Did You Know...
...that Robert Adler has the dubious distinction of being the Father of the Couch Potato? Back in 1955 Adler was employed by what was then Zenith Radio Corp., where he was charged to invent something that would allow viewers to turn down the TV volume without leaving their chairs. After a series of flops (such as a wired contraption that people tripped over), Adler hit on the idea of using sound waves. Thus the Remote Control was born...
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177789 | Distraction osteogenesis methods and devices Methods and devices for distraction osteogenesis are disclosed employing an energy storage device and a controlled release of energy to provide a separating force. For example, bone expansion devices can include a first anchor element attachable to a first segment o... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8172887 | Lock and release mechanism for a sternal clamp An engagement mechanism for a sternal clamp, the mechanism allowing for an open status where the clamp may be lengthened or shortened, a closing status where the clamp may only be shortened, and a locked status where the clamp cannot be lengthened or shortened, and ... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8167891 | System and method for fracture reduction A system for fracture reduction includes a reduction plate for reducing a fracture between a first bone segment and a second bone segment. The reduction plate includes, on a first side of the reduction plate, a travel slot and a screw hole. The travel slot is config... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8157809 | Percutaneous compression and distraction system The present invention provides a compression and distraction shaft assembly used to apply compression and distraction to bones including vertebrae. Shaft A assembly and shaft B assembly are attached together via a polyaxial fulcrum. The polyaxial fulcrum allows all ... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8100917 | Methods and instrumentation for distraction of a disc space Methods and instrumentation for surgical procedures relating to preparation of vertebral bodies and a disc space for insertion of spinal implants is disclosed. One instrument is a shim having a blade and a shaft having a first end connected with the blade. The blade... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8096999 | Surgical instrument A bone plate fixing device comprises a first bone contacting element with a rod-shaped connecting member and a second bone contacting element displaceable on the connecting member. A surgical instrument for applying the bone plate fixing device comprises a first too... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8083750 | Systems and methods for compressing and distracting vertebrae of the spinal column Spinal surgical systems include a compressor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The compressor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to compress the first and second vertebrae. The syste... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8075565 | Surgical instruments for delivering forces to bony structures Spinal surgical systems, instruments and methods include a surgical instrument with a first member mountable to a first vertebra and a second member mountable to a second vertebra. The first and second members are coupled to one another with a coupling mechanism tha... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8070786 | System for fusing joints A method of fusing a joint between two bones, comprising boring a hole through one of the bones across the joint therebetween and into the other bone, placing the leading end of a screw into the hole, where the screw has a threaded region having a pitch that is larg... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8043299 | Internal bone transport An internal bone transport device and method for lengthen bone that, once surgically implanted will allow for a segment of bone to be transported along the length of the rod without changing the overall length of the rod. The segment from one bone end is transported... | 10/25/2011 |
| 8016837 | Remotely adjustable tissue displacement device The invention relates to an apparatus for displacing tissue within the body, wherein the apparatus includes two or more attachment members selectively displaceable with respect to each other via a driving member. The driving member preferably is rotatable and is cau... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7988700 | Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is enga... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7988708 | Interspinous process distraction device An interspinous process distraction device includes a male distraction element and a female distraction element, which both have a clamping portion for fixedly pushing and rejecting the interspinous processes and also respectively have a first connecting portion and... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7985231 | Bone fusion device and methods A bone fusion device can include elongated interlockable segments, each having an engaging surface interlockable with the engaging surface of another segment. The segments can be inserted in between bones one at a time. A device can include an outer expandable compo... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7981118 | Apparatus for intraoral distraction osteotomy to widen the upper jaw The present invention provides an improved orthopaedic system for the modification of the distance between the contralateral maxillary segments or halves. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes two metal bone plates fixed on the bony palatal shelves, with sl... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7955339 | Low-compliance expandable medical device An apparatus includes an elongate body and an expandable member coupled to the elongate body. In one embodiment, the expandable member has a collapsed configuration, an unfolded configuration and an expanded configuration. The expandable member is configured to be p... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7927354 | Percutaneous spinal implants and methods Apparatuses and methods for performing minimally invasive medical procedures are disclosed herein. In one example, an apparatus includes a first body coupled to a second body. The first body and the second body collectively configured to be releasably coupled to an ... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7892241 | Method and system for facial osteodistraction using a cannulated device The present disclosure provides for a midface distraction system which includes a cannulated distraction rod having a socket disposed adjacent a first end, and a threaded portion disposed between the socket and a second end of the rod. The midface distraction system... | 02/22/2011 |
| 7875035 | Expandable structures for deployment in interior body regions An expandable structure carried at the end of a catheter tube assembly can be contracted and/or wrapped to present a reduced profile during deployment and/or removal from a targeted tissue site. ... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7819881 | Segmented joint distractor A method of separating two articulating surfaces of a joint is provided. The method includes providing a distractor having a series of generally spheroidal members. The method also includes inserting the distractor into the joint, and moving the distractor to separa... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7815649 | Insertion devices and method of use This invention relates to devices for inserting expandable structures, such as medical balloons, into interior regions of a human or animal body, as well as methods for their use. The insertion devices described herein are capable of directionally guiding and/or inh... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7815650 | Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is enga... | 10/19/2010 |
| 7776051 | System and method for displacement of bony structures Systems and methods for displacing bony structures relative to each other using a single device is disclosed. Displacement includes distraction and compression. Bony structures are engaged with displacement arms. The user selects one of a plurality of manners in whi... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7771434 | Bone distractor apparatus An improved distractor apparatus of the type having at least a pair of opposing bone plates secured distally and proximally to a pair of bone segments created by cutting an osteotomy gap, wherein the mounting brackets for securing the bone plates to the distractor m... | 08/10/2010 |
| 7763053 | Implant for correction of spinal deformity A device for correction of a spinal deformity. In one embodiment, the device includes a cable having a first end portion, and an opposite, second end portion attachable to a vertebra, and means for adjusting the tension of the cable so as to impose a corrective disp... | 07/27/2010 |
| 7753915 | Bi-directional bone length adjustment system Bone length adjustment method and system includes a two-part telescopic device connected to bone parts whose length between the connection points is to be adjusted, with each part of the telescopic device being secured to the bone part, and a rod with an embedded pe... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7722625 | Modular bone clamp instrument A modular bone clamp instrument includes a first elongated arm with a first clamping surface and a second elongated arm with a second clamping surface. A ratchet mechanism is provided between the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm. The ratchet mechanis... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7722624 | Expandable structures for deployment in interior body regions An expandable structure carried at the end of a catheter tube assembly can be contracted and/or wrapped to present a reduced profile during deployment and/or removal from a targeted tissue site. ... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7713274 | Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae A surgical instrument extendable through a cannula for moving a first bone portion relative to a second bone portion includes a first portion having a longitudinal axis engageable with a first member connected with to the first bone portion. A second portion is enga... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7708766 | Distraction screw A simple, safe implantable bone screw, and a method for distracting two bone segments, is provided. In general, the bone screw includes a shank having a threaded proximal portion and a distal portion with a major diameter that is less than a minor diameter of the th... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7704257 | Compression instrument An instrument for use in moving bone fragments of a bone fracture with respect to one another is disclosed. Preferably, movement of a portion of the instrument causes translational movement of a first bone fragment with respect to a second bone fragment. In certain ... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7686814 | Systems and methods for compressing and distracting vertebrae of the spinal column Spinal surgical systems include a compressor mountable to a first vertebra and positionable relative to a fulcrum mountable to a second vertebra. The compressor and fulcrum are manipulated relative to one another to compress the first and second vertebrae. The syste... | 03/30/2010 |
| 7648512 | Methods and instrumentation for distraction of a disc space Methods and instrumentation for surgical procedures relating to preparation of vertebral bodies and a disc space for insertion of spinal implants is disclosed. One instrument is a shim having a blade and a shaft having a first end connected with the blade. The blade... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7637914 | Surgical base unit and retractor support mechanism A method and apparatus for exerting force on a first bone with respect to a fulcrum, which may be a second bone. A pedicle screw with a central threaded socket is inserted into the first bone, and a threaded closure top is driven into the central threaded socket of ... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7625381 | System and method for stabilizing a portion of the spine Anatomically contoured anterior cervical plates with bone ingrowth surfaces, providing for intersegmental compressive preloading, and a rigid and locked interface to all of the bone screws, with those engaging the vertebrae deployed in highly convergent pairs. The b... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7621922 | Facial osteodistraction device A system for midface distraction including a left side distraction mechanism and a right side distraction mechanism, each including: an implantable anchor configured to be coupled to a bone of the malar region, an implantable anchor configured to be coupled to a bon... | 11/24/2009 |
| 7618424 | Orthopedic instrument An apparatus for use in orthopedic distraction or compression is disclosed. In the illustrated embodiments, two arms are provided that are connected by a rod or bar with a mechanism that enables the arms to be brought toward or away from each other. At the end of ea... | 11/17/2009 |
| 7588579 | Apparatus for intraoral distraction osteotomy to widen the upper jaw A distraction device used to widen an upper jaw after cortical osteotomy and fixation of an adjustable bridging onto the bone of the palate with the goal to increase the distance between two mutually opposite halves of the jaw by means of gradual expansion. An ortho... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7517350 | Convertible threaded compression device and method of use A convertible threaded compression device connects a bone fragment to an anchor bone for a healing duration. The compression device has a distal bone penetration section which is advanced into the bone and a proximal bone exterior section. The proximal bone exterior... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7396232 | Periosteal distraction Devices and methods for gradual displacing of the soft tissues covering bones. The gap developing between the bone and the displaced soft tissue will be filled with bone callus as it is in distraction osteogenesis. The devices and methods allow formation of bone in ... | 07/08/2008 |
