Patents by Inventor Gregory J Denham

Gregory J Denham 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).

  • Publication number: 20200129214
    Abstract: A bone coupling device is configured for joining a first bone piece to a second bone piece which includes a first component having an inner surface bounding a first cavity and a first stem portion for insertion into the first bone piece. A second component includes a second stem portion for insertion into the second bone piece and an axially extending connector extending from the second stem portion and configured to be inserted into the first cavity. The connector has an outer surface which is complementarily shaped relative to an inner surface to inhibit rotation relative to each other when the connector is received in the cavity to engage the first component and the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Applicant: NEXTREMITY SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: John R. PEPPER, Lon S. WEINER, Stuart D. KATCHIS, Gregory J. DENHAM, Thomas HOLTON, Ryan D. SCHLOTTERBACK
  • Patent number: 10631843
    Abstract: The present teachings provide a flexible member securing assembly. The flexible member securing assembly includes a shaft, an arm extendable from the shaft, an anchor, and a flexible member grasper formed on a distal end of the arm. Methods of securing a flexible member are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham, Ryan A. Kaiser
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 10595851
    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. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10548586
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses for soft tissue repair including a device for anchoring sutured tissue to bone are disclosed. In one example, a device can include a body and a member. The body can have a wall with an outer surface thereof configured to engage the bone of a patient. The body can define an inner passage extending generally from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. The body can have a slit formed by the wall, the slit extending at least a portion of a proximal-distal length of the wall. The member can be configured to be disposed within the body and can be moveable along the inner passage relative to the body between a first position and a second position. The member can be configured with a second passage to receive and pass a suture through the member when the member is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 10542967
    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. Portions of the suture lay parallel to each other within the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10517587
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a first flexible member having first and second ends and a first body extending therebetween that defines a first passage portion. A second flexible member can include first and second ends and a second body extending therebetween that defines a second passage portion. The first end of the first flexible member can pass into and through the second passage portion in a first direction such that the first end extends outside of the second passage portion. The first end of the second flexible member can pass into and through the first passage portion in a second direction such that the first end of the second flexible member extends outside of the first passage portion to form a self-locking adjustable flexible member construct. Applying tension to the first ends can draw the passage portions and corresponding second ends toward each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone, Zachary Wagner
  • Publication number: 20190298345
    Abstract: An apparatus can include a first flexible member having first and second ends and a first body extending therebetween that defines a first passage portion. A second flexible member can include first and second ends and a second body extending therebetween that defines a second passage portion. The first end of the first flexible member can pass into and through the second passage portion in a first direction such that the first end extends outside of the second passage portion. The first end of the second flexible member can pass into and through the first passage portion in a second direction such that the first end of the second flexible member extends outside of the first passage portion to form a self-locking adjustable flexible member construct. Applying tension to the first ends can draw the passage portions and corresponding second ends toward each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone, Zachary Wagner
  • Publication number: 20190290258
    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: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Publication number: 20190274681
    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: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 10398428
    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: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Publication number: 20190254652
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for surgically repairing a tear in soft tissue is disclosed. A plurality of collapsible tubes are positioned about the suture. The collapsible tubes are pushed through soft tissue and orthopedic mesh on opposite sides of a tear in soft tissue. When tension is applied to the suture, the tubes are compressed to fix the suture to the soft tissue and draw the soft tissue portions together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham, Ryan Harper, Ryan A. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 10368856
    Abstract: A flexible member for coupling tissue. The flexible member includes a tail and a self-locking construct. The tail includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The tail defines a tail passageway proximate to the second end. The self-locking construct includes a first loop and an adjustable second loop. The second loop is slidably threaded through the tail passageway defined by the tail. The self-locking construct is configured such that passing the tail through the first loop so that the second loop extends into the first loop forms a tissue capture region defined by the self-locking construct. The tail passageway defined by the tail defines a locking member configured to secure the second loop to the first loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham, Daniel R Norton
  • Publication number: 20190231348
    Abstract: A method for securing a strand to a fixation member for arthroscopic fixation, wherein the fixation member includes a channel on an exterior surface and an aperture therethrough. The method includes passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve, passing the sleeve through the aperture of the fixation member in a first direction, tensioning the strand, and pulling the sleeve in a second direction different than the first direction to secure the sleeve to the fixation member without tying the strand on the fixation member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham, Ryan Harper
  • Patent number: 10327754
    Abstract: Methods, 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 a body and a member. The body can have a wall with an outer surface thereof configured to engage the bone of a patient. The body can define an inner passage extending generally from a proximal end thereof to a distal end thereof. The wall can have a first side having a first size that differs from a second size of a second side of the wall. The member can be configured to be disposed within the body and can be moveable along the inner passage relative to the body between a first position and a second position. The member can be configured with an eyelet to receive and pass a suture through the member when the member is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 10321906
    Abstract: A method for securing a strand to a fixation member for arthroscopic fixation, wherein the fixation member includes a channel on an exterior surface and an aperture therethrough. The method includes passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve, passing the sleeve through the aperture of the fixation member in a first direction, tensioning the strand, and pulling the sleeve in a second direction different than the first direction to secure the sleeve to the fixation member without tying the strand on the fixation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham, Ryan Harper
  • Publication number: 20190159772
    Abstract: Various suture passers and methods of use thereof are disclosed herein. The suture passer can include a first needle extending along a first longitudinal axis, wherein the first needle has a sharp tip and a first hook member configured to grasp a portion of a suture, and a shaft extending along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the shaft has an eyelet that intersects with the first longitudinal axis of the first needle. The suture passer can also have an actuation mechanism coupled to the first needle, wherein actuating the actuation mechanism moves the first needle to a position in which the first needle's sharp tip extends through the eyelet, and releasing the actuation mechanism moves the first needle to a position in which the first needle's sharp tip is a spaced apart a distance proximal of the eyelet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel R. Norton, Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 10292824
    Abstract: A system for installing a labral graft includes placing anchors into a bone thereby immovably coupling the anchors to the bone, coupling a suture to at least one of the anchors, coupling sutures to a graft, using the sutures coupled to the graft to manipulate the graft into position and tightening the sutures, thereby coupling the graft to the bone. Additionally, the system also includes a graft installation funnel having a tapered funnel body and an annular space within the tapered funnel body that is capable of retaining a graft and easing installation of the graft. Further, the system for installing a labral graft includes a graft preparation device including a block with a longitudinal recess, the longitudinal recess having a cross section that mimics the natural shape of a tissue that is to be replaced by a graft, and suture slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory J. Denham
  • Patent number: 10265159
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for repairing a tear in soft tissue are disclosed. A method according to the principles of the present disclosure includes connecting an intermediate member to a bone anchor and placing the intermediate member on the soft tissue. The method further includes inserting a first suture through the intermediate member and the soft tissue to attach the intermediate member to the soft tissue and fixing the bone anchor to bone to secure the soft tissue to the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Brian K. Berelsman