Patents by Inventor Kevin T. Stone

Kevin T. Stone 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).

  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING SOFT TISSUE TO BONE
    Publication number: 20200187933
    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: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone, Frank O. Bonnarens
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING SOFT TISSUE TO A BONE
    Publication number: 20200178959
    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: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Method and apparatus for sternal closure
    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
  • Suture anchor and related method
    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
  • Anchor assembly and method of use
    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
  • Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop
    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
  • Shoulder prosthesis
    Patent number: 10603181
    Abstract: A prosthesis may include a stem, a ball stud, an adaptor, and a head. The stem may include a longitudinal axis and a bore having a central axis that is angled relative to the longitudinal axis. The ball stud may include a cylindrical shaft and a ball end. The cylindrical shaft may be received in the bore of the stem. The adaptor may include a tapered outer surface and a ball socket rotatably receiving the ball end of the stud. The head may be rotatably supported by the adaptor and may include a semispherical articulating surface and a female taper rotatably receiving the tapered outer surface of the adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Nicholas M. Cordaro
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone
    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
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
    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
  • PROSTHETIC LIGAMENT SYSTEM FOR KNEE JOINT
    Publication number: 20200085562
    Abstract: A system for an anatomical joint includes a first fastener, a second fastener, a prosthetic ligament member, and a biasing member associated with at least one of the first and second fasteners. The first fastener is operable to be connected to a first bone portion. The second fastener is operable to be connected to a second bone portion. The prosthetic ligament member is flexible and is directly coupled to both the first and second fasteners to support the first bone portion and the second bone portion for relative movement. A portion of the prosthetic ligament member extends from the first fastener to the second fastener and has an adjustable length. The biasing member is operable to bias the prosthetic ligament member to thereby maintain tension in the prosthetic ligament member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Robert Metzger
  • SOFT TISSUE REPAIR DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
    Publication number: 20200029955
    Abstract: A soft tissue repair device. The device includes an inserter having a distal portion, a first anchor carried externally onto the distal portion, a second anchor carried externally onto the distal portion, and a flexible strand coupling the first and second anchors and forming an adjustable knotless loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Ryan A. Kaiser, Nathan M. Sautter, Andrew Holst
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
    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
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS COMPRISING OPEN CELL PACK MODULES
    Publication number: 20200028133
    Abstract: In one aspect, an embodiment of this invention comprises an energy-storage module for storing energy for electrical consumption. The module comprises a plurality of energy-storage cells and a set of parallel walls configured to mount the plurality of energy-storage cells between the parallel walls and having a plurality of through-holes. The module also comprises a bus bar arrangement configured to electrically couple each of the plurality of energy-storage cells to a first terminal and a second terminal and a wire routing device configured to mate with a plurality of the through-holes and configured to receive one or more wires that electrically connect components of the energy storage module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Laurent Gisler, Ishmael D. Rahimian
  • Porous implants with injectable capabilities
    Patent number: 10537373
    Abstract: An implant having a porous portion with a plurality of interconnected voids for receiving at least one injectable substance such that an injectable substance can elute from the porous portion. A syringe can be inserted into the at least one porous portion for administering the at least one injectable substance into the voids of the porous structure. The implant can be implanted with the at least one porous portion pre-loaded with the at least one injectable substance. The at least one porous portion can be loaded by inserting the syringe into the at least one porous portion after implanting the implant. The porous portion can be re-loaded with the syringe after the at least one injectable substance has eluted from the porous portion or replaced with a different injectable substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Jacy C. Hoeppner, Jason D. Meridew, Kevin T. Stone
  • Ligament system for knee joint
    Patent number: 10517714
    Abstract: A system for an anatomical joint includes a first fastener, a second fastener, a prosthetic ligament member, and a biasing member associated with at least one of the first and second fasteners. The first fastener is operable to be connected to a first bone portion. The second fastener is operable to be connected to a second bone portion. The prosthetic ligament member is flexible and is directly coupled to both the first and second fasteners to support the first bone portion and the second bone portion for relative movement. A portion of the prosthetic ligament member extends from the first fastener to the second fastener and has an adjustable length. The biasing member is operable to bias the prosthetic ligament member to thereby maintain tension in the prosthetic ligament member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Robert Metzger
  • Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop
    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
  • SOFT TISSUE REPAIR ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
    Publication number: 20190365376
    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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Andrew Holst
  • Suture passer device including a blunt tip and a sharp tip
    Patent number: 10485532
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a suture passer device that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a suture carrier secured to the handle and moveable through a distal end of the shaft. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, one of the shaft and the suture carrier includes a sharp tip and the other one of the shaft and the suture carrier includes a blunt tip. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the suture carrier includes an inner tube extending through the shaft and a flexible arm extending through the inner tube. Methods of using a suture passer device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Norton, Kevin T. Stone
  • METHOD FOR IMPLANTING SOFT TISSUE
    Publication number: 20190328382
    Abstract: A suture construction and method for forming a suture construction is disclosed. The construction utilizes a suture having an enlarged central body portion defining a longitudinal passage. First and second ends of the suture are passed through first and second apertures 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 constriction of the longitudinal passage, thus preventing relative motions of the captured portions of the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Jason D. Meridew
  • Soft tissue repair assembly and associated method
    Patent number: 10441264
    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 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Andrew Holst