Richard Bartlett Ashman
Engineering at Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA

8241297, Aug 14, 2012

Apr 10, 2008

12/595407

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA, US

Intelifuse, Inc. - Metairie LA

A61B 17/58, A61B 17/60, A61F 2/00, B23B 49/00, B23Q 17/22, B27G 23/00, G01D 21/00, B65D 81/24

606 96, 33640, 206206

A surgical drill guide for guiding a drill bit and limiting the depth of holes drilled by is disclosed. In some embodiments the surgical drill guide includes the following: a body including a drill bit entry side and a tissue contact side opposite the drill bit entry side, the drill bit entry side having first and second surfaces that are offset from one another, the tissue contact side including a tissue contact surface that is defined by one or more tissue contact points; drill bit guide holes extending from the drill bit entry side of the first and second surfaces to the tissue contact side of the body; and implant storage holes defined in one of the plurality of sides of the body for storing shape memory implants during shipment of the system, the implant storage holes being spaced a distance commensurate to dimensions of the shape memory implant.

6471703, Oct 29, 2002

Nov 9, 2000

09/710750

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1770

606 61, 606 73

A spinal implant assembly comprises a connection assembly, an elongated spinal implant, and a bone fastener, such as a bone screw, engaged within a vertebra. The connection assembly includes a body defining a first opening for receiving the elongated spinal implant, a second opening for receiving a bone fastener and a plug. The first opening is perpendicular to and overlapping the second opening to allow direct contact between the spinal implant and the bone fastener. The second opening includes a plug slot having a wall at an end opposite the first opening that defines an engagement surface. The plug includes a mating surface that forms an interlocking engagement with the engagement surface of the wall. An opposite second surface of the plug defines a groove for receiving the elongated stem of the bone fastener adjustable to a desired angular orientation and height. The body can include a first and a second side walls converging toward the center of the second opening with a gap to receive the stem of the bone fastener.

6402749, Jun 11, 2002

Mar 28, 2000

09/536530

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA

SDGI Holdings, Inc. - Wilmington DE

A61B 1756

606 61, 606 72, 606 73

A spinal implant assembly includes a connection assembly, an elongated spinal implant, and a bone fastener, such as a bone screw, engaged within a vertebra. A connection assembly is a one-piece body having a spinal implant opening perpendicular to and overlapping with a bone fastener opening. The bone fastener opening includes a wall having an engaging surface that can form interlocking engagement with the stem of the bone fastener placed at a desired angular and height. A set screw is used as means to urge the elongated spinal implant to press against the bone fastener and simultaneously urge the bone fastener to press against the engaging surface. The stem of the bone screw includes an interface element in the form of one or more ribs that can form interlocking engagement with the engaging surface.

6648887, Nov 18, 2003

Jan 23, 2002

10/055050

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA 70130

A61B 1770

606 61, 606 72

A variable angle clamp is provided for use with a spinal implant assembly having a spinal rod, a Schantz screw having an elongated shank, and a variable angle connector receiving the spinal rod and having a washer mounted on the body with a first surface defining a variable angle feature, and a stem projecting from the body, the stem terminating in a T-bar having a second surface facing the first surface. The variable angle clamp includes a clamping portion defining a bore configured to receive the shank Schantz screw therein. The clamp further includes a pair of clamp halves forming a slot therebetween that intersects the bore in the form of a split clamp. An outer surface of one of the clamp halves defines a variable angle feature for interengagement with the first surface of the washer. The outer surface of the other of clamp half is configured for pressure contact with the second surface of the T-bar. The clamp halves define an open channel configured to receive the stem of the variable angle connector therein when the shank of the bone-engaging fastener extends through the clamping bore.

2007008, Apr 19, 2007

Oct 11, 2006

11/580140

Richard Ashman - New Orleans LA, US
Eugene Antoine - New Orleans LA, US
Charles Strand - La Canada CA, US

A61F 7/00

607096000

A system for heating a heat-transformable shape memory surgical device. The system includes a sealed, sterilizable housing, a thermal probe for heating the shape memory surgical device, the thermal probe being connected with the housing, and a printed circuit board positioned within the housing. The printed circuit board includes a system controller having a power circuit for controlling the receipt and distribution of heating power to the thermal probe, a feedback circuit for measuring a condition of the shape memory surgical device via the thermal probe, and a control circuit for receiving data from the feedback circuit and adjustably controlling an amount of heating power that the power circuit distributes to the thermal probe. The control circuit includes an automatic-cutout circuit for terminating the distribution of heating power to the thermal probe after a specific amount of time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

2009021, Sep 3, 2009

Feb 14, 2007

12/279465

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA, US

INTELIFUSE, INC. - New Orleans LA

H05B 3/03

219 50

A device () or system () for heating heat-transformable shape memory implants used in surgery applications. The case () is configured to be hand-held by a user. The device () also includes a variable electronic power supply () contained within the case (). The variable electronic power supply () includes a predetermined size and quantity of batteries (). The variable electronic power supply () is varied by varying the predetermined size and quantity of batteries () according to the characteristics of the shape memory implants. The device () further includes conductive electrodes () extending from the case (). The conductive electrodes () are electrically joined with the electronic power supply () in the interior chamber () of the case () via an electrical connection () to form a power circuit (). A user activated switch () is joined with the electronic power supply (). The user activated switch () is accessible from one of the exterior surfaces () of the case () and is configured to activate and deactivate the power circuit ().

6183473, Feb 6, 2001

Apr 21, 1999

9/296104

Richard B Ashman - New Orleans LA

A61B 1756

606 61

A spinal implant assembly includes an elongated spinal implant, such as a rod, implanted adjacent the spine, and a bone fastener, such as a bone screw, engaged within a vertebra. A connection assembly includes a first member having a first opening for receiving the rod, and a second member having a second opening for receiving an elongated stem of the bone fastener. The two members are connected to permit relative rotation between the two members to accommodate variable angular orientations of the bone screw relative to the rod. A single washer is provided that has an opening for positioning over a portion of both the first member and the second member. One face of the washer is configured to engage the rod, while the opposite face of the washer is configured to engage the stem of the bone screw. In one embodiment, the opposite face of the washer defines a plurality of radial splines. The stem of the bone screw includes an interface element in the form of a rib that is configured to interdigitate with the radial splines.

8551080, Oct 8, 2013

Jul 2, 2012

13/540175

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA, US
Eugene Antoine, Jr. - New Orleans LA, US
Charles R. Strand - La Canada CA, US

InteliFUSE, Inc. - Metairie LA

A61B 18/00

606 1, 219227, 219228, 219229, 219230

A system for heating a heat-transformable shape memory surgical device. The system includes a sealed, sterilizable housing, a thermal probe for heating the shape memory surgical device, the thermal probe being connected with the housing, and a printed circuit board positioned within the housing. The printed circuit board includes a system controller having a power circuit for controlling the receipt and distribution of heating power to the thermal probe, a feedback circuit for measuring a condition of the shape memory surgical device via the thermal probe, and a control circuit for receiving data from the feedback circuit and adjustably controlling an amount of heating power that the power circuit distributes to the thermal probe. The control circuit includes an automatic-cutout circuit for terminating the distribution of heating power to the thermal probe after a specific amount of time or upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition.

2011002, Jan 27, 2011

Aug 16, 2007

12/377436

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA, US

A61B 17/84

606331

A shape-transforming implant device for joining and holding in place a severed sternum. The device includes a bridge portion, two or more legs extending from the bridge portion, shoulder portions, and feet portions. The bridge portions have a thickness that is sized such that it can be cut with a pin cutter. The two or more legs extend from the bridge portion at a first angle when the bridge and the two or more legs are at a first temperature. The shoulder portions are defined by a first angle between the bridge portion and the two or more legs and define a transition from the bridge portion to the two or more legs. The feet portions are at an end of the two or more legs that is opposite from the shoulder portions. Each of the feet portions include an inwardly angled portion that extends toward the remaining feet portions.

7722650, May 25, 2010

Nov 12, 2004

10/987196

Richard B. Ashman - New Orleans LA, US

A61B 17/70

606265

A variable angle connector for engaging a bone fastener to a spinal rod includes a body defining a channel for receiving the spinal rod and a set screw arrangement for clamping the rod within the channel. The body defines an engagement face configured for interdigitating engagement with the head of the bone fastener. The fastener is mounted on a post projecting from the engagement face of the body, with means for engaging the fastener to the post. The body of the connector includes a deformable portion at one portion of the engagement face that deforms when the set screw is tightened to clamp the rod within the rod channel. As the connector body deforms, the portion of the engagement face is brought into engagement with the head of the bone fastener.