...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8177817 | System and method for orthopedic implant configuration Anatomic points within the body are projected outside the body through the use of extenders. Bridges may be used to keep the extenders parallel to each other to provide a spatial transformation of the anatomic points to projected points outside the body. The project... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8177820 | Bone plate comprising at least one screw to be fixed at a stable angle Disclosed is a bone plate comprising at least one screw that is to be fixed at a stable angle to at least one through-hole and at least one bone screw which is provided with an external thread in the top region. Said external thread tapers more in the screwing direc... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8016828 | Methods and apparatuses for stabilizing the spine through an access device An apparatus for stabilizing vertebrae while permitting a range of motion therebetween may include first and second fasteners for engaging adjacent vertebrae and a motion preserving device that can be coupled to the first and second fasteners. The motion preserving ... | 09/13/2011 |
| 7722610 | Multiple coil staple and staple applier A multiple coil staple is provided which includes a backspan and a pair of spaced legs. The backspan includes one or more pockets configured to induce coiling of the legs of the staple. A multiple coil staple applier is also provided which includes a pusher having a... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7722647 | Apparatus and method for posterior vertebral stabilization A facet joint replacement implant may have a posterior stabilization surface designed to restrict posterior motion of a vertebra with respect to an adjacent, inferior vertebra. The facet joint replacement implant replaces the natural articular surface of one of the ... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7658739 | Methods and apparatuses for stabilizing the spine through an access device An apparatus for stabilizing vertebrae while permitting a range of motion therebetween may include first and second fasteners for engaging adjacent vertebrae and a motion preserving device that can be coupled to the first and second fasteners. The motion preserving ... | 02/09/2010 |
| 7503918 | Plate fixing system Disclosed is a system for immobilizing two vertebrae, which system includes two screws, and an elongated connecting member and two fastening systems. Each fastening system includes a clamping member and a fastening member consisting of a single ring-shaped piece hav... | 03/17/2009 |
| 7416553 | Drill guide and plate inserter A drill guide for use in securing a spinal fixation plate to a spine is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the drill guide generally includes a support member having first and second arms mated thereto. Each arm includes a proximal end and a distal end having at l... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7404818 | Side-loading adjustable bone anchor A side-loading bone anchor is provided, which may be used in cervical, thoracic, lumbar or sacral areas of the spine or other orthopedic locations. In one embodiment, the anchor includes an anchoring portion, a receiving portion, and an internal piece that is rotata... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7377942 | Posterior elements motion restoring device A prosthetic device for interposition in a space left by one or more excised vertebral posterior structures. The prosthetic device comprises a lamina bridge having an inferior portion for replacing an excised lamina; at least one inferior facet replacement device, c... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7377922 | Transfer ring for offset tapered 3D connector Embodiments of a device and method for connecting a bone fastener, for example a spinal screw, to an elongated member are disclosed. In one embodiment, a body having channels to receive the fastener and elongated member is tapered and has an aperture for a locking m... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7377923 | Variable angle spinal screw assembly A spinal screw assembly providing an adjustable securement of a fixation rod across at least two vertebrae. The assembly includes a pedicle screw having a spherical head portion, a threaded shaft portion and a tool engagement surface in the head portion for use in d... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7377921 | Damping element and device for stabilization of adjacent vertebral bodies A damping element (1) includes: (a) two spring elements (2, 4) which are coaxial with or parallel to a longitudinal axis (3) and two axially end-side connectors (5, 6), where (b) the first spring element (2) exhibits a spring rate ... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7371239 | Spinal rod insertion instrument A surgical instrument is provided for urging a longitudinal spinal member into a bone fastener. The surgical instrument may include a holder assembly for engaging a bone fastener, the holder assembly preferably comprising a pair of pivotably connected members arrang... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7371238 | Method and device for treating scoliosis This invention relates to a spinal facet cap for treating scoliosis, the facet cap comprising a shim portion for inserting into a facet joint of a spine, and an alignment portion for maintaining alignment of the shim portion within the facet joint. The invention als... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7367978 | Adjustable spinal tether An improved apparatus is provided to allow for an adjustable length tether for use in the spine and other parts of the body. The tether comprises an artificial strand with an eyelet formed in one end, the other end being looped through the eyelet. The other end is t... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7364589 | Mobile bearing articulating disc A prosthetic device for insertion into an intervertebral space is provided. The prosthetic device includes a first component having a first recess formed therein, the first recess defining a substantially concave recess surface of the first component, a second compo... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7361178 | Cranial flap clamp and instrument for use therewith The disclosed cranial flap clamp includes first and second clamping members and an extension member. A portion of the first member is positionable against inferior surfaces of a bone flap and skull and a portion of the second member is positionable against superior ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7361177 | System and method for providing fastening elements for a bone plate A system for the provision of fastening elements during a surgical intervention and a method of surgically removing a bone segment are described. The system comprises a bone plate having openings arranged in a first pattern for receiving fastening elements, as well ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7360841 | Articulating leg rest for a wheelchair An articulating leg rest is provided having a first member pivotally connected to a base frame. The base frame may be either connected to or part of a wheelchair frame. A second member is telescopically received by the first member. A drive system includes a motor-d... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7361196 | Apparatus and method for dynamic vertebral stabilization A posterior vertebral stabilizer has a resilient member such as a linear spring, which operates in tension and compression. The resilient member may be kept straight by a stabilization rod extending through the spring, or by a telescoping assembly that encases the r... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7357798 | Systems and methods for electrosurgical prevention of disc herniations The present invention provides systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to a target location within a patient's body, particularly including tissue in the spine. The present invention applies high frequency (RF) electrical energy to one or more... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7354453 | Nucleus replacement securing device and method There is disclosed systems and methods for spinal nucleus replacement by constructing channels through vertebral segments on either side of an area into which the spinal nucleus is to be positioned, the channels running from a channel end outside of the area to a ch... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354452 | Spinal bone implant Implantable devices useful for creating bony fusion particularly in intervetebral spinal fusion. The device is formed of bone and has a body portion with an upper flange member and an opposite lower flange member extending from the body portion. The upper and lower ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354441 | Bone plate A bone plate includes an upper surface, a bone contacting surface, and at least one hole extending through the upper and bone contacting surfaces for receiving a bone screw. The at least one hole includes a first portion and a second portion that overlap one another... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354442 | Bone anchor and methods of using the same A bone anchor including a bone engaging portion and an elongate guiding portion. In one embodiment, the bone engaging portion includes a cannula passage extending at least partially through the bone engaging portion, and at least one transverse opening in communicat... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354748 | Method for treating osteoarthritis and other diseases, defects and injuries of the knee joint A method for applying therapeutic electrical signals and/or electromagnetic fields to a patient's knee for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other diseases, defects and injuries. The device that is used is operable in several modes to deliver signals to the patien... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7347873 | Intervertebral allograft spacer An allogenic intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant is a piece of allogenic bone conforming in size and shape with a portion of an end plate of a vertebra. The implant has a wedge-shaped profile to restore disc height and the natural c... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7344537 | Bone fixation rod system An anterior spinal fixation system comprises a plurality of mounting constructs to hold one or more spinal rods or spinal plate-type braces. Each mounting construct includes a bottom plate and a top plate assembly. The bottom plate is attached to the vertebral body ... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7341587 | Methods and devices for inserting and engaging vertebral implants in minimally invasive procedures A surgical instrument assembly includes an inserter instrument and a driving instrument to engage an implant to a bony structure in a patient. The inserter instrument is positionable in a patient with the implant engaged thereto to position the implant at an operati... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7341594 | 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... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7341591 | Anterior buttress staple An anterior buttress staple and screw system is provided that can be used to hold an implant such as a disc prosthesis in place and thereby prevent its migration out of the spinal column. The buttress staple comprises a screw locking plate having a screw locking des... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7341590 | Hinged anterior thoracic/lumbar plate An anterior thoracic/lumbar system comprising a thin plate and fasteners for securing the plate to vertebrae or other osseous material. The plate may be hinged along the central axis, with a pair of collinear holes on each portion of the plate. Each of the holes acc... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7341589 | Bone plating system The present invention relates to a bone plating system and method for fracture fixation of bone. The bone plating system includes a bone plate, at least one locking screw, and at least one non-locking screw. The bone plate has locking holes with threads and non-lock... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7338490 | Reduction cable and bone anchor Methods and apparatus for alignment of vertebrae. In one embodiment, the invention includes a hook-shaped member which receives a bone anchor, both the member and the anchor being fixed to a portion of bone. The assembly of hook and anchor are coupled to a surgical ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338500 | Internal pedicle insulator apparatus and method of use An internal pedicle insulator apparatus, comprises an inner insertion rod having a top end and an opposing bottom end; and an outer insertion rod having an upper end and a lower end. The outer insertion rod being arranged and configured to substantially correspond t... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338491 | Spinal fixation locking mechanism The present invention relates to a locking mechanism and method of fixation, such as the fixation of a fixation device like a bone screw and of a stabilization device like a rod to the spine. The locking mechanism includes a seat and a locking element. The seat incl... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338526 | Method and apparatus for computerized surgery An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replac... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338527 | Artificial spinal disc, insertion tool, and method of insertion An artificial spinal disc is provided for unilateral insertion from the posterior side of the patient and includes a pair of plate members with a bearing associated with one plate member and a depression associated with the other for permitting limited flexibility o... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7338525 | Methods and apparatus for preventing the migration of intradiscal devices Barriers are used to hold prosthetic components, including intradiscal devices, in position while allowing natural movement within a “safe zone.” In the preferred embodiments, the barrier is in the form of a “buttress” plate coupled to a controlled linkage t... | 03/04/2008 |