Patents by Inventor Steven Heinz
Steven Heinz 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).
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Patent number: 8668699Abstract: Instrumentation is disclosed for use in orthopedic surgery that is capable of use as a compressor, a distractor, and a rod bender. Two pivoting arms have ends that can be used to compress implants, bones, or bone fragments together or to distract such items apart. In orthopedic surgery in which a rod, bar, plate, or other support is used, the instrument may be used to introduce bends into such supports so that the orthopedic structures (e.g. vertebrae) remain in a desired portion. Additional features are provided that permit verification of size of implantable items and packing of material in intervertebral spacers and similar devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2014Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Bradley G. Thomas, Eric Steven Heinz
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Patent number: 8062368Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclosed herein are directed to vertebral implants and methods of use. In one embodiment, the implant includes first and second end members with an intermediate cage. The cage may be inflatable such that the implant is positionable between a collapsed state with a first reduced height to facilitate insertion between the first and second vertebral members, and an extended state with a second height greater than the first height that positions the first end member against the first vertebral member and the second end member against the second vertebral member to maintain an intervertebral axial space.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 22, 2011Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Eric Steven Heinz, William Sears
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Patent number: 7967847Abstract: Spinal fusion rods extend along a longitudinal axis and include a rod portion and a fusion portion along the longitudinal axis. The fusion rods can be employed alone or in combination with one another and with other spinal implant components in spinal stabilization and reconstruction procedures.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2006Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Boyd Thomas Barker, Jr., Eric Steven Heinz
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Patent number: 7776045Abstract: An instrument for distracting vertebrae includes a shaft assembly and a distraction assembly at a distal end of the shaft assembly. The distraction assembly includes first and second distraction members movable from an unexpanded configuration for insertion toward an expanded configuration to separate the vertebrae. The shaft assembly is movable relative to the distraction assembly to facilitate placement of the distraction assembly in the disc space.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2004Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventor: Eric Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20100131020Abstract: A surgical installation tool to insert a vertebral implant into a patient includes an elongated handle and a head attached to one end. The vertebral implant may be attached to the head. The head may include an engagement member that is movable between engaged and released positions. The engagement member may be outwardly biased so that it naturally rests in the released position. The engagement member may be inwardly movable from the released position to the engaged position. A reactive force caused by the inward deflection may supply the attachment force between the installation tool and the vertebral implant. The attachment between the vertebral implant to the installation tool may be maintained while the engagement member is in the engaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2010Publication date: May 27, 2010Inventors: Eric Steven Heinz, John Stewart Young
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Patent number: 7678114Abstract: A surgical installation tool to insert a vertebral implant into a patient includes an elongated handle and a head attached to one end. The vertebral implant may be attached to the head. The head may include an engagement member that is movable between engaged and released positions. The engagement member may be outwardly biased so that it naturally rests in the released position. The engagement member may be inwardly movable from the released position to the engaged position. A reactive force caused by the inward deflection may supply the attachment force between the installation tool and the vertebral implant. The attachment between the vertebral implant to the installation tool may be maintained while the engagement member is in the engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Inventors: Eric Steven Heinz, John Stewart Young
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Publication number: 20090270987Abstract: Illustrative embodiments disclosed herein are directed to vertebral implants and methods of use. In one embodiment, the implant includes first and second end members with an intermediate cage. The cage may be inflatable such that the implant is positionable between a collapsed state with a first reduced height to facilitate insertion between the first and second vertebral members, and an extended state with a second height greater than the first height that positions the first end member against the first vertebral member and the second end member against the second vertebral member to maintain an intervertebral axial space.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: Eric Steven Heinz, William Sears
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Patent number: 7578823Abstract: A delivery tool and method for placing bone growth material at an operative location a patient is provided. The delivery tool includes a housing having a chamber for receiving the bone growth material and a delivery mechanism operably coupled to the housing to displace the bone growth material through the chamber to a distal opening of the chamber for delivery to the operative site.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2005Date of Patent: August 25, 2009Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventor: Eric Steven Heinz
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Patent number: 7575588Abstract: An occipital plating system includes a plate extending along a longitudinal axis. The plate is engageable to the occiput, and includes at least one coupling member laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The coupling member extends along a portion of the length of the plate. The at least one coupling member includes a passage to receive a connecting element. The coupling member is structured to at least medially and laterally constrain a portion of a length of the connecting element positioned in the passage.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2003Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic Inc.Inventors: B. Thomas Barker, Eric Steven Heinz, Ian Farey
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Patent number: 7427264Abstract: Methods and instruments for performing surgery in a patient are provided that minimize tissue dissection and retraction to access locations within the patient. One specific application concerns devices, instruments and techniques that provide for selective retraction of tissue, neural elements, organs or other anatomical structures at locations distally of the retractor sleeve providing percutaneous access to the locations.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2005Date of Patent: September 23, 2008Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Adrian Mack Nowitzke, Eric Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20080133016Abstract: A prosthetic implant is disclosed that includes at least one electrode mounted on an outside surface of the prosthetic implant and a connection terminal electrically connected with the electrode. A surgical instrument having a gripping member is used to selectively grip the prosthetic implant. The gripping member includes at least one connector oriented to be connected with the connection terminal of the prosthetic implant when the gripping member is secured to the prosthetic implant. An electrical stimulation signal generator is connected with the surgical instrument for providing electrical stimulation signals to the electrodes of the prosthetic implant thereby allowing a surgeon to neurologically monitor the implantation procedure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2006Publication date: June 5, 2008Inventor: Eric Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20080114457Abstract: A connector device and method are provided to connect at least one implant and at least one device to one another. One or both of the implant and device can be temporary for removal either during the surgery or in a subsequent procedure, or permanently implanted in the body of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2006Publication date: May 15, 2008Inventors: Boyd Thomas Barker, Eric Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20080021461Abstract: Spinal fusion rods extend along a longitudinal axis and include a rod portion and a fusion portion along the longitudinal axis. The fusion rods can be employed alone or in combination with one another and with other spinal implant components in spinal stabilization and reconstruction procedures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2006Publication date: January 24, 2008Inventors: Boyd Thomas Barker, Eric Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20050160421Abstract: A standard reporting schema to represent applications and other information on a computer in a hierarchical manner, such as via an XML (extensible markup language) file. An agent or engine is provided to inventory a computer for installed applications or services and to output a report, or log file, conforming to the schema standard. A calculation may be performed on a subset of attributes stored in the log file for an application or a service so as generate a signature representing the subset. The signature may be stored with the log file, and may be accessed quickly in a database to determine whether or not the application is a particular application, or, if more particular resources are defined, to determine more specific information, such as whether the application is a particular version or run of the application.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2005Publication date: July 21, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Vadim Bluvshteyn, Michael Sciacqua, Donald Munsil, Corneliu Lupu, Maoni Stephens, Mark Carroll, Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20050044057Abstract: A standard reporting schema to represent applications and other information on a computer in a hierarchical manner, such as via an XML (extensible markup language) file. An agent or engine is provided to inventory a computer for installed applications or services and to output a report, or log file, conforming to the schema standard. A calculation may be performed on a subset of attributes stored in the log file for an application or a service so as generate a signature representing the subset. The signature may be stored with the log file, and may be accessed quickly in a database to determine whether or not the application is a particular application, or, if more particular resources are defined, to determine more specific information, such as whether the application is a particular version or run of the application.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2003Publication date: February 24, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Vadim Bluvshteyn, Michael Sciacqua, Donald Munsil, Corneliu Lupu, Maoni Stephens, Mark Carroll, Steven Heinz
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Publication number: 20040153070Abstract: An occipital plating system includes a plate extending along a longitudinal axis. The plate is engageable to the occiput, and includes at least one coupling member laterally offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the plate. The coupling member extends along a portion of the length of the plate. The at least one coupling member includes a passage to receive a connecting element. The coupling member is structured to at least medially and laterally constrain a portion of a length of the connecting element positioned in the passage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2003Publication date: August 5, 2004Inventors: B. Thomas Barker, Eric Steven Heinz, Ian Farey
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Patent number: D599895Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2008Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Inventors: Eric Steven Heinz, Frank Lee Long