Patents by Inventor Denise D. Fitzpatrick

Denise D. Fitzpatrick has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5957953
    Abstract: An adjustably expandable suture anchor is provided. The suture anchor includes a pair of members, one of which includes a suture mount, which are configured to be secured together in a selected one of a plurality of positions to cause one of the members to expand by an amount that corresponds to the selected position. In one embodiment, the expandable member is an outer member, and the other member is an inner member which is progressively insertable into an opening in a body of the outer member and securable in the selected position therein. For example, the inner member is threaded into the outer member body or is inserted into the body in ratchet-like fashion. As the inner member is inserted distally into the outer member, an exterior enlargement on the inner member engages a plurality of arms which extend proximally from body, and causes the arms to progressively expand radially outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene P. DiPoto, Denise D. Fitzpatrick, Jeffrey Cerier, Jose E. Lizardi, Russell Warren