Patents Assigned to Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
  • Patent number: 10842481
    Abstract: A method for securing a suture to bone can include loading the suture in a distal opening of an inserter of an assembly. The suture can be coupled to soft tissue. The assembly can include the inserter, an anchor carried by the inserter, a distal tip and a driver each coupled to the inserter. A hole can be formed in the bone with the distal tip, and the distal opening and a portion of the suture can be positioned in the hole. The driver can be actuated to allow movement relative to the inserter and can be advanced in a first direction to drive the anchor about the inserter into the hole to secure the distal tip, anchor and suture to the bone with an absence of a knot. The driver can be moved in a second direction to remove the inserter from the distal tip, anchor and suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Palese, Gregory J. Denham, Daniel R. Norton
  • Patent number: 10835232
    Abstract: Assemblies for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a subject's body are provided. The assembly includes a frame having an adjustable flexible member construct thereon. The adjustable flexible member construct is disposed in the frame such that the adjustable flexible member and the frame encircle the fractured or weakened bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10806443
    Abstract: A tissue fixation device including a self-locking construct having a first loop, a second loop, and a first free end. A first tail is coupled to, and extends from, the first loop. A second tail is coupled to, and extends from, the second loop. An anchor is coupled to one of the self-locking construct or the first tail such that one of the self-locking construct or the first tail extend through the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Norton, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10758221
    Abstract: A construct is disclosed that may be used to repair or replace a natural ligament. The construct may be formed of materials for biocompatibility and/or resorbtion. The construct may be provided or connected to a soft anchor for connection to a bone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, Mark S Myerson, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10743925
    Abstract: Assemblies for securing fractured bone are provided. The assembly includes a first fixation element, a second fixation element, and an adjustable flexible member construct. The first fixation element having a male or a female sleeve is secured within a first portion of the fractured bone. The second fixation element having the other of the male or female sleeve telescopically received within the one of the male or female sleeve is secured within a second portion of the fractured bone. The adjustable flexible member construct extends between the first and second fixation elements and has at least one adjustable loop coupled to the first fixation element and the second fixation element and a pair of adjusting ends extending through an opening in the first fixation element. The pair of adjusting ends can be pulled to reduce a diameter of the adjustable loop and to compress fragments of the fractured bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Brian K. Berelsman, Ryan A. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 10743856
    Abstract: A method for coupling tissue includes aligning a guide tool on an outer surface of a first tissue; forming a bore in the first tissue aligned with the guide tool; deploying a non-slip suture construct through the guide tool and into the bore; adjusting a saddle along a flexible member to a position adjacent to a soft anchor, wherein the saddle prevents the flexible member from slideably moving relative to the soft anchor; and threading the flexible member through a second tissue to secure the second tissue to the first tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher Durando
  • Patent number: 10729420
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for soft tissue repair including a device for anchoring sutured tissue to a bone are disclosed. According to one example, the device can include an outer body and an inner member. The outer body can comprise a shell with an outer surface configured to engage the bone of a patient and an inner passage extending longitudinally from a proximal end portion toward a distal end portion. The inner member can be configured to be disposed within the outer body and can be moveable along the inner passage relative to the outer body between a first position and a second position. The inner member can be configured with an eyelet to receive and pass a suture through the member and at least one of the outer body and the inner member can have a first groove extending generally longitudinally along at least a portion thereof. The first groove can be configured to receive the suture therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Cesare Cavallazzi, Robert F. Graham, Driany Alfonso
  • Patent number: 10729423
    Abstract: Methods of attaching a soft tissue to an adjacent bone at a defect site are provided. An adjustable loop region of a flexible construct contained in a bore defined by a fastener is passed through a tissue. The adjustable loop is passed through the tissue. The fastener is passed back through the adjustable loop to fold the adjustable loop upon itself. The fastener is attached to the bone. An adjusting arm on the flexible construct is engaged to reduce the size of the adjustable loop and secure the soft tissue to the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10729430
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10729421
    Abstract: A tissue fixation apparatus can include a flexible construct and an elongated locking member. The flexible construct can include at least two adjustable loops and tensioning members. The two adjustable loops can be configured to pass through the first tissue, and to be spaced apart along an outer surface of the first tissue in a first direction. The tensioning members can extend from the two adjustable loops, and can be configured to reduce the two adjustable loops from a first size to a second size. The flexible construct can be attached to the second tissue by an anchor. The locking member can be configured to be received within the two adjustable loops at the first size, and to engage the two adjustable loops at the second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 10716557
    Abstract: A method of coupling a first portion of an anatomy to a second portion of the anatomy includes coupling first and second bones of the anatomy with a bone-tendon-bone implant. The bone-tendon-bone implant has a first bone end, a second bone end and a replacement tendon between the first and second bone ends. The first and second bone ends are positioned in corresponding first and second bores of the first and second bones. The first bone end is secured to the first bone with a first bone anchor. A second anchor coupled to the bone-tendon-bone implant is passed through and outside the second bore. The second anchor is coupled to an adjustable suture construct having two adjustable suture loops. Tensioning at least one of first and second ends of the adjustable suture construct tensions the replacement tendon and positions the first bone relative to the second bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10702259
    Abstract: A soft tissue repair assembly. The assembly includes a flexible member having first and second ends, and a strand passing through the flexible member. The strand has first and second strand ends extending through the flexible member, such that pulling at least one of the first and second strand ends changes the flexible member from a first shape suitable for insertion through soft tissue to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the soft tissue repair assembly relative to soft tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Andrew Holst
  • Patent number: 10695052
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10695045
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone can include forming a bore in the bone and carrying a flexible suture anchor into the bore. The flexible anchor can include a passage and can be coupled to a suture construct. The suture construct can include at least one self-locking adjustable loop, and the flexible anchor can include a first profile while being carried into the bore. A shape of the flexible anchor can be changed from the first profile to a second profile forming an anchoring mass to retain the flexible anchor in the bore. Tension can be applied to a portion of the suture construct to reduce a size of the self-locking adjustable loop and secure the soft tissue relative to the flexible anchor and the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10687803
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10675073
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a fractured or sectioned sternum in a patient's body is disclosed. The apparatus can include an attachment member and an adjustable flexible member construct. The attachment member can have a flexible member holder. The adjustable flexible member construct can have first and second ends and a body defining at least one passage portion. The first and second ends can be passed into and through the at least one passage portion via first and second openings associated with the at least one passage portion of the adjustable flexible member construct to form a pair of loops. The attachment member can be configured to be coupled to at least one of the formed pair of loops. The adjustable flexible member construct can be positioned about the sternum and can be reduced to compress the fractured or sectioned sternum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Brian K. Berelsman, Zachary Wagner
  • Patent number: 10639023
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone can include loading a suture through an eyelet of a suture anchor. The suture anchor can have a longitudinal axis and a distal tip. An anchor inserter assembly can be positioned in contact with the suture anchor. The anchor inserter assembly can include a sleeve portion and an impacting portion. The suture can be engaged with a suture engaging member on the suture inserter assembly at a location adjacent to the eyelet. The sleeve portion can be translated relative to the impacting portion from an alignment position to an insertion position thereby moving the suture a first distance offset from the eyelet in a direction away from the distal tip. The anchor insert assembly can be advanced to a driven position thereby advancing the suture anchor into the bone. The suture engaging member can be released from the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10610217
    Abstract: A self-locking adjustable loop construction and a method of forming the construction are disclosed. The construction can include a flexible member having a first end, a second end and a first portion therebetween. The first end can be passed back through the first portion at a first point such that the first end passes through the first portion from a first side of the flexible member to a second opposite side of the flexible member. The first end can be passed through the first portion at a second point spaced apart from the first point such that the first end passes through the first portion from the second side to the first side so as to place the second end outside of the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 10603032
    Abstract: An apparatus including a suture instrument including a handle and a post extending from the handle, the handle including a cavity; a cover slidably attached to the handle to cover the cavity; a post extending upward from a bottom surface of the cavity; and a suture spool removably positioned over the post; wherein the post includes a force member configured to provide upward force on the spool when the cover is slid off of the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Walters, Joseph Whitley
  • Patent number: 10603029
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. A bone engaging fastener is coupled to bone. A second fastener is coupled to a suture construction. The second fastener is coupled to the first fastener. Soft tissue is coupled to the suture construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone, Frank O. Bonnarens