Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080275455 | Apparatus and Methods for Inserting an Implant - A system and method for inserting an implant into a cavity is disclosed, which may include advancing an implant insertion instrument toward a pair of adjacent bodies, the implant insertion instrument having two opposed ramps, wherein each ramp has a distal tip and wherein the longitudinal axes of the opposed ramps are separated by an initial angle; inserting the distal tips of the opposed ramps between the adjacent bodies, thereby creating an initial interbody cavity between the adjacent bodies; expanding the interbody cavity while maintaining the initial angle between the longitudinal axes of the opposed ramps; placing the implant in a final location between the adjacent bodies; transferring a compressive force urging the adjacent bodies together from the opposed ramps to the implant; and extracting the implant insertion instrument from the interbody cavity. | 11-06-2008 |
20100160984 | Insertion tool for Inter-body Vertebral Prosthetic Device With Self-Deploying Screws - An apparatus for inserting an intervertebral prosthesis within a spine of a mammal includes: a handle disposed at a proximal end of the tool and including a drive nut operating to produce rotational torque in response to user-input about a central axis; a first drive shaft including proximal and distal ends; the proximal end in communication with the drive nut, receiving rotational torque therefrom, and imparting rotational torque to the first drive shaft about a first axis, which is laterally offset from the central axis; and the distal end of the first drive shaft including a first drive head; and a chuck disposed at a distal end of the tool and being sized and shaped to engage the intervertebral prosthesis during implantation, wherein the first drive shaft extends through the chuck and the first drive head engages a first gear of the intervertebral prosthesis, such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation and deployment of a first anchoring element of the intervertebral prosthesis. | 06-24-2010 |
20100161057 | Interbody Vertebral Prosthetic Device With Self-Deploying Screws - An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least anterior and posterior sidewalls extending therebetween, the first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, and the second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces; a first aperture extending from within the body, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis, and opening at the first major surface; a first anchoring element disposed within the first aperture and including a threaded shaft having proximal and distal ends; and a first gear disposed adjacent to and in meshed, threaded communication with the threaded shaft of the first anchoring element such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the first anchoring element, wherein a driving rotational force on the first gear causes the first anchoring element to rotate, deploy from the body, and thread into the first vertebral bone in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the body and the spine. | 06-24-2010 |
20120029642 | Apparatus and Methods for Inserting an Implant - Methods and apparatus for inserting an implant into a cavity provide for: disposing an implant between opposing first and second ramps of an implant insertion instrument; orienting first and second vertebral contact surfaces of the ramps such that they define an initial, non-zero angle therebetween; inserting the first and second ramps into an intervertebral space of a spine; advancing the implant distally along and between the ramps such that the first and second vertebral contact surfaces of the first and second ramps separate while holding the initial angle substantially constant. | 02-02-2012 |
20120265307 | Implantable Intervertebral Fusion Device - The present application relates to an implantable intervertebral fusion device for use when surgical fusion of vertebral bodies is indicated. The implant is comprised of bone conforming in size and shape with the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae and has a wedge-shaped profile with a plurality of footings and grooves located on the top and bottom surfaces. | 10-18-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120271421 | Apparatus and Method for Inserting Intervertebral Implants - An instrument for inserting an implant between vertebrae includes an upper and a lower ramp each having a respective proximal and a distal end. A bracket assembly is coupled to the upper and lower ramps at the proximal ends. The bracket assembly biases the upper and lower ramps closed at the distal end. A drive member has a longitudinal axis and a screw thread thereon. The drive member is disposed between the upper and lower ramps and extends through a passage in the bracket assembly. An adjustable spreader is operably coupled to the drive member and movable between the upper and lower ramps along the longitudinal axis by rotation of the drive member. The adjustable spreader separates the upper ramp from the lower ramp during forwardly movement along the longitudinal axis. An implant holder is coupled to the adjustable spreader. | 10-25-2012 |
20130245767 | INTERBODY VERTEBRAL PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOPEDIC FUSION DEVICE WITH SELF-DEPLOYING ANCHORS - A prosthesis includes: a body including a first major surface for engaging an endplate of a first vertebral bone of a spine, a second major surface for engaging an endplate of an adjacent, second vertebral bone of the spine; at least one aperture extending from within the body and opening at the first major surface; at least one anchoring element disposed within the aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends; and a drive mechanism engaging the proximal end of the at least one anchoring element and operating to push the at least one anchoring element out through the at least one aperture and into the first vertebral bone, without rotating the at least one anchoring element about an axis thereof. | 09-19-2013 |
20140156010 | INTERBODY VERTEBRAL PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOPEDIC FUSION DEVICE WITH SELF-DEPLOYING ANCHORS - A method of inserting an intervertebral prosthesis into an intervertebral space between respective endplates of adjacent first and second vertebral bones of a spine, includes: placing the intervertebral prosthesis into the intervertebral space, the intervertebral prosthesis including: a body including first and second spaced apart major surfaces and at least one sidewall extending therebetween, the first major surface for engaging the endplate of the first vertebral bone, and the second major surface for engaging the endplate of the second vertebral bone, and the first and second major surfaces defining a longitudinal axis extending substantially normal to said surfaces; and simultaneously pushing at least three anchoring elements from within the body of the intervertebral prosthesis out through at least three respective apertures in the body and into at least one of the first and second vertebral bones, without rotating the at least one anchoring element about an axis thereof. | 06-05-2014 |
20150066147 | INTERBODY VERTEBRAL PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOPEDIC FUSION DEVICE WITH SELF-DEPLOYING ANCHORS - An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body; at least three apertures extending from within the body; at least three anchoring elements disposed within the at least three apertures; and a drive mechanism operating to simultaneously push the at least three anchoring elements out through the apertures, where: a first deployment direction of a first of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body; a second deployment direction of a second of the anchoring elements includes: (i) a first substantial directional component in one of an anterior and posterior direction of the body; and (ii) a second substantial directional component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body and opposite to the second substantial directional component of the first deployment direction of the first anchoring element; and the drive mechanism operates to move the first anchoring element at least some distance in the first deployment direction and to move the second anchoring element at least some distance in the second deployment direction. | 03-05-2015 |
20150305886 | INTERBODY VERTEBRAL PROSTHETIC AND ORTHOPEDIC FUSION DEVICE WITH SELF-DEPLOYING ANCHORS - An intervertebral prosthesis includes: a body; a first aperture extending from within the body and opening; a first anchoring element disposed within the first aperture and including a shaft having proximal and distal ends, where the proximal end of the first anchoring element includes a first portion of a first articulation mechanism; and a drive mechanism having: (i) a threaded shaft defining a longitudinal axis thereof and a head at a proximal end of the threaded shaft, (ii) a translator element having a threaded bore in threaded engagement with the threaded shaft, and a coupling element having a corresponding second portion of the first articulation mechanism, where the first and second portions of the first articulation mechanism engage one another such that the first anchoring element articulates relative to the a translator element. | 10-29-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090061764 | System and method for providing a radio-like experience - A system and method for providing a radio-like experience may comprise providing a personal media library (PML)-based playlist, including receiving media elements from a listener's PML, creating a playlist of the media elements using professional broadcast scheduling software and providing the playlist to the listener. A system and method of providing a radio-like experience may also comprise creating a playlist of media elements according to the user preferences for a media genre and for perishable content and providing the playlist to the listener. | 03-05-2009 |
20090061807 | RADIO RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND PLAYING SIGNALS FROM MULTIPLE BROADCAST CHANNELS - A radio receiver may comprise a receiver adaptable for receiving a plurality of broadcast streams over a plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the receiver will attempt to receive a selected broadcast stream on a selected broadcast channel, and if the selected broadcast stream is not receivable on the selected broadcast channel, the receiver will attempt to receive the selected broadcast stream on an alternative broadcast channel. A computer readable medium may allow a user of a receiver to create a composite stream comprising at least one portion selected from each of at least two of a plurality of broadcast streams. A method of open interface merge replication may involve comparing data between first and second databases, and if a conflict exists, updating one of the first and second databases with at least a portion of data from the other of the first and second databases to resolve the conflict. | 03-05-2009 |
20090063511 | System and method for providing broadcast listener participation - A method of allowing listeners to participate in broadcast programming is provided, the method generally comprising one or more of providing a library of media elements accessible by a plurality of listeners; receiving from each of at least two of the listeners a playlist of media elements, wherein at least one of the media elements in each playlist is from the library of media elements; editing the playlists using broadcast scheduling software; providing the edited playlists to the plurality of listeners for playback, and for feedback regarding the playlists; and receiving feedback from at least one of the listeners regarding the playlists. A system and apparatus are similarly provided. | 03-05-2009 |
20090157731 | DYNAMIC AUDIO FILE AND METHOD OF USE - A method of creating a dynamic audio file may comprise associating a tag with an audio file having audio content and the tag may comprise a location file path of a source of the audio content. A method of updating a dynamic audio file may comprise sending a dynamic audio file, receiving a request for updated audio content, and sending the updated audio content in response to the request. In various embodiments, the dynamic audio file may comprise a tag and initial audio content and the tag may comprise a location file path of the audio content. | 06-18-2009 |
20100079338 | Promotion Using Geopositioning Technology - Promotional items can be geocached at desired locations as part of a geocaching promotion in which geocachers attempt to locate the promotional items using clues, solving puzzles, or otherwise obtaining GPS coordinates and other information used to determine the geolocation of the geocached promotional items. Some or all of the information needed to identify the geolocation can be encoded into an electronic format and delivered directly to mobile devices including GPS receivers via radio broadcasts or the Internet. GPS coordinates can also be pre-loaded into mobile devices awarded to particular geocachers. Additionally, tracking devices can be attached to the promotional items to permit evaluation of the marketing effort. | 04-01-2010 |
20110271189 | System and Method for Providing Broadcast Listener Participation - A method of allowing listeners to participate in broadcast programming is provided, the method generally comprising one or more of providing a library of media elements accessible by a plurality of listeners; receiving from each of at least two of the listeners a playlist of media elements, wherein at least one of the media elements in each playlist is from the library of media elements; editing the playlists using broadcast scheduling software; providing the edited playlists to the plurality of listeners for playback, and for feedback regarding the playlists; and receiving feedback from at least one of the listeners regarding the playlists. A system and apparatus are similarly provided. | 11-03-2011 |
20120266076 | CUSTOMIZING PERISHABLE CONTENT OF A MEDIA CHANNEL - A user can specify particular news, weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station. | 10-18-2012 |
20120289146 | RADIO RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND PLAYING SIGNALS FROM MULTIPLE BROADCAST CHANNELS - A radio receiver may comprise a receiver adaptable for receiving a plurality of broadcast streams over a plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the receiver will attempt to receive a selected broadcast stream on a selected broadcast channel, and if the selected broadcast stream is not receivable on the selected broadcast channel, the receiver will attempt to receive the selected broadcast stream on an alternative broadcast channel. A computer readable medium may allow a user of a receiver to create a composite stream comprising at least one portion selected from each of at least two of a plurality of broadcast streams. A method of open interface merge replication may involve comparing data between first and second databases, and if a conflict exists, updating one of the first and second databases with at least a portion of data from the other of the first and second databases to resolve the conflict. | 11-15-2012 |
20120290532 | RADIO RECEIVER AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING AND PLAYING SIGNALS FROM MULTIPLE BROADCAST CHANNELS - A radio receiver may comprise a receiver adaptable for receiving a plurality of broadcast streams over a plurality of broadcast channels, wherein the receiver will attempt to receive a selected broadcast stream on a selected broadcast channel, and if the selected broadcast stream is not receivable on the selected broadcast channel, the receiver will attempt to receive the selected broadcast stream on an alternative broadcast channel. A computer readable medium may allow a user of a receiver to create a composite stream comprising at least one portion selected from each of at least two of a plurality of broadcast streams. A method of open interface merge replication may involve comparing data between first and second databases, and if a conflict exists, updating one of the first and second databases with at least a portion of data from the other of the first and second databases to resolve the conflict. | 11-15-2012 |
20120321098 | Providing broadcast listener participation - A listener participation interface allows listeners to generate playlists that include media elements selected from a library of available media elements. The playlists generated by the listener participation interface are automatically compatible with broadcast automation software used by a broadcaster, so that little, if any, modification of listener-submitted playlists is required before the broadcast automation software incorporates the playlists into an actual broadcast schedule. | 12-20-2012 |
20130024271 | Promotion Using Geopositioning Technology - Promotional items can be geocached at desired locations as part of a geocaching promotion in which geocachers attempt to locate the promotional items using clues, solving puzzles, or otherwise obtaining GPS coordinates and other information used to determine the geolocation of the geocached promotional items. Some or all of the information needed to identify the geolocation can be encoded into an electronic format and delivered directly to mobile devices including GPS receivers via radio broadcasts or the Internet. GPS coordinates can also be pre-loaded into mobile devices awarded to particular geocachers. Additionally, tracking devices can be attached to the promotional items to permit evaluation of the marketing effort. | 01-24-2013 |
20140006559 | Content Add-In for Media Service | 01-02-2014 |
20140108141 | Dynamic Audio File Generation - A method of creating a dynamic audio file may comprise associating a tag with an audio file having audio content and the tag may comprise a location file path of a source of the audio content. A method of updating a dynamic audio file may comprise sending a dynamic audio file, receiving a request for updated audio content, and sending the updated audio content in response to the request. In various embodiments, the dynamic audio file may comprise a tag and initial audio content and the tag may comprise a location file path of the audio content. | 04-17-2014 |
20140195614 | Third Party Delivery of Preferred Perishable Content - A user can specify particular news, weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station. | 07-10-2014 |
20140244390 | CUSTOMIZING PERISHABLE CONTENT OF A MEDIA CHANNEL - A user can specify particular news weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station. | 08-28-2014 |
20150019465 | MITIGATING MEDIA STATION INTERRUPTIONS - A media receiver identifies attributes of a media station to which the media receiver is currently tuned. The media receiver monitors the signal quality of the media station. If the signal quality of the media station drops below a quality threshold, the receiver chooses an alternate station having similar content, and then tunes to the alternate station until the signal quality of the original station improves. When the signal quality of the original station rises above a re-tune threshold, the receiver can switch back to the original station. The receiver can monitor and record user listening patterns, station-switching patterns, and situational parameters, to identify times or locations at which station switches occur. This information can be used to select appropriate alternative stations, to perform pre-emptive station switches, and to determine when a station's content will be buffered with the expectation that a station's signal will drop below the quality threshold. | 01-15-2015 |
20150046267 | LIVE MEDIA STREAM INCLUDING PERSONALIZED NOTIFICATIONS - A live media broadcast includes core content streamed to multiple users. While all consumers can be presented with the same core content, each individual consumer can be provided with individually customized content from various notification services during commercial breaks. For example, while one consumer can be provided with customized banking updates from her bank account during part of a commercial break, during that same commercial break another user might be provided with social media notifications or reminders from his calendar. Notifications or updates can be received in a text format and converted to an audio or other suitable format at an ad server, and delivered to a media automation system for insertion into a media stream in a way that integrates notifications into the listening or viewing experience without interrupting presentation of the core content. | 02-12-2015 |
20150213121 | System and method for providing broadcast listener participation - A method of allowing listeners to participate in broadcast programming is provided, the method generally comprising one or more of providing a library of media elements accessible by a plurality of listeners; receiving from each of at least two of the listeners a playlist of media elements, wherein at least one of the media elements in each playlist is from the library of media elements; editing the playlists using broadcast scheduling software; providing the edited playlists to the plurality of listeners for playback, and for feedback regarding the playlists; and receiving feedback from at least one of the listeners regarding the playlists. A system and apparatus are similarly provided. | 07-30-2015 |
20150319122 | Synchronization of Preferred Perishable Content - A user can specify particular news, weather, traffic, or other perishable content received on a particular Internet radio station or other media channel. The user can customize the station so that wherever the user is currently located, he can receive perishable content related to a preferred geographic location or other category. In some embodiments, a user can specify that a customized station plays local news from one city at the top of the hour, traffic from another city at 10 minutes past the hour, and music or other content at other times. The user can also customize the station to select the perishable content, or other original content, from the personal libraries of specified users. Thus, a user can customize not only the genre of content or select a particular local station, but can also modify the perishable content provided by the customized station. | 11-05-2015 |