Patents by Inventor Jeffery M. Whelan

Jeffery M. Whelan 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: 20090171360
    Abstract: A surgical kit for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. The kit includes a flexible strand that is drawn with a pin through the bone. The strand is positioned so that a looped portion of the strand protrudes out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket. The kit includes an implant for transversely fixing the graft in the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 7500990
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 7306626
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 7077863
    Abstract: A surgical method for transosseous fixation of a bone-tendon-bone (BTB) graft into a joint is disclosed. A longitudinal tunnel formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal tunnel. The strand portion is attached to a loop extending from the bone block of the BTB graft, preferably by forming the loop around the strand. The strand attached to the bone block loop is retracted into the tunnel, drawing the attached BTB graft into the tunnel. The BTB graft is fixed in the tunnel using a transverse implant passed through the loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhold Schmieding, Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 7066956
    Abstract: A surgical method for transosseous fixation of a BTB graft into a joint is disclosed. A longitudinal tunnel formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal tunnel. The loop is severed so that one end of the strand is passed through a hole in the bone block of the BTB graft. The free ends of the loop are subsequently reattached using a knot to form a reformed loop. The strand with the reformed loop is retracted into the tunnel, drawing the attached BTB graft into the tunnel. The BTB graft is fixed in the tunnel using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhold Schmieding, Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 6974477
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20040194789
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 6733529
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20030120343
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 6537319
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Publication number: 20020108622
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 6132433
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan
  • Patent number: 5918604
    Abstract: A surgical method for loading ligament grafts into a joint. A longitudinal socket formed in a bone is intersected by a transverse pin. A flexible strand is drawn with the pin through the bone. A looped portion of the strand is diverted so as to protrude out of the entrance to the longitudinal socket. The ends of the strand remaining accessible on either side of the bone. The ligament graft is captured within the strand loop protruding from the entrance to the socket. The strand is retracted into the socket, drawing the graft into the socket by pulling on the accessible ends of the flexible strand. The graft is fixed in the socket using a transverse implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery M. Whelan