3m Innovative Properties Company

University of Minnesota

Timothy J Pommer

Michael Alan Meis

Raymond Patrick Johnston

Robert L Brott

Arthur Guy Erdman

Paul Edward Humpal

Charles N DeVore

Martin J Vos

James F Poch

Kayla A Hagens

David W Polly

Hamid R Mortazavi

David Nuckley

Evan Mark Gustafson

Charles Gerald Tan Ledonio

A spinal probe comprises a handle, a shaft coupled to the handle and a force sensor to detect forces applied to a tip of the shaft. A controller that executes a predictive algorithm to predict whether or not the tip of the shaft is going to breach a cortex of a pedicle based on the detected forces. The controller may be embedded within the spinal probe or external within a computer or other device coupled to the probe by a data acquisition component.

Spinal probe with tactile force feedback and pedicle breach prediction

A solid state light having a solid state light source such as LEDs, a light guide having an enclosed interior volume such as a bulb shape without vents, and a thermal guide. The light guide is coupled to the light source for receiving and distributing light from the light source. The thermal guide is at least partially contained within the interior volume with an air gap between a portion of the thermal guide and the light guide. The thermal guide provides for thermal conduction from the light source and dissipating heat through convection and radiation for cooling the light.

Solid state light with enclosed light guide and integrated thermal guide

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Timothy J Pommer