Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Meredith

Thomas L. Meredith 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: 20230338616
    Abstract: A bone grinder is provided herein. The bone grinder may have a grinding chamber, an intermediate zone, and a primary cutting element and a secondary cutting element. The intermediate zone may have a first wall and a second wall within the grinding chamber, and the intermediate zone may separate the primary cutting element from the secondary cutting element. The first wall and the second wall may slope inward such that a distance between the first wall and the second wall generally decreases from the primary cutting element to the secondary cutting element. The primary cutting element and the secondary cutting element may be positioned within the grinding chamber to sequentially perform primary cutting operations and secondary cutting operations on a bone. A drive mechanism may operatively engage the primary cutting element and the secondary cutting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20230100859
    Abstract: A bone grinder is provided herein. The bone grinder may have a grinding chamber, an intermediate zone, and a primary cutting element and a secondary cutting element. The intermediate zone may have a first wall and a second wall within the grinding chamber, and the intermediate zone may separate the primary cutting element from the secondary cutting element. The first wall and the second wall may slope inward such that a distance between the first wall and the second wall generally decreases from the primary cutting element to the secondary cutting element. The primary cutting element and the secondary cutting element may be positioned within the grinding chamber to sequentially perform primary cutting operations and secondary cutting operations on a bone. A drive mechanism may operatively engage the primary cutting element and the secondary cutting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Patent number: 8512342
    Abstract: A bone grinder utilizing a removable cutter head unit for maintaining the processing of bone and for substantially precluding the main body of the bone grinder from being exposed to bone tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20120245703
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a bone composite, comprising: providing bone tissue; grinding said bone tissue to form ground tissue; molding the ground bone tissue into a bone composite; applying a binder to the bone composite; applying a vacuum to the mold, and optionally milling or refining the bone composite to the desired shape. The present invention includes the use of a carbohydrate, water, cyanoacrylate and demineralized bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20090157082
    Abstract: A bone grinder utilizing a removable cutter head unit for maintaining the processing of bone and for substantially precluding the main body of the bone grinder from being exposed to bone tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20090098092
    Abstract: Bone composite implants and the method of constructing bone composite implants are disclosed which may be used in the repair, replacement, and/or augmentation of various portions of animal or human skeletal systems. Furthermore, the bone composite implants of the present invention may be considered load-bearing implants which are incorporated into the skeletal structure of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Patent number: 7001551
    Abstract: A method of forming a bone composite, comprising: providing bone tissue; grinding said bone tissue to form ground tissue; molding the ground bone tissue into a bone composite; applying a binder to the bone composite; applying a vacuum to the mold, and optionally milling or refining the bone composite to the desired shape. Additionally, bone tissue composites made therefrom are included. The composites may be, for example, a bone pin, screw, or prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Allograft Research Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Patent number: 6755365
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bone grinding apparatus, which comprises a grinding chamber, primary and secondary cutting elements positioned within the grinding chamber to sequentially perform primary and secondary cutting operations on the bone, and a drive mechanism operatively engaging the primary and secondary cutting elements. The apparatus also includes a bone supplying cylinder engaging the grinding chamber and adapted to transport the bone to the cutting elements at a consistent pressure. The apparatus also includes a sealing component designed to operatively engage the drive mechanism and to separate the drive mechanism from the cutting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Publication number: 20030036800
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a bone composite, comprising: providing bone tissue; grinding said bone tissue to form ground tissue; molding the ground bone tissue into a bone composite; applying a binder to the bone composite; applying a vacuum to the mold, and optionally milling or refining the bone composite to the desired shape. The present invention also encompasses bone tissue composites made therefrom. The composites may be, for example, a bone pin, screw, or prosthesis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas L. Meredith
  • Patent number: 4888876
    Abstract: A roller chain wear gauge having a pair of gauge members each having two different diameter gauges, one of the gauge members being stored in the other of the gauge members and a hollow handle for storing the gauge members, the handle including a cap for closing the open end of the handle. The cap and gauge members being interconnected to form a roller chain gauge for measuring the roller spacing on four different size roller chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventors: Thomas L. Meredith, Robert C. Garrett