Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080262526 | NERVE STIMULATING DRILL BIT - A nerve stimulating drill bit is provided and can include a shank and a body attached to the shank. The body can include a plurality of flutes and a cutting tip. Further, a first conductor can extend through the shank and the body. The first conductor can be insulated and can provide a signal at the cutting tip. Further, the signal can be configured to provide nerve stimulation at the cutting tip of the nerve stimulating drill bit. | 10-23-2008 |
20090024164 | System for determining spinal implants - A system for determining spinal implants includes a surgical table that moves a patient secured on the table into different positions in response to patient command, including a position of pain (POP) where the patient experiences the most pain from one or more affected levels of the spine, and a position of comfort (POC) where the patient has the least amount of pain. A scanner scans the patient on the table at least at the POP and the POC, and produces corresponding radiographic image data. Image processing apparatus coupled to the scanner quantifies changes in the relative position of adjacent vertebra at each affected level when the vertebra move from their configuration in the patient's POP, to their configuration in the patient's POC. The apparatus can then select an optimal implant device from among a number of devices whose characteristics are stored in a system database. | 01-22-2009 |
20090125072 | Surgical bone screw construction - A surgical bone screw includes an elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, a threaded portion on the circumference of the body, and a passage extending between the proximal and the distal ends of the body. An electrical conductor is disposed in the passage between the proximal and the distal ends of the screw body. The conductor has a first terminal at the proximal end and a second terminal at the distal end. The conductor and both of the terminals are electrically insulated from surrounding portions of the screw body. When the screw is driven into bone tissue and a stimulating current is applied to the first terminal, the current is directed substantially through the conductor to flow into tissue adjacent to the second terminal at the distal end, without shunting by other tissue that surrounds the screw body. | 05-14-2009 |
20090287544 | Customer managed restaurant information system - A restaurant information system includes a point-of-sale (POS) device constructed and arranged for identifying a customer at a restaurant, an amount owed for food or other items purchased at the restaurant, a financial services provider, and a restaurant customer service of which the customer is a member. A network server is associated with the restaurant customer service, and is configured to access a personal customer file created by the customer. The POS device is configured to prompt and receive a customer entry including a review or other comments concerning the restaurant, and to address the customer entry to the second network server for writing in the customer's personal file. The network server may also be configured to compile a searchable database reflecting customer entries made in a number of different customer files. | 11-19-2009 |
20100331852 | Tool device for inserting fasteners - A tool device includes a frame, a barrel extending from the frame, a first magazine having first passages for containing work or drive bits, and a second magazine having second passages for containing fasteners. A shaft is movable over a path that extends through the barrel. When a second passage is vacant and aligned with a selected first passage, a work bit in the first passage is urged by the shaft through the vacant second passage and through the barrel, to be set at a distal end of the barrel for use on a work object. When a second passage containing a fastener is aligned with a selected first passage, a drive bit in the first passage is urged by the shaft to engage the fastener and advance the fastener to the distal end of the barrel, to enable the bit to drive the fastener into the work object. | 12-30-2010 |
20110092859 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AND PLACING SPINAL IMPLANTS OR PROSTHESES - A system for determining and placing spinal implants or prostheses includes apparatus for measuring a change in position of vertebrae at an affected level of a patient's spine from a position of pain where the patient reports greatest pain originating from the affected level, to a position of comfort where the patient reports the least pain from the affected level. Spinal implants or prostheses are constructed and arranged for urging the affected level of the spine to the position of comfort when applied to or placed at determined locations in the affected level. In one embodiment, an implant device includes one or more inflatable balloons, wherein each balloon is placed at a certain location in a disc space at the affected level, and vertebrae above and below the balloon are urged to the position of comfort at the affected level when the balloons are inflated. | 04-21-2011 |
20120083849 | TOOL SYSTEM FOR PLACING VERTEBRAL FACET SCREWS AND OTHER SPINAL IMPLANTS - A surgical tool system for placing facet joint screws includes an elongated probe, and an inclinometer configured to mount on the probe for sensing an angular deviation of the probe from a horizontal and a vertical plane, and to produce corresponding signals for processing. A guide anchor screw or pin is configured for insertion in a top edge of a spinous process on a given spinal vertebra, and the pin includes a polyaxial swivel head having a guide opening or channel for passage of the probe. The system also includes a guide sleeve for operatively mounting the inclinometer thereon and directing a guide wire percutaneously into contact with a facet joint, and a cannulated facet screw arranged to be advanced over the guide wire and threaded percutaneously through the facet joint. | 04-05-2012 |
20140149234 | MANAGEMENT OF RESTAURANT INFORMATION AND SERVICE BY CUSTOMERS - A method of managing restaurant information and service by restaurant customers. A point-of-sale (POS) device at a restaurant identifies a customer at the restaurant, links with a network server associated with a restaurant customer service to which the customer belongs, and transmits an amount owed by the customer for food or other items to a financial services provider. A server associated with the restaurant customer service allows the customer to create a personal file accessible only by the customer and others designated by the customer. Each personal file includes certain entries including a rating, review, or other information concerning restaurants patronized by the members of the customer service. The POS device prompts the customer for such entries after the financial services provider approves payment of the amount owed. The entries are then transmitted to the customer service for entry in the customer's personal file. | 05-29-2014 |
20140163573 | DETERMINING AND PLACING SPINAL IMPLANTS OR PROSTHESES - A procedure and system for determining and placing spinal implants or prostheses includes measuring a change in position of vertebrae at an affected level of a patient's spine from a first position where the patient reports greatest pain at the affected level, to a second position where the patient reports least pain at the affected level. Spinal implants or prostheses are selected so as to urge the affected level of the spine toward the second position and away from the first position when the implants are placed at the affected level. In one embodiment, an implant device is formed by one or more inflatable balloons that are placed at determined locations inside a disc space at the affected level. When the balloons are inflated, vertebrae above and below the balloons are urged toward the second position and away from the first position at the affected level. | 06-12-2014 |