Onx, Inc.

Medical Carbon Research Institute, LLC

Other

On-x Life Technologies, Inc.

Carbon Implants, Inc.

Obbligato, Inc.

Valve Special Purpose Co., LLC

Jonathan C Stupka

Jack C Bokros

T Scott Peters

Michael R Emken

Axel D Haubold

C Thomas Waits

John L Ely

Brian D Burkinshaw

Robert B More

Mark E Seeley

Fletcher Derek Southard

Brett A Bickerton

David Wilde

Joseph Earl Robinson

Roger William Leikam

Mike James Mewhort

Jeff Wayne Stark

Alan S Schwartz

Cephas M Wozencraft

James M Guthrie

Mike J Mewhort

Joseph E Robinson

Jeff W Stark

Roger W Leikam

A unitary intervertebral device, having no moving components is provided for non-fusion articulation and fusion applications. The interbody articulating device allows for limited flexion and rotation between the implant and an adjacent vertebrae, helping to preserve or restore near-normal motion between adjacent vertebrae. Rotational motion is achieved through one or more protrusions incorporated into the spinal interbody device. In one articulating form, a first protrusion extends perpendicularly from one bearing surface of the interbody device to form a rotational protrusion, while at least a second protrusion extends from the opposite bearing surface of the interbody device to form a non-rotational protrusion. In another form, a single protrusion extends axially from one bearing surface of the interbody device to form a spike or anchoring, rotating protrusion, while the opposite bearing surface may be slightly rounded and/or comprising a bone-ingrowth promoting surface. Similarly configured fusion salvage devices are also described.

Unitary spinal disc implant

Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Fluidized bed pyrocarbon coating

A unitary intervertebral device, having no moving components is provided for non-fusion articulation and fusion applications. The interbody articulating device allows for limited flexion and rotation between the implant and an adjacent vertebra, helping to preserve or restore near-normal motion between adjacent vertebrae. Rotational motion is achieved through one or more protrusions incorporated into the spinal interbody device. In one articulating form, a first protrusion extends perpendicularly from one bearing surface of the interbody device to form a rotational protrusion, while at least a second protrusion extends from the opposite bearing surface of the interbody device to form a non-rotational protrusion. In another form, a single protrusion extends axially from one bearing surface of the interbody device to form a spike or anchoring, rotating protrusion, while the opposite bearing surface may be slightly rounded and/or comprising a bone-ingrowth promoting surface. Similarly configured fusion salvage devices are also described.

A unitary intervertebral device, having no moving components is provided for non-fusion articulation applications. The interbody articulating device allows for limited flexion and rotation between adjacent vertebrae, helping to preserve or restore near-normal motion between adjacent vertebrae. Rotational motion is achieved through one or more protrusions incorporated into the spinal interbody device. In one articulating form, a first protrusion extends perpendicularly from the superior aspect of the disc-shaped interbody device to form a spike or rotational protrusion, while a second protrusion extends axially from the inferior aspect of the interbody device to form a second spike or rotational protrusion. Protrusions preferably extend perpendicular from the apex of both the first and second arcuate articulating surfaces. In another form, a single protrusion extends axially from the superior aspect of a circular-shape of the interbody device to form a spike or anchoring protrusion, while the inferior surface may be slightly rounded and/or comprising a bone-ingrowth promoting surface. In another form, one or both of the first and/or second arcuate surfaces may be highly polished. Numerous planar geometries are described to define various profiles of the disc replacement implant which may be utilized, including irregular Reuleaux polygons. Numerous variations of the disc replacement and methods of use are described. Similarly configured fusion salvage devices are also described.

A heart valve holder-inserter () is designed to facilitate easy implantation of a mechanical heart valve prosthesis (). This holder-inserter, at its distal end, incorporates a pair of diametrically opposed guide members () which extend well beyond the leading edge of the prosthesis and which have exterior surfaces () of substantial dimension that are smoothly curved and proportioned so as to slowly spread the tissue annulus in order to facilitate easy entrance thereinto of the leading edge portion of the mechanical valve body.

Heart valve inserter

Pyrocarbon components have been found to create richer, clearer sound when employed as bridges (), saddles (), nuts (), frets (), tuning heads (), pegs () and other components which contact the strings in guitars (), violins () and like stringed musical instruments. Bridges/saddles and nuts of stringed instruments produce a marked difference in the sound when pyrocarbon components are used compared with currently used materials. There is a significant increase in sound volume for a given intensity of string movement, along with richer harmonics and a clearer, less muddy sound. The crystalline structure of pyrolytic carbon minimizes the damping of string vibration as it is transferred to the sound-amplifying portion of acoustic instruments, producing a rich, pleasing and higher volume sound. The useful life of strings is increased in contact with pyrolytic carbon components before they go 'dead' or break.

Pyrolytic carbon components for stringed instruments

A prosthetic venous valve having a two-piece housing which includes upstream and downstream sections. The upstream section contains a circular seat against which an occluder comes in sealing contact when the valve is in its closed position. The downstream housing section is shaped so as to prevent escape of the occluder downstream and to halt the reciprocating motion of the occluder in the open position where there is an open pathway past the occluder. A plurality of fins on the interior of the downstream housing section or on the surface of the occluder assure there is a blood flow path downstream past the occluder in the open position. The two-piece construction allows the housing sections to be axially spaced apart so that blood comes in contact with the interior surface of the patient's vein immediately downstream of the upstream section of the housing. Such arrangement is biologically advantageous and permits momentary deflections of either of the housing sections from its normal coaxial orientation without harm to the valve or disruption of its functioning.

Prosthetic venous valves

A prosthetic heart valve comprising a tubular valve body and a pair of leaflets which pivot, or translate and pivot, between open and closed positions. The valve body is of circular interior cross-section except for a pair of diametrically opposed flat wall sections which contain recesses within which the pivot axes of the leaflets are located. Arcuate edges of the leaflets are irregularly shaped so that a pair of protrusions extend radially outward from an otherwise generally semicircular periphery. The protrusions are strategically located so as to contact the interior surface of the valve body in the closed position at arcuately spaced apart locations which flank the centerline of the leaflet. As a result, contact in the closed position occurs at two spaced apart locations rather than at a single location, and at least a minimum gap is established at the central tip of the leaflet which counteracts potential cavitation, noise and hemolysis.

Prosthetic heart valve

A trileaflet heart valve includes a generally annular valve body having an interior wall of nominally circular cross-section into which three wedge-shaped projections radially extend to provide three pairs of flanking flat surfaces between which three leaflets are pivotally supported. The valve body has an outwardly flaring upstream entrance end that, together with the configuration of the leaflets, assures streamlined flow and low transvalvular pressure drop. Wing sections extend laterally in both directions at angles between about 30.degree. and 50.degree. from flat central sections of the leaflets to create V-shaped cross-section leaflet bodies having short flat edge sections along the lateral edges of both wing sections that create a wide open central flow passageway. The three leaflets assume an orientation parallel or nearly parallel to the central axis in full open position. Leaflet movement from open to closed position is partially defined by upstream retainers aligned with the flat central sections of each leaflet and by surfaces formed in or on the side walls of the projections along which the leaflets slide. Radially interior edges of the leaflets are tapered to effectively eliminate cavitation.

Trileaflet heart valve

A prosthetic heart valve is shown which incorporates a valve body design and leaflet pivot arrangements that minimize turbulence and shear stresses having a tendency to generate thrombosis. A valve body having an axially curved entrance that is smoothly joined to a generally cylindrical body of extended axial length provides excellent fluid flow characteristics when combined with leaflets that can assume orientations perfectly aligned with the downstream flow of blood. By constructing such a pyrocarbon valve body which receives a metal ring at an appropriate location, suture rings that permit the tissue annulus to directly contact the exterior surface of the cylindrical valve body are accommodated.

Prosthetic heart valve with improved blood flow

A trileaflet heart valve includes a generally annular valve body having an interior wall of nominally circular cross-section into which three wedge-shaped projections radially extend to provide three pairs of flanking flat surfaces between which three leaflets are pivotally supported. The valve body has an outwardly flaring upstream entrance end that, together with the configuration of the leaflets, assures streamlined flow and low transvalvular pressure drop. Wing sections extend laterally in both directions at angles between about 30.degree. and 50.degree. from flat central sections of the leaflets to create V-shaped cross-section leaflet bodies having short flat edge sections along the lateral edges of both wing sections that create a wide open central flow passageway. The three leaflets assume an orientation parallel or nearly parallel to the central axis in full open position. Leaflet movement from open to closed position is partially defined by upstream retainers aligned with the flat central sections of each leaflet and by surfaces formed in or on the side walls of the projections along which the leaflets slide.

A bileaflet heart valve incorporates a pivot arrangement that minimizes resistance to downstream blood flow in the open position yet has prompt response and therefore minimal regurgitation upon flow reversal. A valve body having an axially curved entrance that smoothly joins a generally cylindrical body of extended axial length provides excellent fluid flow characteristics when combined with leaflets that can assume orientations perfectly aligned with the downstream flow of blood. Identical flat leaflets can assume a parallel orientation in the fully open position during downstream blood flow or can assume other low energy positions. Flat ears, which extend laterally from opposite surfaces of the leaflets, interengage with cavities of unique design having upstream and downstream lobes separated by an intermediate throat portion defined by inward and outward fulcrums. The downstream lobes may be designed to facilitate movement to the parallel orientation or to cause the leaflets to optionally prerotate toward the closed position. As soon as reverse flow begins, upstream displacement of the leaflets causes the ears to contact straight camming surfaces located upstream of the outward fulcrums which, in combination with the fulcrums and a downwardly directed, concave surface at the upstream end of the upstream lobe, positively guide each leaflet through efficient closing which ends in substantially rotational movement. A pyrocarbon valve body receives suture rings that permit the tissue annulus to directly contact an exterior surface region of the valve body.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Jonathan C Stupka