Patents by Inventor William A. Rezach

William A. Rezach 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: 20220192715
    Abstract: A locking-cap module may include a locking-cap having a first connecting flange and a second connecting flange opposite the first connecting flange extending from a side surface of the locking-cap. The locking-cap may further include a first retaining rail and a second retaining rail opposite the first retaining rail. The locking-cap module may further include a set screw configured to engage with corresponding threads of the locking-cap. In some embodiments, the first connecting flange and second connecting flange are configured to engage with a connector such that the top surface of the locking-cap is generally flush with a top surface of the connector when the locking-cap is in a locked position relative to the connector. In some embodiments, the set screw is initially coupled to the locking-cap by a pre-loaded connection. In some embodiments, an end user may visually verify that the locking-cap module is in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. REZACH
  • Publication number: 20220192708
    Abstract: A locking-cap module may include a locking-cap having a first connecting flange and a second connecting flange opposite the first connecting flange extending from a side surface of the locking-cap. The locking-cap may further include a first retaining rail and a second retaining rail opposite the first retaining rail. The locking-cap module may further include a set screw configured to engage with corresponding threads of the locking-cap. In some embodiments, the first connecting flange and second connecting flange are configured to engage with a connector such that the top surface of the locking-cap is flush with a top surface of the connector in an engaged position. In some embodiments, the set screw is initially coupled to the locking-cap by a pre-loaded connection. In some embodiments, a surgical tool is provided for rotating the locking-cap module into the engaged position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Rezach
  • Publication number: 20220183725
    Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods for performing a medical procedure. The methods comprise: obtaining a surgical instrument that combines a head positioner and a driver into a single integrated part (the driver being at least partially inserted through an elongate aperture formed in the head positioner so as to extend from a proximal end of the head positioner to a distal end of the head positioner); using an actuable structure of the head positioner to limit an amount that the driver can linearly travel in a first direction within the elongate aperture formed in the head positioner; causing a screw to threadingly engage an object via rotation of the driver in at least a first direction around a central axis of the surgical instrument; and changing an orientation of a receiver via rotation of the head positioner about a portion of the driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: WILLIAM A REZACH, Brian A. Butler
  • Patent number: 11298163
    Abstract: An approach is provided for engaging a set screw to an implant. The approach includes a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may include a shaft having an elongated rigid structure, and a driver head positioned on a distal end of the surgical instrument. The driver head may include at least one groove or at least one protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction of the surgical instrument and a pin positioned at least partially within the driver head. The pin may be configured to deploy and retract in a lateral direction from with the driver head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventor: William A. Rezach
  • Patent number: 11291477
    Abstract: An implant system is disclosed. The system may include an implant receiver having a base and a first arm and a second arm extending from the base in a longitudinal direction towards an open end. The first arm and second arm may define a receiving cavity therebetween. The first and second arm may each include an outside thread pattern for rotatably supporting a nut movable in the longitudinal direction and an inside thread pattern for rotatably supporting a set screw movable in the longitudinal direction. A rod may be selectively positioned within the receiving cavity at an intermediate elevation between the base and the open end and the rod may be supported by the nut. The set screw may be tightened against the rod thereby locking the rod and nut at the intermediate elevation. In some embodiments, the first and second arms may include a plurality of breakoff locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Rezach, Jerald L. Redmond, Jeffrey W. Beale
  • Patent number: 11278325
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a first member engageable with a first end of a fastener having a second end configured to penetrate tissue. A second member includes an expandable member configured for engaging the first end. Systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventor: William A. Rezach
  • Patent number: 11229462
    Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods for attaching a head assembly to a fastener are provided. The systems, instruments, and methods may include a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument may include an elongated first member; a first tubular member, in which a portion of the elongated first member is positioned within the first tubular member; a second tubular member, in which the portion of the elongated first member and a portion of the first tubular member are positioned within the second tubular member; and at least one grasping member, in which a portion of the at least one grasping member is pivotably coupled to the first tubular member and another portion of the at least one grasping member is pivotably coupled to the second tubular member. In one or more cases, the at least one grasping member may actuate translation of the first tubular member and the second tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Rezach, Jason M. May
  • Patent number: 11219473
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a receiver for receiving a rod and/or a receiver cap. The cap has a generally cylindrical body and a set of opposing splay-resisting flanges extending radially from the body. The receiver has arms each having an inner proximal protrusion at or adjacent the proximal end, and an inner sloped splaying surface distal of the proximal protrusion. Each cap flange has a proximal-facing cap splay-prevent surface, and a distal-facing cap pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-prevent surface. The receiver pop-on surfaces are spaced so each cap pop-on surface contacts a respective receiver pop-on surface in operation. Each splaying revision surface extends distally and radially inward toward the longitudinal axis and into a cylindrical plane defined by an inner diameter of the cap. The cap inner diameter is greater than a rod width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Publication number: 20220000524
    Abstract: A surgical instrument having a first member engageable with a first end of a fastener having a second end configured to penetrate tissue. A second member includes an expandable member configured for engaging the first end. Systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: WILLIAM A. REZACH, Lawrence G. Lenke, Charles Fisher, Marcel Dvorak, Daniel M. Sciubba, Christopher Shaffrey, Sigurd H. Berven, Ronald Lehman, Jason M. May, Nicholas D. Fletcher
  • Publication number: 20210401473
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a rod receiver and/or a cap for use insertion and removal from the receiver. The cap has a generally cylindrical body, a set of opposing splay-resisting flanges, and set of opposing rotation-preventing wings, the flanges extending radially from the body along a first radial line of the body, and the wings extending radially away from the body along a second radial line of the body generally orthogonal to the first radial line. Each cap flange has a proximal-facing cap splay-resisting surface, and a distal-facing cap pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-resisting surface. The receiver pop-on surfaces are spaced such that each cap pop-on surface contacts a respective receiver pop-on surface when the cap is centered, with the cap wings aligned between receiver arms, and moved distally to contact the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Publication number: 20210401468
    Abstract: A spinal construct comprises a fastener including a head. A member includes an inner surface defining a cavity configured for disposal of the head and a groove configured for disposal of a band that is engageable with the head to connect the fastener and the member. The member includes a transverse rod. A coupling member is engageable with the inner surface. Implants, systems, instruments and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jason M. May, William A. Rezach, Lawrence G. Lenke, Roger P. Jackson
  • Patent number: 11191574
    Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods for advancing a set screw in an object. The methods comprise: disposing a shank tip of a set screw reducer in a socket of the set screw; causing a sleeve integrated with the set screw reducer to slidingly engage a shank of the set screw reducer and move in a direction towards the shank tip; transferring torque from the set screw reducer to the set screw such that the set screw is advanced in a threaded hole of the object; and using the sleeve of the set screw reducer to substantially prevent splaying of at least one sidewall of the object while the torque is being transferred from the set screw reducer to the set screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Butler, William A. Rezach, Molly K. Rice
  • Publication number: 20210322065
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a body member and a leg having a first end integrated with and extending from the body member. A head cavity is in the leg portion to hold a head. A channel is formed along a longitudinal length of the leg. An elongated rocker assembly includes an elongated lever arm coupled within the channel about a fulcrum and a spring actuation. A projection of the arm projects in a direction of the head cavity. A rocker slide lock has a collar slidably coupled around the body member and having a first position located between the body member and the actuation tab, such that a portion of the collar is under the actuation tab to limit pivotal motion of the rocker assembly, and a second position having a clearance from under the actuation tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Rezach, Daniel P. Wall, Abel C. Kim, Brian A. Butler
  • Publication number: 20210322064
    Abstract: A system comprising surgical instruments of different types. Each surgical instrument includes a body member and a leg having a first end integrated with and a leg portion extending from the body member. The instrument includes a head cavity formed in a free end of the leg. The cavity holds a head. A channel is formed along a portion of a longitudinal length of the leg. The instrument includes an elongated rocker assembly pivotally coupled within the channel, with a spring actuation tab in proximity to the body member. The instrument includes a collar slidably coupled around the body member and having a first position located between the body member and the actuation tab such that a portion of the collar is under the actuation tab to limit pivotal motion of the rocker assembly and a second position of the collar has a clearance from under the actuation tab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Rezach, Daniel P. Wall, Abel . C. Kim, Brian A. Butler
  • Publication number: 20210298799
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a rod receiver and/or a cap for use insertion and removal from the receiver. The cap has a generally cylindrical body, a set of opposing splay-resisting flanges, and set of opposing rotation-preventing wings, the flanges extending radially from the body along a first radial line of the body, and the wings extending radially away from the body along a second radial line of the body generally orthogonal to the first radial line. Each cap flange has a proximal-facing cap splay-resisting surface, and a distal-facing cap pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-resisting surface. The receiver pop-on surfaces are spaced such that each cap pop-on surface contacts a respective receiver pop-on surface when the cap is centered, with the cap wings aligned between receiver arms, and moved distally to contact the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Publication number: 20210298800
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a rod receiver and/or a cap having a generally cylindrical body, a set of opposing splay-resisting flanges, and a set of opposing rotation-preventing/rotation-resisting wings. Each wing has a lateral rotation-preventing portion and a lateral rotation-resisting portion. A receiver proximal end forms a wing-receiving cavity having a lateral rotation-preventing side and a lateral rotation-resisting side. Each flange has a proximal-facing splay-resist surface, and a distal-facing pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-resist surface. Each rotation-preventing portion contacts a corresponding rotation-preventing side and each rotation-resisting portion contacts a corresponding rotation-resisting sides when the cap is popped on. The rotation-preventing portions contacting the rotation-preventing sides prevents cap rotation in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Publication number: 20210298790
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a rod receiver and/or a cap. The cap has a cylindrical body, opposing splay-resisting flanges, and an opposing rotation-preventing/rotation-resisting wings, each wing having a lateral rotation-preventing surface and a lateral rotation-resisting surface. A receiver proximal end forms a wing-receiving cavity having a lateral rotation-preventing side and a lateral rotation-resisting side. Each flange has a proximal-facing cap splay-resist surface, and a distal-facing cap pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-resist surface. Each rotation-preventing surface contacts a corresponding rotation-preventing side and each rotation-resisting surface contacts a corresponding rotation-resisting sides when the cap is popped on. The rotation-preventing surfaces contacting the rotation-preventing sides prevents cap rotation in a first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Publication number: 20210298791
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a receiver for receiving a rod and/or a receiver cap. The cap has a generally cylindrical body and a set of opposing splay-resisting flanges extending radially from the body. The receiver has arms each having an inner proximal protrusion at or adjacent the proximal end, and an inner sloped splaying surface distal of the proximal protrusion. Each cap flange has a proximal-facing cap splay-prevent surface, and a distal-facing cap pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-prevent surface. The receiver pop-on surfaces are spaced so each cap pop-on surface contacts a respective receiver pop-on surface in operation. Each splaying revision surface extends distally and radially inward toward the longitudinal axis and into a cylindrical plane defined by an inner diameter of the cap. The cap inner diameter is greater than a rod width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Patent number: 11129651
    Abstract: A spinal-surgery system having a rod receiver and/or a cap for use insertion and removal from the receiver. The cap has a generally cylindrical body, a set of opposing splay-resisting flanges, and set of opposing rotation-preventing wings, the flanges extending radially from the body along a first radial line of the body, and the wings extending radially away from the body along a second radial line of the body generally orthogonal to the first radial line. Each cap flange has a proximal-facing cap splay-resisting surface, and a distal-facing cap pop-on surface. Each receiver proximal protrusion has a proximal-facing sloped receiver pop-on surface, and a distal-facing sloped receiver splay-resisting surface. The receiver pop-on surfaces are spaced such that each cap pop-on surface contacts a respective receiver pop-on surface when the cap is centered, with the cap wings aligned between receiver arms, and moved distally to contact the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason M. May, Christel Italiaie, William Rezach
  • Publication number: 20210290278
    Abstract: Systems, instruments, and methods for advancing a set screw in an object. The methods comprise: disposing a shank tip of a set screw reducer in a socket of the set screw; causing a sleeve integrated with the set screw reducer to slidingly engage a shank of the set screw reducer and move in a direction towards the shank tip; transferring torque from the set screw reducer to the set screw such that the set screw is advanced in a threaded hole of the object; and using the sleeve of the set screw reducer to substantially prevent splaying of at least one sidewall of the object while the torque is being transferred from the set screw reducer to the set screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Butler, William A. Rezach, Molly K. Rice