Patents by Inventor Robert Thomas Grotz

Robert Thomas Grotz 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: 20180028319
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a resilient implant for implantation into human or animal joints to act as a cushion allowing for renewed joint motion. The implant endures variable joint forces and cyclic loads while reducing pain and improving function after injury or disease to repair, reconstruct, and regenerate joint integrity. The implant is deployed in a prepared debrided joint space, secured to at least one of the joint bones and expanded in the space, molding to surrounding structures with sufficient stability to avoid extrusion or dislocation. The implant has opposing walls that move in varied directions, and an inner space filled with suitable filler to accommodate motions which mimic or approximate normal joint motion. The implant pads the damaged joint surfaces, restores cushioning immediately and may be employed to restore cartilage to normal by delivering regenerative cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Applicant: iOrthopedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz
  • Patent number: 9872778
    Abstract: An expandable medical implant is provided with an implantable cage body. The proximal and distal ends of the cage body may each be provided with a tapered or cam portion. The implant may further include a proximal flexure, a distal flexure, a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, and a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body. The proximal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands. The distal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: IORTHOPEDICS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz
  • Patent number: 9861494
    Abstract: An expandable medical implant is provided with an implantable cage body. Methods for stabilizing and correcting the alignment of a spine with an expandable medical implant are provided. The proximal and distal ends of the cage body may each be provided with a tapered or cam portion. The implant may further include a proximal flexure, a distal flexure, a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, and a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body. The proximal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands. The distal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: IORTHOPEDICS, INC.
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz
  • Publication number: 20170333202
    Abstract: An expandable medical implant is provided with an implantable cage body. Methods for stabilizing and correcting the alignment of a spine with an expandable medical implant are provided. The proximal and distal ends of the cage body may each be provided with a tapered or cam portion. The implant may further include a proximal flexure, a distal flexure, a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, and a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body. The proximal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands. The distal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: iOrthopedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz
  • Publication number: 20170312088
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to restoring joints by deploying a resilient interpositional arthroplasty implant. Such implants function to pad cartilage defects, cushion, and replace or restore the articular surface, which may preserve joint integrity, reduce pain and improve function. The implant may endure variable joint compressive and shear forces and cyclic loads. The implant may repair, reconstruct, and regenerate joint anatomy, and thereby improve upon joint replacement alternatives. The walls of this invention may capture, distribute and hold living cells until aggregation and hyaline cartilage regrowth occurs. The implant may be deployed into debrided joint spaces, molding and conforming to surrounding structures with sufficient stability so as to enable immediate limb use after outpatient surgery. Appendages of the implant may repair or reconstruct tendons or ligaments, and menisci by interpositional inflatable or compliant polymer arthroplasties that promote anatomic joint motion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: iOrthopedics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz
  • Publication number: 20170216049
    Abstract: An expandable medical implant is provided with an implantable cage body. The proximal and distal ends of the cage body may each be provided with a tapered or cam portion. The implant may further include a proximal flexure, a distal flexure, a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, and a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body. The proximal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands. The distal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Thomas GROTZ
  • Patent number: 9622878
    Abstract: An expandable medical implant is provided with an implantable cage body. The proximal and distal ends of the cage body may each be provided with a tapered or cam portion. The implant may further include a proximal flexure, a distal flexure, a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, and a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body. The proximal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands. The distal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz
  • Publication number: 20160135960
    Abstract: An expandable medical implant is provided with an implantable cage body. The proximal and distal ends of the cage body may each be provided with a tapered or cam portion. The implant may further include a proximal flexure, a distal flexure, a proximal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the proximal end of the cage body, and a distal plug member having a tapered portion configured to mate with the tapered portion of the distal end of the cage body. The proximal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the distal flexure moves and the circumference of the proximal end of the cage body resiliently expands. The distal plug member may be configured to move longitudinally such that the proximal flexure moves and the circumference of the distal end of the cage body resiliently expands. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Thomas GROTZ
  • Patent number: 5782865
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a medical device for securing bodily tissues to bone, and more particularly to a triangular shaped joint stabilizer comprising sharpened, toothed bone anchors that are forcibly spread into the bone by a central plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Grotz