Patents by Inventor Kenneth D. Johannaber

Kenneth D. Johannaber 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: 9095352
    Abstract: A method for positioning a bone cutting guide on a tibia may begin with coupling a bone cut positioning apparatus with a tibia. The method may also include adjusting the positioning apparatus in a varus/valgus orientation to shine a light emitted by a light emitter approximately along a midline of an anterior surface of the tibia, swinging a pivoting arm about a pivot joint to direct the emitted light along a medial surface of the tibia, adjusting the positioning apparatus in an anterior/posterior orientation to shine the light approximately along a midline of the medial surface, contacting a stylus with a proximal end of the tibia to select a cutting depth for a bone cut to be made on the tibia, and attaching the bone cutting guide to the tibia in a position determined by the positioning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Synvasive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Fisher, Anthony K. Hedley, Russell T. Nevins, Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Publication number: 20140257308
    Abstract: A bone cut positioning system and associated method are disclosed. The bone cut positioning system can include a positioning assembly. The positioning assembly can include a femoral attachment member configured to be fixed to a distal end of a femur, a light emitter mounting member configured to receive a light emitter, and a channel configured to receive a depth selector slide. Further, the positioning assembly can include a varus-valgus adjustment member configured to adjust a position of the positioning assembly relative to the femur to achieve a desired varus-valgus angle and a guide member removably coupled to the depth selector slide and configured to extend from the depth selector slide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Publication number: 20140257307
    Abstract: A bone cut positioning system and associated method are disclosed. The bone cut positioning system can include a positioning assembly, including a femoral attachment member, including a tongue with at least one fixation aperture configured to be fixed to a distal end of a femur. The positioning assembly can further include a light emitter mounting member configured to receive a light emitter, a channel configured to receive a depth selector slide, and a varus-valgus adjustment member configured to adjust a position of the positioning assembly relative to the femur to achieve a desired varus-valgus angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Patent number: 8828013
    Abstract: A method for positioning a bone cut on a bone may involve: coupling a bone cut positioning apparatus with a body bone; adjusting the positioning apparatus in a varus/valgus orientation relative to the body bone; adjusting the positioning apparatus in an anterior/posterior orientation relative to the body bone; and adjusting the positioning apparatus up or down to select a bone resection level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Synvasive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Fisher, Anthony K. Hedley, Russell T. Nevins, Kenneth D. Johannaber, Kevin M. Cordes
  • Publication number: 20140039621
    Abstract: A monolithic material including a first region having a first variability of strength and a second region joined to the first region, the second region having a second variability of strength, wherein the monolithic material has a variability of strength less than the first variability of strength of the first region and less than the second variability of strength of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: SEVIKA HOLDING AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. GORDON, Michael G. FISHER, Paul R. JOHNSON, Kenneth D. JOHANNABER
  • Patent number: 8556972
    Abstract: A monolithic material including a first region having a first variability of strength and a second region joined to the first region, the second region having a second variability of strength, wherein the monolithic material has a variability of strength less than the first variability of strength of the first region and less than the second variability of strength of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sevika Holding AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Gordon, Michael G. Fisher, Paul R. Johnson, Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Publication number: 20130261758
    Abstract: Tibial prosthesis methods for balancing a knee joint during a surgical procedure are disclosed. A method can comprise inserting a first tibial shim component between a tibial bearing component and a tibial base or a tibial plate component in an anterior/posterior direction. The first tibial shim component can include one or both of a medial edge having a different height than a lateral edge or an anterior edge having a different height than a posterior edge. The method can further comprise testing one or more of a stability, a force balance, or a range of motion of a knee joint in which the first tibial shim component is inserted. If the testing result is not satisfactory, the method can include removing the first tibial shim component, and inserting a second tibial shim component between the tibial bearing component and the tibial base or tibial plate component in the anterior/posterior direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Claypool, Wayne Paprosky, David Lewallen, Steven Stump, Barjinder S. Chana, Michael G. Fisher, Kenneth D. Johannaber, Andrew P. Sizelove
  • Publication number: 20130261504
    Abstract: Systems for determining force balance on a knee joint during a surgical procedure are disclosed. A system can include a tibial prosthesis. The tibial prosthesis can include a bearing component, a base component, and a shim component. The bearing component can have a superior articulating surface and an inferior surface. The bearing component can include a top portion, a bottom portion, a frame disposed between the top portion and the bottom portion, and a plurality of sensors disposed between the frame and the bottom portion. The frame can have a plurality of apertures corresponding in size or shape to the plurality of sensors. The base component can have a superior surface and an inferior surface. The shim component can be configured to be slidable between the inferior surface of the bearing component and the superior surface of the base component in an anterior to posterior direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody Claypool, Wayne Paprosky, David Lewallen, Steven Stump, Barjinder S. Chana, Michael G. Fisher, Kenneth D. Johannaber, Andrew P. Sizelove
  • Patent number: 8409293
    Abstract: A knee prosthesis for use in a total knee replacement surgical procedure may include a femoral component, a tibial component and a meniscal component. Optionally, the prosthesis may also include a patellar component. The femoral component may include a bone attachment side and a joint facing side, the latter including an anterior joint surface, a posterior joint surface having a cross-sectional shape defining a portion of a cylinder, and medial and lateral grooves between the anterior and posterior joint surfaces. The meniscal component may include a number of features designed to mate with the femoral component to provide relatively natural movement and range of motion about the knee joint as well as stability and resistance to wear and tear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sevika Holding AG
    Inventors: Michael J. Howard, Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Publication number: 20120245589
    Abstract: A method for positioning a bone cutting guide on a tibia may begin with coupling a bone cut positioning apparatus with a tibia. The method may also include adjusting the positioning apparatus in a varus/valgus orientation to shine a light emitted by a light emitter approximately along a midline of an anterior surface of the tibia, swinging a pivoting arm about a pivot joint to direct the emitted light along a medial surface of the tibia, adjusting the positioning apparatus in an anterior/posterior orientation to shine the light approximately along a midline of the medial surface, contacting a stylus with a proximal end of the tibia to select a cutting depth for a bone cut to be made on the tibia, and attaching the bone cutting guide to the tibia in a position determined by the positioning apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SYNVASIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Fisher, Anthony K. Hedley, Russell T. Nevins, Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Publication number: 20110257753
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes a first region for attachment to a bone and a second region coupled to the first region, the second region having a perimeter and including a concave articular surface on top of the second region and a convex surface between the perimeter and the concave articular surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: SYNVASIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. GORDON, Kenneth D. JOHANNABER
  • Publication number: 20110106092
    Abstract: A method for positioning a bone cut on a bone may involve: coupling a bone cut positioning apparatus with a body bone; adjusting the positioning apparatus in a varus/valgus orientation relative to the body bone; adjusting the positioning apparatus in an anterior/posterior orientation relative to the body bone; and adjusting the positioning apparatus up or down to select a bone resection level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: SYNVASIVE, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. FISHER, Anthony K. HEDLEY, Russell T. NEVINS, Kenneth D. JOHANNABER
  • Publication number: 20100268337
    Abstract: A monolithic material including a first region having a first variability of strength and a second region joined to the first region, the second region having a second variability of strength, wherein the monolithic material has a variability of strength less than the first variability of strength of the first region and less than the second variability of strength of the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: SYNVASIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. GORDON, Michael G. FISHER, Paul R. JOHNSON, Kenneth D. JOHANNABER
  • Publication number: 20100256758
    Abstract: A monolithic orthopedic implant including a porous region having a form of interconnected porosity similar to cancellous bone to promote skeletal fixation by bone ingrowth, a transition region adjacent to and integrally joined to the porous region, the transition region having a form of interconnected porosity similar to subchondral bone, a substantially dense region integrally joined to the transition region and having a perimeter, and a surface on the substantially dense region, the surface having a finish adapted for articulation against native articular cartilage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: SYNVASIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. GORDON, Michael G. Fisher, Paul R. Johnson, Kenneth D. Johannaber
  • Patent number: D603231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Synvasive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Fisher, Kenneth D. Johannaber