DR. MATTHEW NEWBERG SONGER, MD
Medical Practice at Fair Ave, Harvey, MI

2012021, Aug 23, 2012

Jan 10, 2012

13/347526

Stephen Hochschuler - Paradise Valley AZ, US
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI, US

A61F 2/44

623 1716

A method and apparatus for stabilizing first and second adjacent bone portions. The method includes the steps of: providing a spacer; providing a stabilizer, with the spacer and stabilizer configured to be movable guidingly, one relative to the other, between a pre-assembly relationship and an operative relationship; and placing the spacer and stabilizer into an operative relationship with the first and second adjacent bone portions. As an incident of the spacer and stabilizer being changed from their pre-assembly relationship into the operative relationship with each other and the first and second bone portions, the spacer, stabilizer and first bone portion cooperate to cause the first bone portion and spacer to be urged towards each other. The method may be carried out by moving the stabilizer and spacer, and all auxiliary parts and handling and assembling instruments, substantially in a single plane along one line or parallel lines.

2012031, Dec 6, 2012

Aug 14, 2012

13/585607

Qi-Bin Bao - Marquette MI, US
Jeffrey L. Trudeau - Marquette MI, US
Brian Patrick Janowski - Marquette MI, US
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI, US
Hansen A. Yuan - Fayetteville NY, US
Thomas S. Kilpela - Marquette MI, US
Gregory Berrevoets - Skandia MI, US

Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61B 17/88

606279, 606 86 A

An artificial disc device for replacing a damaged nucleus is disclosed. In one form, the device may be inserted in components such that the device may be assembled within and retained by the natural annulus therein. In another form, the device may be inserted into the natural annulus in a collapsed or compressed state or arrangement and then be expanded within and retained by the annulus therein. In a further form, the device may be provided with a releasable connection so that the device may be connected in an insertion configuration and may be released in an operable configuration. Insertion tools and methods are also disclosed.

6123708, Sep 26, 2000

Feb 3, 1999

9/243988

Thomas N. Kilpela - Marquette MI
Clayton R. Perry - St. Louis MO
Kenneth A. Davenport - Marquette MI
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI

Pioneer Laboratories, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61B 1756

606 62

A nail (or rod) for axial insertion into a large bone for support thereof, which comprises an elongated nail body having a central bore extending through the nail body from the proximal end along a proximal portion of the nail, and typically terminating at point spaced between the ends. The nail may also define a transversely flattened distal portion extending proximally from the distal end. In the embodiment shown, an open slot may extend centrally and longitudinally from the distal end along the distal portion to an inner slot end which is spaced between the ends of the nail. The nail body defines a plurality of transverse holes extending therethrough for receiving bone screws for supporting securance of the nail to a bone while the nail occupies the intramedullar space of the bone.

6156035, Dec 5, 2000

Nov 16, 1998

9/192787

Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI

Pioneer Laboratories, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61B 1818

606 45

An electrocautery probe for penetrating through tissue. The probe comprises a tissue-compatible, flexible sleeve; an exposed electrode carried at one end of the sleeve; a wire connected at one end to the electrode and extending through the sleeve; and an electrical connector attached to the other end of the wire. The connector is suitable for attachment to a source of electrocautery power. The wire is separate from the sleeve, to be removable by pulling from the sleeve when the electrode is cut away or otherwise removed from the sleeve. Thus, the probe can penetrate tissue by electrocautery action to form a tissue tunnel, and the electrode and wire can then be removed, leaving at least a portion of the sleeve in the tissue tunnel to serve as a drainage catheter.

5611801, Mar 18, 1997

Nov 29, 1994

8/346152

Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI

Pioneer Laboratories, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61B 1782

606 73

Fixation of a bone fracture may be accomplished by screw driving a threaded pin into the bone, typically in a manner to cause the pin to advance across the fracture area of the bone. It is also common for a pair or more of said pins to be driven into the bone in the manner described above. The threaded pin or pins each may have a cable secured to the pin, extending outwardly from the proximal pin end. One then wraps the cable or cables around the bone to provide external securance for fixation of the bone fracture. A pair of cables used in this process may be secured together under tension by a crimp. Otherwise, a single, free cable end may be secured to a separate pin or other anchor as desired.

7740649, Jun 22, 2010

Oct 26, 2004

10/973891

Lawrence Mosca - Marquette MI, US
Matthew Peter Gephart - Marquette MI, US
Brian Janowski - Marquette MI, US
Brad Fredin - Ishpeming MI, US
Francis Korhonen - Negaunee MI, US
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI, US

Pioneer Surgical Technology, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61B 17/80

606289, 606280

Bone plate systems and anchor retainers are provided for use in surgical implants and bone repair. In a preferred form, the bone plate may include bores for receiving the bone anchors, and the bores may permit and define a path of translation or shifting of the bone anchors relative to the bone plate. The anchor retainers may be held in the bores to prevent back-out of the bone anchors. Once the anchor member is seated within the bone plate, the retainer may rest over a top surface of the anchor member so the anchor member is impeded from backing out of the bone plate. The retainer may expand or change shape to permit an anchor member to be driven through the retainer and may contract once an anchor member has been seated within the plate. In addition, a tool for insertion or extraction of the bone anchors is provided.

8388684, Mar 5, 2013

Oct 22, 2003

10/692468

Qi-Bin Bao - Marquette MI, US
Jeffrey L. Trudeau - Marquette MI, US
Brian Patrick Janowski - Marquette MI, US
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI, US
Hansen Yuan - Fayetteville NY, US
Thomas S. Kilpela - Marquette MI, US
Gregory Berrevoets - Skandia MI, US

Pioneer Signal Technology, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61F 2/44

623 1714, 623 1711, 623 1715, 623 1716

An artificial disc device for replacing a damaged nucleus is disclosed. In one form, the device may be inserted in components such that the device may be assembled within and retained by the natural annulus therein. In another form, the device may be inserted into the natural annulus in a collapsed or compressed state or arrangement and then be expanded within and retained by the annulus therein.

2012021, Aug 23, 2012

Feb 16, 2012

13/397804

Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI, US

A61B 17/82

606 74

A surgical cable system having a length of cable and a locking body on which a first cable end is operatively located. The locking body defines a receiver for a first portion of the cable with the cable formed into a first loop that resides generally in a first plane. A locking structure on the locking body cooperates with the first portion of the cable to maintain the first loop in a tensioned state. The locking structure has an actuator that is operable to change the state of the locking structure. The locking structure is changeable from a released state into a locked state as an incident of one of: a) moving at least a part of the actuator along and/or around an axis that is generally parallel to the first plane; and b) moving a part of the cable length along a first line that is generally parallel to the first plane.

5662653, Sep 2, 1997

Feb 22, 1996

8/603847

Robert J. Songer - Northbrook IL
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI
Francis J. Korhonen - Neqaunee MI

Pioneer Laboratories, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61F 230

606 61

A link for connecting surgical rods to bone comprises a bone connector such as a bone screw or a bone hook, and a head connected to one end of the bone connector. The head defines an outwardly facing first recess for receiving a portion of a surgical rod which extends transversely of the link and occupies the first recess. A cover is proportioned to fit in a position to cover the surgical rod portion occupying the first recess. A hinge member is carried by the cover and head, to permit vertical pivoting retention between the cover and the head on one side of the recess. A closure on the cover and head is provided at a position opposed to the hinge member. Specifically, the closure may comprise aligned holes, plus a set screw to provide locking closure between the cover and head with a surgical rod extending through the first recess.

5649927, Jul 22, 1997

Sep 27, 1995

8/534783

Thomas S. Kilpela - Marquette MI
Matthew N. Songer - Marquette MI
Francis J. Korhonen - Neqaunee MI

Pioneer Laboratories, Inc. - Marquette MI

A61B 1782

606 74

A cable winding for retention of bone in surgery having a crimp for retaining the cables together. The crimp has a bore of oval cross section, with its exterior being preferably oval in cross section as well. The cable sections extend through the single bore in side-by-side relation. Outwardly projecting flanges extend from the crimp ends for at least about 120. degree. about the periphery to create a space between the flanges when the flanges rest on bone. This space may be used to receive the crimping jaws during the crimping process so that the crimp does not have to be forced outwardly from the bone during the crimping process. Thus, a more consistent, predetermined tension can be provided to the cable on crimping.