Patents by Inventor Thomas Sweeney

Thomas Sweeney 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: 20250064602
    Abstract: Implants and instruments for providing an ideal trajectory for the insertion of instruments and screws during implantation of an interbody implant in a spinal surgery are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Byron Riemhofer, Thomas Sweeney, James Lee, Scott Lish
  • Patent number: 12201307
    Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods are directed at a neuromonitoring bone drill bit. The assembly may include a surgical bone drill bit, a neuromonitoring connection in electrical communication with the drill bit, and a shield extending over a distal end of the drill bit. The shield may be configured to withdraw proximally as the drill bit is advanced into a subject's bone. The assembly may be connected to a surgical drill and used in a surgical spinal procedure. In operation, the assembly may be advanced to a subject's bone at a surgical site and the drill bit may rotate into the subject's bone. In response, the shield may engage the bone and the drill bit may be advanced with respect to the shield. The shield may electrically insulate tissue from electrical current passing through the drill bit as it is inserted at the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Nuvasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sweeney, John Love
  • Patent number: 12138180
    Abstract: Implants and instruments for providing an ideal trajectory for the insertion of instruments and screws during implantation of an interbody implant in a spinal surgery are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron Riemhofer, Thomas Sweeney, James Lee, Scott Lish
  • Publication number: 20240188967
    Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods are directed at a neuromonitoring bone drill bit. The assembly may include a surgical bone drill bit, a neuromonitoring connection in electrical communication with the drill bit, and a shield extending over a distal end of the drill bit. The shield may be configured to withdraw proximally as the drill bit is advanced into a subject's bone. The assembly may be connected to a surgical drill and used in a surgical spinal procedure. In operation, the assembly may be advanced to a subject's bone at a surgical site and the drill bit may rotate into the subject's bone. In response, the shield may engage the bone and the drill bit may be advanced with respect to the shield. The shield may electrically insulate tissue from electrical current passing through the drill bit as it is inserted at the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: June 13, 2024
    Inventors: Thomas Sweeney, John Love
  • Publication number: 20240180718
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion driver including an input shaft operably connected to at least one bevel gear, the at least one bevel gear configured to engage each of a first gear and a second gear; the first gear connected to a first output shaft, the first output shaft terminating in a first driver configured to communicate with a first actuator of an expandable implant; the second gear connected to a second output shaft, the second output shaft annularly disposed around at least a portion of the first output shaft; and at least one pinion configured to transfer a torque from the second output shaft to a second driver extending parallel to the first driver and configured to communicate with a second actuator of the expandable implant. Upon a rotation of the input shaft, a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver and the second driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Besaw, Thomas Sweeney, III, Christopher Stein
  • Patent number: 11931052
    Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods are directed at a neuromonitoring bone drill bit. The assembly may include a surgical bone drill bit, a neuromonitoring connection in electrical communication with the drill bit, and a shield extending over a distal end of the drill bit. The shield may be configured to withdraw proximally as the drill bit is advanced into a subject's bone. The assembly may be connected to a surgical drill and used in a surgical spinal procedure. In operation, the assembly may be advanced to a subject's bone at a surgical site and the drill bit may rotate into the subject's bone. In response, the shield may engage the bone and the drill bit may be advanced with respect to the shield. The shield may electrically insulate tissue from electrical current passing through the drill bit as it is inserted at the surgical site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sweeney, John Love
  • Patent number: 11918489
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion driver including an input shaft operably connected to at least one bevel gear, the at least one bevel gear configured to engage each of a first gear and a second gear; the first gear connected to a first output shaft, the first output shaft terminating in a first driver configured to communicate with a first actuator of an expandable implant; the second gear connected to a second output shaft, the second output shaft annularly disposed around at least a portion of the first output shaft; and at least one pinion configured to transfer a torque from the second output shaft to a second driver extending parallel to the first driver and configured to communicate with a second actuator of the expandable implant. Upon a rotation of the input shaft, a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver and the second driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nuvasive Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Besaw, Thomas Sweeney, III, Christopher Stein
  • Publication number: 20240058136
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes bone screws, spinal implant, drivers, and their assemblies thereof for surgical procedures of the spine including but not limited to anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) procedures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Steven Lillig, Thomas Sweeney, Garrett Gleeson, Garrett Mikels, Logan McLennan
  • Patent number: 11896501
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion driver including: a first driver having a first gear disposed at a first end thereof; and a second driver having a second gear disposed at a first end of the second driver; and a handle operably connected to the first driver and the second driver, the handle having at least one bevel gear rotatably attached thereto, the at least one bevel gear engaging each of the first gear and the second gear; wherein upon a rotation of the handle a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver or the second driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Nuvasive Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20240009000
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion driver including an input shaft operably connected to at least one bevel gear, the at least one bevel gear configured to engage each of a first gear and a second gear; the first gear connected to a first output shaft, the first output shaft terminating in a first driver configured to communicate with a first actuator of an expandable implant; the second gear connected to a second output shaft, the second output shaft annularly disposed around at least a portion of the first output shaft; and at least one pinion configured to transfer a torque from the second output shaft to a second driver extending parallel to the first driver and configured to communicate with a second actuator of the expandable implant. Upon a rotation of the input shaft, a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver and the second driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Besaw, Thomas Sweeney, III, Christopher Stein
  • Publication number: 20230139238
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion driver including: a first driver having a first gear disposed at a first end thereof; and a second driver having a second gear disposed at a first end of the second driver; and a handle operably connected to the first driver and the second driver, the handle having at least one bevel gear rotatably attached thereto, the at least one bevel gear engaging each of the first gear and the second gear; wherein upon a rotation of the handle a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver or the second driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas Sweeney, III
  • Publication number: 20230112058
    Abstract: Assemblies, systems, and methods are directed at a neuromonitoring bone drill bit. The assembly may include a surgical bone drill bit, a neuromonitoring connection in electrical communication with the drill bit, and a shield extending over a distal end of the drill bit. The shield may be configured to withdraw proximally as the drill bit is advanced into a subject's bone. The assembly may be connected to a surgical drill and used in a surgical spinal procedure. In operation, the assembly may be advanced to a subject's bone at a surgical site and the drill bit may rotate into the subject's bone. In response, the shield may engage the bone and the drill bit may be advanced with respect to the shield. The shield may electrically insulate tissue from electrical current passing through the drill bit as it is inserted at the surgical site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Thomas Sweeney, John Love
  • Publication number: 20230051852
    Abstract: Medical devices and connector assemblies for connecting medical devices are disclosed. An example connector assembly for connecting a robotic arm with a medical end effector may include a plate configured to be coupled to a robotic arm. The plate may have a connection region that includes a flange defining a circumferential groove. The connector assembly may also include an attachment assembly having an attachment region configured to be detachably secured to the connection region with a securing distance of less than 12 millimeters. The attachment region may include one or more engagement members that are configured to shift between an unsecured position and a secured position where the engagement members are secured to the connection region. An actuator may be coupled to the attachment assembly for shifting the one or more engagement members between the unsecured position and the secured position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Baxendale, Cara Coad, Thomas Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20230040659
    Abstract: Implants and instruments for providing an ideal trajectory for the insertion of instruments and screws during implantation of an interbody implant in a spinal surgery are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Byron Riemhofer, Thomas Sweeney, James Lee, Scott Lish
  • Patent number: 11564770
    Abstract: Systems, assemblies, devices, and methods for positioning surgical devices at surgical sites are disclosed. An adjustment assembly may include a first connector configured to connect to a surgical articulating arm and a second connector configured to connect to a tool, such as a surgical access tube. A joint assembly may be coupled to the first connector and an elongated assembly may be coupled to the joint assembly and the second connector. An actuator may be coupled to the joint assembly and may be adjusted to secure the elongated assembly in a desired position. One or more clips may be utilized with a surgical access tube to secure a surgical tool within a surgical access tube. The clip may have a single port or more than one port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Serra, Thomas Sweeney, Jeremy Winston, Ellie Perry, Steven Lillig
  • Patent number: 11554025
    Abstract: This disclosure includes an expansion driver for adjusting expandable implants, the expansion drivers includes: a first driver having a first gear disposed at a first end thereof; and a second driver having a second gear disposed at a first end of the second driver; and a handle operably connected to the first driver and the second driver, the handle having at least one bevel gear rotatably attached thereto, the at least one bevel gear engaging each of the first gear and the second gear; wherein upon a rotation of the handle a torque is applied to at least one of the first driver or the second driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Sweeney, III
  • Patent number: 11517451
    Abstract: Implants and instruments for providing an ideal trajectory for the insertion of instruments and screws during implantation of an interbody implant in a spinal surgery are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron Riemhofer, Thomas Sweeney, James Lee, Scott Lish
  • Publication number: 20220313449
    Abstract: An expandable implant includes: a first endplate, a second endplate, a first translating member moveably coupled to a first actuator, and a second translating member moveably coupled to a second actuator. The first translating member may be configured to move independently from the second translating member, and the first translating member and the second translating member may be configured to change a spatial relationship between the first endplate and the second endplate. The change in spatial relationship may change a resulting height, length, width, angle of lordosis, or other dimension of the expandable implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher Besaw, Thomas Sweeney, Scott Uyekawa, Garrett Mikels, Steven Lillig
  • Patent number: 11448140
    Abstract: Testable, redundant pneumatic control assemblies and related systems and methods are described herein. An example pneumatic control assembly described herein includes first, second, and third parallel supply channels between a compressed air supply and valve header, first, second, and third parallel vent channels between a vent and the valve header, and first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth logic valves. The first and sixth logic valves are disposed in the first parallel supply channel and the first parallel vent channel, the second and third logic valves are disposed in the second parallel supply channel and second parallel vent channel, and the fourth and fifth logic valves are disposed in the third parallel supply channel and third parallel vent channel. The pneumatic control assembly also includes a first, second, and third solenoid valves to control certain ones of the logic valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Emerson Process Management Power and Water Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sweeney, Ryan Michael Purtell, Kolin Hundertmark, Michael Henry Winwood, Samuel David Onuska, Michael David Scandrol
  • Publication number: 20220125551
    Abstract: Systems, assemblies, devices, and methods for positioning surgical devices at surgical sites are disclosed. An adjustment assembly may include a first connector configured to connect to a surgical articulating arm and a second connector configured to connect to a tool, such as a surgical access tube. A joint assembly may be coupled to the first connector and an elongated assembly may be coupled to the joint assembly and the second connector. An actuator may be coupled to the joint assembly and may be adjusted to secure the elongated assembly in a desired position. One or more clips may be utilized with a surgical access tube to secure a surgical tool within a surgical access tube. The clip may have a single port or more than one port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Serra, Thomas Sweeney, Jeremy Winston, Ellie Perry, Steven Lillig