Patents by Inventor Scott A. Nield

Scott A. Nield 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).

  • Method of treating intervertebral discs by inserting a diffuser directly into the annulus
    Patent number: 6562028
    Abstract: A method of controllably heating the annulus of an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an access channel through the annulus of an intervertebral disc while avoiding the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, inserting a light-emitting diffuser into the annulus, and activating the light-emitting diffuser to emit diffuse light while maintaining the light-emitting diffuser within the access channel to raise the temperature of the annulus to a value sufficient to cause a change in the characteristics of the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Indigo Medical, Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott A. Nield, Ronald J. Kolata, Martin J. Reynolds, Paul G. Ritchie, Julianne M. Siegel
  • Method of treating intervertebral discs using optical energy and optical temperature feedback
    Patent number: 6503269
    Abstract: A method of controllably heating the annulus of an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an access channel through the annulus, inserting a light source into the intervertebral disc, activating the light source to emit diffuse light, optically measuring the temperature of tissue near the light source, and modifying the intensity of the light emitted from the source according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventors: Scott A. Nield, Ronald J. Kolata, Martin A. Reynolds, Paul G. Ritchie, Julianne M. Siegel
  • Method of treating intervertebral discs using optical energy and optical temperature feeback
    Publication number: 20020045922
    Abstract: A method of controllably heating the annulus of an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an access channel through the annulus, inserting a light source into the intervertebral disc, activating the light source to emit diffuse light, optically measuring the temperature of tissue near the light source, and modifying the intensity of the light emitted from the source according to the measured temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Scott A. Nield, Ronald J. Kolata, Martin A. Reynolds, Paul G. Ritchie, Julianne M. Siegel
  • Method of treating intervertebral discs by inserting a diffuser directly into the annulus
    Publication number: 20010056278
    Abstract: A method of controllably heating the annulus of an intervertebral disc is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of forming an access channel through the annulus of an intervertebral disc while avoiding the nucleus of the intervertebral disc, inserting a light-emitting diffuser into the annulus, and activating the light-emitting diffuser to emit diffuse light while maintaining the light-emitting diffuser within the access channel to raise the temperature of the annulus to a value sufficient to cause a change in the characteristics of the annulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventors: Scott A. Nield, Ronald J. Kolata, Martin J. Reynolds, Paul G. Ritchie, Julianne M. Siegel