Patents by Inventor Wei-Hsiang Chang
Wei-Hsiang Chang 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: 12364586Abstract: Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2022Date of Patent: July 22, 2025Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Laffoon, Christopher Lee, David Safranski
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Publication number: 20250134551Abstract: An example cutting apparatus includes a scalpel and a housing defining a scalpel guide. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the scalpel. A blade holder at a distal end of the scalpel. The scalpel has a length longer than a length of the housing. The scalpel guide constrains the movement path of the scalpel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2025Publication date: May 1, 2025Inventors: Sujit Sivadas, Wei-Hsiang Chang, John C. Love
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Patent number: 12185972Abstract: An example cutting apparatus includes a scalpel and a housing defining a scalpel guide. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the scalpel. A blade holder at a distal end of the scalpel. The scalpel has a length longer than a length of the housing. The scalpel guide constrains the movement path of the scalpel.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 7, 2025Assignee: Nuvasive, Inc.Inventors: Sujit Sivadas, Wei-Hsiang Chang, John C. Love
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Publication number: 20240285416Abstract: Disclosed herein are dismantlable inserters for use in spinal fusion implant procedures, methods for engaging an implant using such inserters, methods of disengaging an implant from such inserters, and methods for disassembling such inserters, as well as systems including such inserters and corresponding implants.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: August 29, 2024Applicant: NuVasive, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Essayan, Alex Pham, stephen Laffoon, Wei-Hsiang Chang, Elizabeth Perry, Alejandro De La Rosa, Mary Hayles
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Publication number: 20230398719Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to a mold for processing a material. The mold includes a body having a top surface and a bottom surface. A void within the body is configured to receive a porogen and a piece of thermoplastic material. The void extends in a top to bottom direction to form a non-through cavity with a cavity surface that is substantially parallel to the bottom surface of the body. A protrusion on the body extends from the cavity surface towards the top surface. The void extends at least halfway through the body towards the bottom surface. A peg is disposed on the body and shaped to matingly engage a weight via a hole within the weight.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S.D. Lee
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Patent number: 11772306Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee
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Patent number: 11672637Abstract: A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: NuVasive, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee, David Lee Safranski
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Publication number: 20230143304Abstract: An example cutting apparatus includes a scalpel and a housing defining a scalpel guide. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the scalpel. A blade holder at a distal end of the scalpel. The scalpel has a length longer than a length of the housing. The scalpel guide constrains the movement path of the scalpel.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: Sujit Sivadas, Wei-Hsiang Chang, John C. Love
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Publication number: 20220226095Abstract: Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2022Publication date: July 21, 2022Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Laffoon, Christopher Lee, David Safranski
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Patent number: 11298217Abstract: Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Vertera, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee, David Lee Safranski
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Publication number: 20210339437Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S.D. Lee
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Patent number: 11090843Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2020Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: Vertera, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee
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Publication number: 20200383766Abstract: A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Laffoon, Christopher S.D. Lee, David Lee Safranski
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Publication number: 20200331175Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S.D. Lee
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Patent number: 10786344Abstract: A method for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Vertera, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee, David Lee Safranski
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Patent number: 10744687Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Vertera, IncInventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee
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Publication number: 20200078993Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S.D. Lee
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Patent number: 10507606Abstract: In general, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed systems and methods for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In particular, the present disclosure is directed to systems that include a track assembly, mold assembly, press assembly, and methods for using the same for producing a porous surface from a solid piece of polymer. In some embodiments, the present systems and methods are directed to processing a polymer at a temperature below a melting point of the polymer to produce a solid piece of polymer with an integrated a porous surface.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: Vertera, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee
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Publication number: 20190343611Abstract: Devices and methods for making a polymer with a porous layer from a solid piece of polymer are disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes heating a surface of a solid piece of polymer to a processing temperature and holding the processing temperature while displacing a porogen layer through the surface of the polymer to create a matrix layer of the solid polymer body comprising the polymer and the porogen layer. In at least one embodiment, the method also includes removing at least a portion of the layer of porogen from the matrix layer to create a porous layer of the solid piece of polymer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S.D. Lee, David Lee Safranski
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Patent number: D944990Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Vertera, Inc.Inventors: Wei-Hsiang Chang, Stephen Lee Laffoon, Christopher S. D. Lee, David Lee Safranski