Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Freeman

Thomas B. Freeman 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: 20100234891
    Abstract: A novel surgical screw is presented as a polyaxial, multiaxial, or monoaxial screw. The polyaxial screw allows versatile angulation between a bone anchor section and a screw body and allows the surgeon to attach a rod to the invention in a top-loading manner and manipulate the rod to accommodate a patient's body and the surgical goals. The screw uses a rod saddle to seat a rod, and permits the surgeon to sagitally manipulate the rod. After implantation of the screw and insertion of the rod, a locking screw is used to fix the angle and position of the rod and screw body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, Wesley M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100179658
    Abstract: A intervertebral body device for supporting adjacent vertebrae includes a vertebral body member having at least one containment portion and one communicating portion. The containment portion and communication portion provide two distinct functional regions within the cage. One region of the cage provides for the use of a biologic material, and the region of the cage provides holes in the side or the front of the cage in order to allow bony ingrowth into that portion of the cage. Where numerous segments are needed, these components can be arranged in any combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, Wesley M. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100152857
    Abstract: An inter-vertebral cage with a wedge shape eccentrically located on the leading end of the cage. The ectopically shaped leading edge of this embodiment facilitates easier interbody spacer placement with less risk of nerve injury, as well as with likely decreased risk of destruction of the end plate during the distraction process when the interbody cage is impacted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, Wesley Johnson
  • Patent number: 7699854
    Abstract: This document discusses trajectory guides that include an instrument guide with at least one lumen angled with respect to an orthogonal or other through-axis. In one example, patterned lumens on the instrument guide provide a mirror image pattern of trajectory axes intersecting a target plane. In another example, height adjustment of the instrument guide extends these or other targeting techniques to a three-dimensional volume. This document also describes a method of manufacturing such an instrument guide, which is also applicable to manufacturing an instrument guide providing parallel lumens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy A. Mazzocchi, Matthew S. Solar, Thomas B. Freeman
  • Patent number: 7416885
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to tumor cell lines useful for increasing the proliferation potential of any human or animal cell in culture, thereby providing immortalized or continuous cell lines and cultures. The invention also concerns proliferation factors, and compositions containing the factors, which are capable of increasing the proliferation potential of any human or other animal cell in culture. The subject invention further pertains to a method for proliferation cells in culture by contacting cells with the proliferation factors. The proliferated cells can range in plasticity and can include, for example, blast cells, fertilized ova, non-fertilized gametes, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, precursor or progenitor cells, and highly specialized cells. Optionally, the cells can be induced to cease proliferation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignees: University of South Florida, University of Chile
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, Pablo Caviedes, Raul Caviedes
  • Publication number: 20080175828
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to tumor cell lines useful for increasing the proliferation potential of any human or animal cell in culture, thereby providing immortalized or continuous cell lines and cultures. The invention also concerns proliferation factors, and compositions containing the factors, which are capable of increasing the proliferation potential of any human or other animal cell in culture. The subject invention further pertains to a method for proliferating cells in culture by containing cells with the proliferation factors. The proliferated cells can range in plasticity and can include, for example, blast cells, fertilized ova, non-fertilized gametes, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, precursor or progenitor cells, and highly specialized cells. Optionally, the cells can be induced to cease proliferation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, Pablo Caviedes, Raul Caviedes
  • Patent number: 7323333
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for inhibiting process formation and extension by cells in culture. The subject invention further includes cultures of process-forming cells wherein formation and extension of processes have been inhibited. In another aspect, the subject invention concerns methods of transplantation using process-forming cells that have been cultured by the process-inhibiting methods of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignees: University of South Florida, University of Chile
    Inventors: Pablo Caviedes, Raul Caviedes, Thomas B. Freeman, Juan A. Asenjo, Barbara A. Andrews, Dario SepĂșlveda, Christian Arriagada, Julio Salazar Rivera
  • Publication number: 20040219666
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to materials and methods for inhibiting process formation and extension by cells in culture. The subject invention further includes cultures of process-forming cells wherein formation and extension of processes have been inhibited. In another aspect, the subject invention concerns methods of transplantation using process-forming cells that have been cultured by the process-inhibiting methods of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Pablo Caviedes, Raul Caviedes, Thomas B. Freeman, Juan A. Asenjo, Barbara A. Andrews, Dario Sepulveda, Christian Arriagada, Julio Salazar Rivera
  • Publication number: 20040167543
    Abstract: This document discusses trajectory guides that include an instrument guide with at least one lumen angled with respect to an orthogonal or other through-axis. In one example, patterned lumens on the instrument guide provide a mirror image pattern of trajectory axes intersecting a target plane. In another example, height adjustment of the instrument guide extends these or other targeting techniques to a three-dimensional volume. This document also describes a method of manufacturing such an instrument guide, which is also applicable to manufacturing an instrument guide providing parallel lumens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Rudy A. Mazzocchi, Matthew S. Solar, Thomas B. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20040109879
    Abstract: The present invention is a novel alternative use of the rabies vaccine for the purposes of suppressing herpes outbreaks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, G. Michael Nauert
  • Publication number: 20030232752
    Abstract: The subject invention pertains to tumor cell lines useful for increasing the proliferation potential of any human or animal cell in culture, thereby providing immortalized or continuous cell lines and cultures. The invention also concerns proliferation factors, and compositions containing the factors, which are capable of increasing the proliferation potential of any human or other animal cell in culture. The subject invention further pertains to a method for proliferation cells in culture by contacting cells with the proliferation factors. The proliferated cells can range in plasticity and can include, for example, blast cells, fertilized ova, non-fertilized gametes, embryonic stem cells, adult stem cells, precursor or progenitor cells, and highly specialized cells. Optionally, the cells can be induced to cease proliferation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas B. Freeman, Pablo Caviedes, Raul Caviedes, Paul R. Sanberg, Don F. Cameron