robert A. KIEFER, Nathan SPANGENBERG, Stephanie BURKE, Matthew OLTMAN, Thomas R. MOLZ
-
Publication number: 20170348115Abstract: An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. The device can have multiple flat sides that remain flat during expansi A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. Devices and methods for adjusting (e.g., removing, repositioning, resizing) deployed orthopedic expandable support devices are also disclosed. The expandable support devices can be engaged by an engagement device. The engagement device can longitudinally expand the expandable support device. The expandable support device can be longitudinally expanded until the expandable support device is substantially in a pre-deployed configuration. The expandable support device can be then be physically translated and/or rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: E. Skott GREENHALGH, John-Paul ROMANO, Michael P. IGOE, Robert A. KIEFER
-
Patent number: 9770339Abstract: An expandable support device for tissue repair is disclosed. The device can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. The device can have multiple flat sides that remain flat during expansion. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. Devices and methods for adjusting (e.g., removing, repositioning, resizing) deployed orthopedic expandable support devices are also disclosed. The expandable support devices can be engaged by an engagement device. The engagement device can longitudinally expand the expandable support device. The expandable support device can be longitudinally expanded until the expandable support device is substantially in a pre-deployed configuration. The expandable support device can be then be physically translated and/or rotated.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Stout Medical Group, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, John-Paul Romano, Michael P. Igoe, Robert A. Kiefer
-
Patent number: 9149286Abstract: Devices and methods for orthopedic support are disclosed. The device can have a first rigid section hingedly attached to a second rigid section. A tunnel through the bone near the implantation target site can be created. The device can be inserted into and pass through and out of the tunnel to the target site.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Flexmedex, LLCInventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, John-Paul Romano, Robert A. Kiefer
-
Patent number: 9050112Abstract: A tissue removal device for removing hard and/or soft tissue is disclosed. The device can have an elongated rigid shaft attached to an articulating broach. The device can be inserted through a transosseous delivery channel formed in a bone. The broach can articulate after passing through the transosseous delivery channel.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2012Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: Flexmedex, LLCInventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, Robert A. Kiefer, Greg Anderson
-
Patent number: 8936627Abstract: Expandable support devices for tissue repair are disclosed. The devices can be used to repair hard or soft tissue, such as bone or vertebral discs. A method of repairing tissue is also disclosed. Surgical devices and methods for adjusting (e.g., removing, repositioning, resizing) deployed orthopedic expandable support devices are also disclosed. The expandable support devices can be engaged and surgically implanted by an engagement device and affixed to bone to provide stability and support for the devices. The expandable support devices are attachable to spinal fixation devices such as screws or plates, and may be used to support such devices when placed in weakened or damaged areas of bone.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.Inventors: Stephen H. Hochschuler, Skott E. Greenhalgh, John Paul Romano, Robert A. Kiefer, Wade Kevin Trexler, Michael P. Igoe
-
Patent number: 8636784Abstract: An attachment device with a radially expandable section is disclosed. The attachment device can have helical threads, for example, to facilitate screwing the attachment device into a bone. Methods of using the same are also disclosed. The attachment device can be positioned to radially expand the expandable section in cancellous bone substantially surrounded by cortical bone.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2008Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Stout Medical Group, LPInventors: E. Skott Greenhalgh, John-Paul Romano, Michael Paul Igoe, Robert A. Kiefer, Wade Kevin Trexler
-
Publication number: 20130053852Abstract: A tissue removal device for removing hard and/or soft tissue is disclosed. The device can have an elongated rigid shaft attached to an articulating broach. The device can be inserted through a transosseous delivery channel formed in a bone. The broach can articulate after passing through the transosseous delivery channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2012Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: Flexmedex, LLCInventors: E. Skott GREENHALGH, Robert A. KIEFER, Greg ANDERSON
-
Publication number: 20100286692Abstract: A device for radial expansion in an endoluminal cavity in a bone is disclosed. The device can be used to treat bone fractures. The device can have a first radially expandable portion and a second radially expandable portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: STOUT MEDICAL GROUP, L.P.Inventors: E. Skott GREENHALGH, John-Paul ROMANO, Robert A. KIEFER, Wade Kevin TREXLER