Lance M Middleton, Age 638206 Bryn Manor Ln, Germantown, TN 38139

6585769, Jul 1, 2003

Apr 5, 2000

09/543288

Nabil L. Muhanna - Gainesville GA
Lance Middleton - Trumbull CT

Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Allendale NJ

A61F 208

623 1314, 623 1311

A simple and flexible artificial ligament which easily conforms to a patients anatomy and can be used independently or in combination with an intervertebral graft, implant or prosthesis to return stability to the spine subsequent to a surgical spinal procedure is disclosed. In one preferred embodiment, the artificial ligament is in the form of a flexible conformable plate dimensioned to span adjacent vertebrae and having openings for reception of bone screws, fasteners, etc. to mount the plate to the vertebrae. The biomechanical supporting characteristics of the plate approximate the characteristics of the ligament (e. g. , anterior spinal) which it replaces thereby providing appropriate support to the spine in extension which also permitting normal spine mobility. A method of supporting adjacent vertebrae with the artificial ligament is also disclosed.

6656224, Dec 2, 2003

Aug 3, 2001

09/921876

Lance M. Middleton - Trumbull CT

Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Allendale NJ

A61F 244

623 1716

An intervertebral prosthesis includes a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom. The disc member has sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, and defines a longitudinal axis extending the height of the disc member and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The disc member includes an exterior wall which has a slit defined therein. The slit defines a longitudinal component of direction and a lateral component of direction. Preferably, the exterior wall includes a plurality of helical slits, adjacent slits being disposed in at least partial overlapping relation to define an overlapping region. Upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space with the support surfaces in contacting engagement with respective vertebral portions of the adjacent vertebrae, forces exerted by the vertebral portions on the support surfaces are transferred along the exterior wall through the overlapping region.

6726722, Apr 27, 2004

Oct 24, 2001

10/001695

Jared Walkenhorst - Fairfield CT
Herb Cohen - Shelton CT
Lance Middleton - Trumbull CT

Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Allendale NJ

A61B 1756

623 1716, 606 73

A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures includes an implant member for positioning between adjacent opposed bone structures. The implant member defines a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends and has an outer wall dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith. The outer wall includes at least one thread for facilitating positioning between the opposed bone structures. The implant member has an intermediate portion which defines a cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is greater than respective cross-sectional dimensions of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member.

6902581, Jun 7, 2005

Oct 24, 2001

10/041541

Jared Walkenhorst - Fairfield CT, US
Herb Cohen - Shelton CT, US
Lance Middleton - Trumbull CT, US

Kowmedica Osteonics Corp. - Mahwah NJ

A61F002/44

623 1716

A fusion implant apparatus for facilitating fusion of adjacent bone structures includes a threadless implant member which is positioned between adjacent opposed bone structures. The implant member defines a longitudinal axis and first and second longitudinal ends and has an outer wall which is dimensioned to engage the opposed bone structures upon positioning therebetween in supporting relation therewith. The outer wall defines an internal cavity for the reception of bone growth inducing substances and includes a plurality of apertures which extend therethrough in communication with the internal cavity to permit fusion of vertebral bone tissue. The implant member also includes an intermediate portion which defines a cross-sectional dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis which is greater than the respective cross-sectional dimensions of the first and second longitudinal ends of the implant member.

7115142, Oct 3, 2006

Mar 11, 2003

10/385948

Nabil L. Muhanna - Gainesville GA, US
Lance Middleton - Trumbull CT, US

Bone Runner Technologies, LLC - Oklahoma City OK
Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Allendale NJ

A61F 2/08
A61B 17/56

623 1311, 606 61

A method of repairing a bone joint by using a simple and flexible artificial ligament which easily conforms to a patient's anatomy and can be used independently or in combination with an intervertebral graft, implant or prosthesis to return stability to the spine subsequent to a surgical spine procedure, is disclosed. The method includes anchoring the artificial ligament to at least two vertebrae to aid in restoring stability to the compromised joint. The artificial ligament is also disclosed.

7128762, Oct 31, 2006

Sep 26, 2003

10/672327

Lance Middleton - Trumbull CT, US

Howmedica Osteonics Corp. - Mahwah NJ

A61F 2/44

623 1716

An intervertebral prosthesis includes a disc member dimensioned for insertion within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae to replace at least a portion of an intervertebral disc removed therefrom. The disc member has sufficient rigidity to support the adjacent vertebrae in spaced relation, and defines a longitudinal axis extending the height of the disc member and a lateral axis transverse to the longitudinal axis. The disc member includes an exterior wall which has a slit defined therein. The slit defines a longitudinal component of direction and a lateral component of direction. Preferably, the exterior wall includes a plurality of helical slits, adjacent slits being disposed in at least partial overlapping relation to define an overlapping region. Upon insertion of the disc member within the intervertebral space with the support surfaces in contacting engagement with respective vertebral portions of the adjacent vertebrae, forces exerted by the vertebral portions on the support surfaces are transferred along the exterior wall through the overlapping region.

7488320, Feb 10, 2009

Oct 31, 2002

10/284672

Lance M. Middleton - Trumbull CT, US

Renova Orthopedics, LLC - Oklahoma City OK

A61B 17/56

606 62, 606323, 606 92

An orthopaedic implant fixation using a surgically created bone cavity as a mold for forming an anchor from an in-situ hardenable material. An in-situ formed anchor of the present invention is especially useful for attaching an implant to osteoporotic cancellous bone. The injectable nature of the in-situ formed anchor allows implants to be adapted to minimally invasive surgical techniques. The present invention can be adapted to numerous implants or implant system components to include fasteners, pins, nails, intramedullary nails, and suture anchors. Applications include bone fracture fixation, bone fracture prevention, and soft-tissue repair.

7556650, Jul 7, 2009

Jun 29, 2005

11/170382

Keith Collins - Milford CT, US
Thomas G. Wilson - Guilford CT, US
Jared Walkenhorst - Fairfield CT, US
Dennis Lee - Milford CT, US
Andrew Carter - Trumbull CT, US
John Pafford - Eads TN, US
Mark D. LoGuidice - Southport CT, US
Lance Middleton - Soddy Daisy TN, US
Lawrence Boyd - Durham NC, US

Spine Wave, Inc. - Shelton CT

A61F 2/44

623 1711

A method for treating a diseased or damaged spinal disc having an inner nucleus pulposus and an outer annulus is provided comprises the steps of: providing access to the nucleus pulposus through the annulus; removing at least a portion of the nucleus pulposus to create an intradiscal space; determining the integrity of the annulus; and then sealably introducing under pressure a curable biomaterial through the annulus access directly into the intradiscal space. The step of determining the integrity of the annulus may be accomplished by introducing into the disc a fluid solution under a first pressure. The curable biomaterial may subsequently be introduced through the annulus directly into said intradiscal space at a second pressure that is increased or decreased from the first pressure as a function of the viscosity of the biomaterial relative to the fluid solution. In certain embodiments, a distraction force is applied to the disc space.