Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8182491 | Rigidly guided implant placement A system for guiding an implant to an optimal placement within a patient includes a trajectory guide for guiding instruments along a selected trajectory and a trajectory fixation device for fixing the trajectory guide in a selected position. The trajectory guide def... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8167918 | Orthopedic plate for use in the MTP joint The present invention is a MTP plate that has a first embodiment with a profile having bilateral mirror symmetry of the about a transverse plane with an angle of about 5° for dorsiflexion and an angle of about 10° for valgus. Both ends of the plate include a centr... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8142506 | Prosthesis made of a fibre-reinforced hydrogel, method of manufacturing the prosthesis and use thereof The present application relates to a prosthesis comprising a flexible portion (1) and at least one less flexible portion (2), which flexible portion comprises a fiber-reinforced hydrogel. In addition to that, the application relates to a prosthesis con... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8100912 | Surgical sagittal saw with quick release indexing head and low blade-slap coupling assembly A surgical sagittal saw with a head that is able to index, rotate, relative to the longitudinal axis of the saw housing. The head has a neck that extends into an open distal end of the housing. A biasing assembly holds the head and neck sub-assembly in the open dist... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8100955 | Orthopedic expansion fastener Methods and devices are disclosed for treating the vertebral column. An integrated fixation plate and spacer having a retaining structure within the screw holes of the fixation plate to resist backout of screws attaching the fixation plate to the bone is provided. A... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8088128 | Implantable cross-pin for anterior cruciate ligament repair A novel cross-pin for use in ACL reconstructive surgical procedures. The cross-pin has an elongated body having a distal tapered end. A guide wire opening in the distal end is in communication with a tunnel contained in the distal end. There is a trough extending in... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8083795 | Intervertebral prosthetic device for spinal stabilization and method of manufacturing same A prosthetic device and method of inserting same between adjacent vertebrae, according to which a first member of a relatively flexible material is adapted to extend between the vertebrae; and at least one second member of a relatively stiff material is supported by... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8083779 | Anchor assemblies for securing connecting elements along a spinal column Devices and methods that securely engage an elongated connecting element in a receiver of an anchor assembly are provided. The anchor assembly includes an anchor member engageable to bony structure and the receiver includes a passage for receiving the connecting ele... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8083774 | Percutaneous vertebral fusion system A method of repositioning or fixing a first vertebrae or portion of a first vertebrae comprising fixing a bone screw in the first vertebrae and a bone screw in a second vertebrae, where each bone screw has a portal, and inflating an inflatable balloon between the po... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8083741 | Orthopaedic implant with sensors The present invention relates to an orthopaedic implant, such as a bone plate, for the fixation of bone where the implant also has at least one microchip and at least one sensor connected to the microchip. The sensor or sensors are configured to receive physical sti... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8080015 | Impacting device and method An impacting device for inserting, positioning and/or removing an implant and/or performing other impacting applications. The impacting device may have a head having at least one recess. The recess may have a insertion channel and a locking chamber. In one embodimen... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8070749 | Revisable anterior cervical plating system An improved anterior cervical plating system and methods of cervical fusion using such a system are provided. The cervical plating system includes an interlocking mechanism that integrated into each of the plates such that any two plates may cooperatively engage thr... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8062341 | Rotatable bone plate The present invention relates generally to a bone plate for stabilizing bony structures. More particularly, the invention is directed to bone plates having an elongate body to which an integrated rod is formed. Integrated rod portion may be captured by a bone anchor... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8057478 | Unicondylar knee instrument system The present invention provides for an apparatus for cutting a tibia, a stylus, an apparatus for cutting a femur, an apparatus for aligning a femoral cutting guide, and an ankle clamp in support of a unicondylar knee surgery. The present invention further provides fo... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8048076 | Method for installation of anterior cervical plate system having vertebral body engaging anchors and connecting plate An anterior cervical plating system includes vertebral body engaging anchors coupled to a connecting plate in moveable relationship to vary the spacing between the anchoring points of the plating system to the vertebral bodies and to allow and/or cause intersegmenta... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8048109 | Surgical retractor extensions A method of preventing tissue creep using a surgical retractor apparatus having one or more independent, removable extension members adapted to be mounted at the distal end of the retractor, or between the blades of a spreadable retractor, after the retractor has be... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8048112 | Rod fixing apparatus for vertebra connecting member The fixing apparatus includes a pressure fixing device to pressure fix a rod to a circular arc rod engagement portion, and small protruding portions that bite into the rod and have an acute angle in both end sides of the rod engagement portion outside of the pressur... | 11/01/2011 |
| 7857816 | Inserter for minimally invasive joint surgery having interchangeable thread An acetabular inserter (10) aids a surgeon in controlling the installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis (11) having a central, female aperture (13). The inserter includes an inserter head (20), a housing (12) and a locking mecha... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7353829 | Methods and apparatus for multi-photon photo-activation of therapeutic agents A method and apparatus for the treatment of a particular volume of material, plant or animal tissue including the steps of treating the material plant or animal tissue with at least one photo-active agent, wherein the particular volume of the material, plant or anim... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7344556 | Noncylindrical drug eluting stent for treating vascular bifurcations A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent delivery system configured to carry one or more of a pair of dissimilar sten... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7331350 | Photochemical tissue bonding Photochemical tissue bonding methods include the application of a photosensitizer to a tissue, e.g., cornea, followed by irradiation with electromagnetic energy to produce a tissue seal. The methods are useful for wound repair, or other tissue repair. ... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7314485 | Mitral valve device using conditioned shape memory alloy A mitral valve annulus reshaping device includes at least a portion that is formed of a biocompatible shape memory alloy SMA having a characteristic temperature, Af, that is preferably below body temperature. The device is constrained in an unstable marte... | 01/01/2008 |
| 7261741 | Prosthesis with resorbable collar A articulating hemiarthroplasty prosthesis (10) for use in arthroplasty is provided. The prosthesis includes a stem (12) for implantation at least partially within the medullary canal (14) of a long bone (16) and a collar (20). The... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7258700 | Devices and method for nucleus pulposus augmentation and retention Systems for minimally invasive disc augmentation include an anulus augmentation component and a nucleus augmentation component. Both are suited for minimally invasive deployment. The nucleus augmentation component restores disc height and/or replaces missing nucleus... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7238197 | Endoprosthesis deployment system for treating vascular bifurcations A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent system comprising a pair of dissimilar stents, one of which is particularly ... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7226483 | Method of performing a transforaminal posterior lumber interbody fusion procedure An intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant has a body with curved, substantially parallel posterior and anterior faces separated by two narrow implant ends, superior and inferior faces having a plurality of undulating surfaces for conta... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7226456 | Trackable medical tool for use in image guided surgery This invention relates to a trackable medical tool for use in image guided surgery in which the drive shaft rotates about the tracking post. ... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7223292 | Intervertebral implant for transforaminal posterior lumbar interbody fusion procedure An intervertebral implant for fusing vertebrae is disclosed. The implant has a body with curved, substantially parallel posterior and anterior faces separated by, two narrow implant ends, superior and inferior faces having a plurality of undulating surfaces for cont... | 05/29/2007 |
| 7220276 | Endovascular graft coatings An endovascular graft, having both an expandable stent portion and a stent cover portion positioned, the graft itself and/or a stent cover-portion coated with a bioactive agent adapted to promote initial thrombus formation, preferably followed by long term fibrous t... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7220281 | Implant for reinforcing and annulus fibrosis Reinforcement of annulus fibrosis tissue within an intervertebral disc can be achieved through implantation of a support member also functioning as a barrier to resist damage to the tissue or herniation of tissue outside of the disc. The device may be anchored to th... | 05/22/2007 |
| 7214242 | Bioengineered tubular graft prostheses The invention is directed to bioengineered tubular graft prostheses prepared from cleaned tissue material derived from animal sources. The bioengineered graft prostheses of the invention are prepared using methods that preserve cell compatibility, strength, and bior... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7211086 | Locking device for securing a rod-shaped element in a holding element connected to a shank A locking device is provided for securing a rod in a receiving part, in particular a polyaxial bone screw. The locking device has a sleeve-type element with a cylindrical outer face and is dimensioned such that the element is displaceable between the legs of the rec... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7204852 | Intervertebral implant, insertion tool and method of inserting same An intervertebral implant, alone and in combination with an insertion tool for inserting same and a method for inserting same. The implant has upper and lower parts which have universal movement relative to each other. Each of the upper and lower parts also has a su... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7201754 | Device for installing an anchor in a bone A device and method for installing an anchor in a bone of a patient which employs an anchor body having expandable side walls in a tapered shape with retention members on their external surfaces, and an expansion member within the anchor body which is pulled to an e... | 04/10/2007 |
| 7198644 | Intervertebral implant An intervertebral implant for contact with adjacent vertebral bodies is provided. The implant includes a first carrier plate including a front edge, a middle, a rear edge, and a concave, crowned joint surface comprising a lowest point. The implant further includes a... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7198047 | Anchored anulus method Systems for minimally invasive disc augmentation include an anulus augmentation component and a nucleus augmentation component. Both are suited for minimally invasive deployment. The nucleus augmentation component restores disc height and/or replaces missing nucleus... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7195642 | Method and apparatus for fixing a graft in a bone tunnel A graft ligament for cross-pinning in a bone tunnel, the ligament comprising a tendon having first, second and third portions in series along the length thereof. The first and third portions are provided with cross-sectional thicknesses less than the cross-sectional... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7186266 | Bifocal intraocular telescope for low vision correction An intraocular lens system for correcting vision in the eye, including a first lens adapted to be inserted into the eye substantially along the main optical axis and a second lens adapted to be inserted into the eye substantially along the main optical axis, spaced ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7179290 | Flexible heart valve A flexible prosthetic tissue-type heart valve having commissures that are substantially decoupled from a cusp support structure. The valve includes three leaflets having arcuate cusp edges and opposed concave shaped free edges, with outwardly-directed attachment tab... | 02/20/2007 |
| 7175659 | Automatic suture fixation apparatus and method for minimally invasive cardiac surgery An apparatus for automatically fixing sutures used in the surgical replacement of a heart valve, includes a first cylinder having a first end and a second end and an interior surface and an exterior surface. An annular lip is formed on the exterior surface adjacent ... | 02/13/2007 |
