Douglas B Hester

US Patent:

20110077655, Mar 31, 2011

Filed:

Sep 23, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/889385

Inventors:

Michael A. Fisher - Grayson GA, US
Thomas M. DiMauro - Raynham MA, US
John Riley Hawkins - Raynham MA, US
Douglas Hester - Raynham MA, US
Michael J. O'Neil - Raynham MA, US
Jamie Lockwood - Raynham MA, US
Matthew Parsons - Raynham MA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/60

US Classification:

606 90

Abstract:

A mandrel is inserted into the tissue to be distracted and a filament is repeatedly wrapped around the mandrel to make a spool. As the mandrel turns, the filament coils around the mandrel to create of spool of increasing diameter. This spool can be used as a distractor, tamp, or implant. A spool implant can be cemented to further stabilize the device in situ, such as a vertebral body. The filament deposition upon the mandrel is controlled by rotation and the volume creation is incremental. This makes the spool ideal for creating highly controlled distraction forces or insertion of bulking material. In some embodiments, fibers having a low glass transition temperature are used.

US Patent:

20120172934, Jul 5, 2012

Filed:

Jan 4, 2011

Appl. No.:

12/984486

Inventors:

Michael A. Fisher - Lawrenceville GA, US
Richard Techiera - Raynham MA, US
Douglas Hester - Raynham MA, US

International Classification:

A61B 17/86
A61B 17/58

US Classification:

606304, 606 92

Abstract:

A method of compacting and stabilizing bone in the spine using an expandable screw and bone filler. The method comprises placing an expanding screw through a pedicle and into a fractured vertebral body using established techniques; and expanding the screw within the body to create a cavity by tamping bone around the expanded aspect of the screw. The screw can be expanded and rotated about its rotational-axis to tamp bone adjacent to the expanded screw. After compaction, the screw is removed and the cavity is filled with bone filler.