Patents by Inventor Steven D. Ainsworth

Steven D. Ainsworth 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: 7905908
    Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: TranS1, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
  • Patent number: 7717958
    Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Trans1, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
  • Patent number: 7662173
    Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Transl, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
  • Patent number: 7530993
    Abstract: Surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine. A method of treating the spine, comprising the steps of percutaneously accessing an anterior target site on the surface of the sacrum, forming a lumen from the access site through the sacrum, through a disc and into at least one vertebra, advancing a fusion device comprising a distal portion, a proximal portion and an intermediate portion between the distal and proximal portion through the anterior target site on the surface of the sacrum and into the spine, rotating the distal portion of the device into a superior vertebral body and the proximal portion of the device in an inferior vertebral body to increase a distance between the superior and inferior vertebral bodies, and inserting through a percutaneous access site a posterior column fixation device into the spine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: TranS1 Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Andrew H Cragg
  • Publication number: 20090105768
    Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: TRANS1
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
  • Patent number: 7500977
    Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: TranS1 Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Andrew L. Cragg, Eugene A. Dickhudt
  • Patent number: 7491236
    Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Trans1, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman
  • Patent number: 7473256
    Abstract: Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: TranS1 Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Andrew L. Cragg, Eugene A. Dickhudt
  • Publication number: 20080188895
    Abstract: A spinal mobility preservation apparatus and methods are disclosed. The spinal mobility preservation apparatus may include a proximal body, an intermediate body, a distal body, and an expandable membrane. The proximal body and the distal body secure the mobility preservation apparatus to adjacent vertebral bodies. At least one of an intermediate body and an expandable membrane secure the proximal body to the distal body and provide a degree of support to a spinal motion segment defined by the adjacent vertebral bodies. A single proximal body and an expandable membrane may also compose a spinal mobility preservation apparatus. The proximal body secured to one of a superior or an inferior vertebral body and the expandable membrane extending into the intervertebral disc space to support the spinal motion segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew H. Cragg, Robert L. Assell, Steven D. Ainsworth, Eugene A. Dickhudt, Bradley J. Wessman