Patents by Inventor William B. Null
William B. Null 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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Publication number: 20190254720Abstract: Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2019Publication date: August 22, 2019Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: William B. Null, Robert W. Weakley, Gregory C. Marik, John G. Heller, Jeffrey C. Wang
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Patent number: 10314621Abstract: Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2014Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: William B. Null, Robert W. Weakley, Gregory C. Marik, John G. Heller, Jeffrey C. Wang
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Publication number: 20140135845Abstract: Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2014Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INC.Inventors: William B. Null, Robert W. Weakley, Gregory C. Marik, John G. Heller, Jeffrey C. Wang
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Patent number: 8353934Abstract: An apparatus comprises a pair of bone attachment devices and a crosslink device for a spinal fixation system or other implant arrangement. The bone attachment devices include a head with socket to receive a spinal rod or other elongate element and the crosslink device includes a pair of bridging members each having an end section for connecting with the bone attachment devices. An interconnection device situated between the bridging members receives the bridging members and allows translational and rotational freedom therebetween while being operable to secure the bridging members in position relative to one another. A pair of engaging members are structured to engage the head of the respective bone attachment device and bear against the respective adjacent end of crosslink device to lock the crosslink and the bone attachment device in a rigid construct are also included.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2010Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Troy D Drewry, William B Null, Marc T Paul
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Patent number: 8298269Abstract: A connector apparatus for use in orthopedic procedures includes a base portion and an extending leg portion that forms a channel. Part of the base portion can be placed atop or adjacent implanted fixation members (e.g. bone screws), and a locking member can be inserted through the base and into the fixation member to anchor the connector to the fixation member. A rod can be inserted into the channel and fixed to the connector by a set screw. The apparatus is useful in connecting a rod to a fixation member, particularly in situations in which a rod is already connected to the fixation member, as by a previous implantation procedure, for example.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: William B. Null, Marc T. Paul, Micheal C. Sherman
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Patent number: 8105366Abstract: Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2003Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: William B. Null, Robert W. Weakley, Gregory C. Marik, John G. Heller, Jeffrey C. Wang
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Publication number: 20110190828Abstract: A connector apparatus for use in orthopedic procedures includes a base portion and an extending leg portion that forms a channel. Part of the base portion can be placed atop or adjacent implanted fixation members (e.g. bone screws), and a locking member can be inserted through the base and into the fixation member to anchor the connector to the fixation member. A rod can be inserted into the channel and fixed to the connector by a set screw. The apparatus is useful in connecting a rod to a fixation member, particularly in situations in which a rod is already connected to the fixation member, as by a previous implantation procedure, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2011Publication date: August 4, 2011Applicant: WARSAW ORTHOPEDIC, INCInventors: William B. Null, Marc T. Paul, Micheal C. Sherman
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Patent number: 7976567Abstract: A connector apparatus for use in orthopedic procedures includes a base portion and an extending leg portion that forms a channel. Part of the base portion can be placed atop or adjacent implanted fixation members (e.g. bone screws), and a locking member can be inserted through the base and into the fixation member to anchor the connector to the fixation member. A rod can be inserted into the channel and fixed to the connector by a set screw. The apparatus is useful in connecting a rod to a fixation member, particularly in situations in which a rod is already connected to the fixation member, as by a previous implantation procedure, for example.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: William B. Null, Marc T. Paul, Michael C. Sherman
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Patent number: 7909855Abstract: Embodiments of an orthopedic implant assembly include an apparatus having a receiver member and a fixation member. The receiver member includes first and second branches which define a channel extending along a longitudinal axis. The channel is configured to receive an elongated member. Additionally, the fixation member can include a threaded portion configured to engage bone. The orthopedic implant system can further include a one-step locking mechanism operably connected with the receiver member, the locking mechanism being configured to lock an elongated member in the channel. The locking mechanism includes a first closure device operably connected with the first branch and a second closure device operably connected with the second branch. The first and second closure devices are configured to cooperate with each other along a lateral axis to lock an elongated member in the channel. In certain embodiments, the lateral axis does not intersect the longitudinal axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedics, Inc.Inventors: Troy D. Drewry, William B. Null, Marc T. Paul
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Patent number: 7867258Abstract: Orthopedic constructs having parts that are movable with respect to each other and one or more friction members to limit unintended movement are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multi-axial bone anchor having a receiver member and a screw-type anchor is provided. The receiver member includes one or more internal apertures in which a friction member is placed, and a portion of the anchor contacts or is loosely held by the friction member(s).Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.Inventors: Troy D. Drewry, William B. Null, Marc T. Paul
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Patent number: 7618431Abstract: Access to a greater area of surgical site with minimally invasive procedure is obtained by using two sets of sequentially placed tissue dilators oriented with their axes in a plane parallel to the spinal axis and a final non-circular dilator encompassing the two sets, followed by a non-circular tubular retractor providing a working channel extending longitudinally of the spine.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Inventors: Thomas E. Roehm, III, William B. Null
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Publication number: 20090210012Abstract: Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: August 20, 2009Inventors: William B. Null, Robert W. Weakley, Gregory C. Marik, John G. Heller, Jeffrey C. Wang
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Publication number: 20080177323Abstract: A connector apparatus for use in orthopedic procedures includes a base portion and an extending leg portion that forms a channel. Part of the base portion can be placed atop or adjacent implanted fixation members (e.g. bone screws), and a locking member can be inserted through the base and into the fixation member to anchor the connector to the fixation member. A rod can be inserted into the channel and fixed to the connector by a set screw. The apparatus is useful in connecting a rod to a fixation member, particularly in situations in which a rod is already connected to the fixation member, as by a previous implantation procedure, for example.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2006Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: William B. Null, Marc T. Paul, Michael C. Sherman
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Publication number: 20080177325Abstract: Embodiments of an orthopedic implant assembly include an apparatus having a receiver member and a fixation member. The receiver member includes first and second branches which define a channel extending along a longitudinal axis. The channel is configured to receive an elongated member. Additionally, the fixation member can include a threaded portion configured to engage bone. The orthopedic implant system can further include a one-step locking mechanism operably connected with the receiver member, the locking mechanism being configured to lock an elongated member in the channel. The locking mechanism includes a first closure device operably connected with the first branch and a second closure device operably connected with the second branch. The first and second closure devices are configured to cooperate with each other along a lateral axis to lock an elongated member in the channel. In certain embodiments, the lateral axis does not intersect the longitudinal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Troy D. Drewry, William B. Null, Marc T. Paul
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Publication number: 20080177321Abstract: Orthopedic constructs having parts that are movable with respect to each other and one or more friction members to limit unintended movement are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multi-axial bone anchor having a receiver member and a screw-type anchor is provided. The receiver member includes one or more internal apertures in which a friction member is placed, and a portion of the anchor contacts or is loosely held by the friction member(s).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2006Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Troy D. Drewry, William B. Null, Marc T. Paul
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Patent number: 7074226Abstract: Access to a greater area of surgical site with minimally invasive procedure is obtained by using two sets of sequentially placed tissue dilators oriented with their axes in a plane parallel to the spinal axis and a final non-circular dilator encompassing the two sets, followed by a non-circular tubular retractor providing a working channel extending longitudinally of the spine.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Thomas E. Roehm, III, William B. Null
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Patent number: 7011665Abstract: A surgical instrument guide assembly is positionable on a bone plate. The instrument guide assembly includes at least one guide member alignable with a corresponding fastener opening in the bone plate when the guide assembly is positioned on the bone plate. The at least one guide member can guide various surgical instruments through the fastener hole in the plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2002Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: SDGI Holdings, Inc.Inventors: William B. Null, Brian A. Burd
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Publication number: 20040059339Abstract: Access to a greater area of surgical site with minimally invasive procedure is obtained by using two sets of sequentially placed tissue dilators oriented with their axes in a plane parallel to the spinal axis and a final non-circular dilator encompassing the two sets, followed by a non-circular tubular retractor providing a working channel extending longitudinally of the spine.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2002Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Thomas E. Roehm, William B. Null
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Publication number: 20040030388Abstract: Laminoplasty plates are engageable to at least one portion of a divided lamina to maintain a desired spacing relative to the spinal canal. The laminoplasty plates include a spacer portion having a first end and a second end that spans a gap formed by at least one of a divided lamina portion. The laminoplasty plates can include a lamina engagement portion at one end for engagement with the divided lamina portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: William B. Null, Robert W. Weakley, Gregory C. Marik, John G. Heller, Jeffrey C. Wang
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Publication number: 20040015174Abstract: A surgical instrument guide assembly is positionable on a bone plate. The instrument guide assembly includes at least one guide member alignable with a corresponding fastener opening in the bone plate when the guide assembly is positioned on the bone plate. The at least one guide member can guide various surgical instruments through the fastener hole in the plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: William B. Null, Brian A. Burd