Sdgi Holdings, Inc.

Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.

Picker Technologies LLC

Other

Spinal Dynamics Corporation

Vincent Bryan, Iii

Alex E Kunzler

Carlos Eduardo Gil

Randy N Allard

Robert Conta

Leonard Tokish

Richard J Broman

Vincent E Bryan

Anthony V Finazzo

David Yager

Jeffrey P Rouleau

Charles R Clark

Jeffrey A Cleveringa

Daniel Reed Baker

Pete Kunzler

Marc Bommarito

Gene Barrow

Polly Allard

Anthony Finazzo

Joseph A Penaranda

Aaron Kelly

Jeff Edfast

John Ohrt

Jeff Rouleau

Elliott Marshall

Richard Broman

A device for transporting articles is disclosed. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the articles are fruit such as apples, and the articles can be transported from a picking location on a fruit tree to a collection bin or other site. The device includes a tube member adapted to receive and transport the articles, and a plurality of deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations within the tube. Each baffle defines an aperture which permits the article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to create at least a partial momentary seal to encourage article movement through the aperture and down the tube. The article is urged through the tube by a pressure differential created across the article. In the described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, this pressure differential is a pneumatic pressure differential. The tube and the baffle apertures can have non-circular cross-sectional shapes.

Transport system for fruit and like objects

The invention relates to a surgical implant that provides an artificial diarthroidal-like joint, suitable for use in replacing any joint, but particularly suitable for use as an intervertebral disc endoprosthesis. The invention contains two rigid opposing shells, each having an outer surface adapted to engage the surfaces of the bones of a joint in such a way that the shells are immobilized by friction between their outer surfaces and the surfaces of the bone. These outer surfaces are sufficiently rough that large frictional forces strongly resist any slippage between the outer surface and the bone surfaces in the joint. They may be convex, and when inserted into a milled concavity, are immediately mechanically stable. Desirably, the outer surfaces of the shells are adapted to allow for bony ingrowth, which further stabilizes the shells in place. The inner surfaces of the shells are relatively smooth, and adapted to slide easily across a portion of the outer surface of a central body disposed between the shells. The central body has a shape that cooperates with the shape of the inner surface of the shell so as to provide a range of motion similar to that provided by a healthy joint. A flexible sheath extends between edges of the opposing shells. The inner surface of this sheath, together with the inner surfaces of the rigid shells, defines a cavity encasing the central body. At least a portion of this cavity is filled with a fluid lubricant, further decreasing the frictional force between inner surfaces of the shell and the surface of the central body.

Implantable joint prosthesis

A mobile system for improving the picking and preliminary processing of apples, citrus, stone fruit and the like is disclosed and claimed. The system comprises a mobile chassis upon which can be mounted picking stations, pneumatic tube transport subsystems, receiving and conveying subsystems, object scanning subsystems, cull diverter subsystems, labeling subsystems, and subsystems for relatively gently placing the objects in a predetermined location in a receiving bin. The system can also include a subsystem for gently placing diverted objects in a receiving bin.

Mobile system for improving the picking and preliminary processing of apples, citrus, stone fruit and like objects

A device for transporting articles is disclosed. In the illustrated and described embodiment of the invention, the articles are fruit such as apples, and the articles can be transported from a picking location on a fruit tree to a collection bin or other site. The device includes a tube member adapted to receive and transport the articles, and a plurality of deformable baffles at spaced-apart locations within the tube. Each baffle defines an aperture which permits the article to engage and deform the baffle and aperture so as to move through the aperture and down the tube. The article is urged through the tube by a pressure differential created across the article. In the described and illustrated embodiment of the invention, this pressure differential is a pneumatic pressure differential.

The invention relates to a surgical implant that provides an artificial diarthroidal-like D joint, suitable for use in replacing any joint, but particularly suitable for use as an intervertebral disc endoprosthesis. The invention contains two rigid opposing shells, each having an outer surface adapted to engage the surfaces of the bones of a joint in such a way that the shells are immobilized by friction between their outer surfaces and the surfaces of the bone. These outer surfaces are sufficiently rough, while the inner surfaces of the shells are relatively smooth. The central body has a shape that cooperates with the shape of the inner surface of the shell so as to provide a range of motion similar to that provided by a healthy joint.

An implantable endoprosthesis is adapted to articulate with one or more prosthesis surfaces, and is at least partially formed from a material having high wear resistance, which may be a polymeric material such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polyetherether ketone (PEEK), and the like, or a metallic material, such as a cobalt-chrome alloy, or a ceramic material, such as alumina or zirconia. The body member of the endoprosthesis may be formed from a composite material, and includes at least a first component formed from a first material having increased wear resistance as compared to that of a second material forming a second component of the body member. The second material is generally more resilient as compared to the first material.

Wear-resistant endoprosthetic devices

A drill head for preparing the bone of two opposing vertebral bodies to accept the concaval-convex shape of an endoprosthesis includes a form cutter having at least one predetermined milling surface, drive means, and a housing. The form cutter has a profile allowing the drill head to fit in the narrow space between two opposing vertebral bodies in the cervical spine of a patient. The drill head is used in a method for preparing the disc space between adjacent vertebrae of a human spine to receive an endoprosthesis therebetween, the method being performed by contacting at least one vertebral body with a movable form cutter.

Drill head for use in placing an intervertebral disc device

The invention relates to a technique for precisely locating a line containing a predetermined point within the surgical site using a series of levels and plumb lines and internal anatomical features of the surgical site, using this location to precisely position and temporarily affix a site preparation scaffold relative to the patient's anatomy so that site preparation instruments can be introduced into the site at precise locations governed by the scaffold geometry and patient anatomy. This precise positioning of the scaffold also provides a way for the surgeon to use patient anatomical features to reliably and precisely prepare the surgical site. Scaffolds having angling features further increase the precise preparation of the surgical site. This increased precision in site preparation increases the probability of a successful procedure, and decreases the likelihood that additional surgery may be needed.

Method and apparatus for stereotactic implantation

A small profile, cylindrically shaped prosthetic disc device is provided. The device housing is comprised of two longitudinally split hollow halves, between which are contained multiple discoid shaped resilient bodies which may be of a polymeric type, or they may contain hydrogel. These bodies may lie in concave surfaces located on the interior of each side of the split cylindrical housing. The housing halves even under maximum physiological loads, do not contact one another directly. Threads on the exterior surface of the cylindrical housing facilitates insertion and retention in the prepared bone opening.

Threaded cylindrical multidiscoid single or multiple array disc prosthesis

An implantable prosthesis is described having a pair of opposed shells and a central body disposed between the opposed shells wherein the central body and the shells cooperate to limit the motion of the central body with respect to the shells. An assembly for preparing a disc space for the implantation of a prosthesis is further described having a plurality of instruments cooperating to guide a tool associated with the assembly.

Implantable joint prosthesis and associated instrumentation

A small profile, peanut spectacle-shaped prosthetic disc device is provided. The device housing is comprised of two longitudinally split hollow halves, between which are contained multiple discoid shaped resilient bodies which may be of a polymeric type, or they may contain hydrogel. These bodies may lie in concave surfaces located on the interior of each side of the split cylindrical housing. The housing halves, even under maximum physiological loads, do not contact one another directly. The shell shape permits relatively easy introduction of the implant into inter-vertebral spaces in the thoracic or lumbar region of the human spine.

Peanut spectacle multi discoid thoraco-lumbar disc prosthesis

The invention relates to a spinal disc endoprosthesis. The endoprosthesis has a resilient body formed of one or more materials which may vary in stiffness from a relatively stiff exterior annular gasket portion to a relatively supple central nucleus portion. Concaval-convex elements at least partly surround that nucleus portion so as to retain the nucleus portion and gasket between adjacent vertebral bodies in a patient's spine. Assemblies of endoprosthetic discs, endoprosthetic vertebral bodies, and endoprosthetic longitudinal ligaments may be constructed. To implant this endoprosthesis assembly, information is obtained regarding the size, shape, and nature of a patient's damaged spine. Thereafter, one or more prosthetic vertebral bodies and disc units are constructed in conformity with that information. Finally, the completed and conformed vertebral body and disc assembly is implanted in the patient's spine.

Growing community of inventors

Mercer Island, WA, United States of America

Vincent Bryan, Iii