Patents by Inventor Marc Joseph Balboa

Marc Joseph Balboa 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: 11969166
    Abstract: Systems and methods of repairing tissue are disclosed. Systems and methods may repair an opening through a hip capsule. Systems and methods preferably repair the tissue while minimally encroaching on the tissue immediately behind the repair, such as the hip joint tissues. Some systems may repair the tissue with a suture passer having a needle that slides in axial alignment with the passer and includes a first recess for passing the suture in a first axial direction and a second recess for passing the suture in an opposing axial direction. Some systems may pass a portion of a repair construct in a retrograde direction, placing the repair construct in a preferred arrangement accommodating for the stresses on the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Alexander Torrie, Jessica Marie Grabinsky, Marc Joseph Balboa, Benjamin Michael Hall, Timothy Young
  • Patent number: 11903593
    Abstract: An anchor delivery system includes both a straight and curved drill guide along with a flexible drill, a flexible obturator and a flexible anchor inserter. The curved drill guide has a distal tip with approximately a 15° bend from the primary axis of the drill guide. Both the drill and the obturator have a reduced diameter section to improve flexibility during passage through the curved drill guide. Additionally, a surface of the inserter shaft has a laser cut pattern which permits flexing of the inserter around the inner diameter of the curved drill guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Marc Joseph Balboa, Matthew Edwin Koski, Benjamin Hall
  • Patent number: 11712255
    Abstract: Surgical drill guides having a guide shaft and a set of distal guide teeth extending from the guide shaft. The guide shaft has proximal and distal portions having two distinct inner and outer diameters, with a tapered zone extending between the two portions. Wall thickness is maintained or increased from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the shaft, reinforcing the rigidity of both the shaft and the distal guide teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Arai, Matthew Edwin Koski, Timothy Young, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Marc Joseph Balboa
  • Publication number: 20220240918
    Abstract: A tissue repair assembly is disclosed, including a soft anchor body and at 5 least a first suture operably coupled to the anchor body. Tensioning on first and/or second ends of first suture may deploy the anchor body to a second configuration, in which the anchor body is axially compressed and radially extended. The tissue repair assembly may also include a means to cinch around a portion of a first and/or second suture and knotlessly lock the tissue repair assembly. Some embodiments 10 may include a pre-formed knot. In some embodiments, the preformed knot may be a nail knot, provided wrapped around an insertion instrument and configured to receive and cinch around a suture extending therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Zenan Qi, Marc Joseph Balboa, Timothy Young, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Paul Alexander Torrie, Kyle Steven Frederick Turner, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Benjamin Michael Hall, Kangqiao Li
  • Patent number: 11344288
    Abstract: Methods for superior capsular repair use knotless anchors on the glenoid row to simplify graft shuttling and reduce the number of sutures required to complete the repair. A single suture knotlessly attached to the graft and to a glenoid row anchor is the primary pulley used to shuttle the graft into the joint Other sutures attached to the graft may be placed in working portals to add further control over the graft orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane George Beaulier, Marc Joseph Balboa, Geoffrey Karasic, Christopher Michael Connolly
  • Publication number: 20220104804
    Abstract: Systems and methods of repairing tissue are disclosed. Systems and methods may repair an opening through a hip capsule. Systems and methods preferably repair the tissue while minimally encroaching on the tissue immediately behind the repair, such as the hip joint tissues. Some systems may repair the tissue with a suture passer having a needle that slides in axial alignment with the passer and includes a first recess for passing the suture in a first axial direction and a second recess for passing the suture in an opposing axial direction. Some systems may pass a portion of a repair construct in a retrograde direction, placing the repair construct in a preferred arrangement accommodating for the stresses on the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Alexander Torrie, Jessica Marie Grabinsky, Marc Joseph Balboa, Benjamin Michael Hall, Timothy Young
  • Publication number: 20220071640
    Abstract: An anchor delivery system includes both a straight and curved drill guide along with a flexible drill, a flexible obturator and a flexible anchor inserter. The curved drill guide has a distal tip with approximately a 15° bend from the primary axis of the drill guide. Both the drill and the obturator have a reduced diameter section to improve flexibility during passage through the curved drill guide. Additionally, a surface of the inserter shaft has a laser cut pattern which permits flexing of the inserter around the inner diameter of the curved drill guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Marc Joseph Balboa, Matthew Edwin Koski, Benjamin Hall
  • Patent number: 11266397
    Abstract: A suture anchor assembly includes an eyelet of a pound-in tip formed through both of a distal portion and a proximal portion of the tip. An anchor body of the assembly is configured to be inserted over the proximal portion of the tip such that it partially occludes the tip eyelet, allowing for a shorter overall total length of the anchor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignees: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC., SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG, SMITH & NEPHEW ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LIMITED
    Inventors: Marc Joseph Balboa, Mark Edwin Housman, Jon-Paul Rogers, Jason Hamilton, Kyle Turner
  • Patent number: 11202643
    Abstract: An anchor delivery system includes both a straight and curved drill guide along with a flexible drill, a flexible obturator and a flexible anchor inserter. The curved drill guide has a distal tip with approximately a 15° bend from the primary axis of the drill guide. Both the drill and the obturator have a reduced diameter section to improve flexibility during passage through the curved drill guide. Additionally, a surface of the inserter shaft has a laser cut pattern which permits flexing of the inserter around the inner diameter of the curved drill guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Marc Joseph Balboa, Matthew Edwin Koski, Benjamin Hall
  • Publication number: 20210338254
    Abstract: Surgical drill guides having a guide shaft and a set of distal guide teeth extending from the guide shaft. The guide shaft has proximal and distal portions having two distinct inner and outer diameters, with a tapered zone extending between the two portions. Wall thickness is maintained or increased from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the shaft, reinforcing the rigidity of both the shaft and the distal guide teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Arai, Matthew Edwin Koski, Timothy Young, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Marc Joseph Balboa
  • Patent number: 11096700
    Abstract: Surgical drill guides having a guide shaft and a set of distal guide teeth extending from the guide shaft. The guide shaft has proximal and distal portions having two distinct inner and outer diameters, with a tapered zone extending between the two portions. Wall thickness is maintained or increased from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the shaft, reinforcing the rigidity of both the shaft and the distal guide teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Arai, Matthew Edwin Koski, Timothy Young, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Marc Joseph Balboa
  • Patent number: 10893858
    Abstract: An anchoring device for holding suture in bone includes an implant body with a proximal end and a distal end. A distal opening of the implant body is configured to receive a first proximal portion of an anchor. An expandable ring is initially press-fit about the first proximal portion of the anchor. The anchoring device is then located in a pre-drilled bore in a bone portion and the anchor portion is drawn proximally into the implant body, causing the ring to expand and contact the inner walls of the bone bore thus providing additional locking force of the anchoring device in the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Joseph Balboa
  • Patent number: 10888312
    Abstract: A suture securing assembly comprises a two-bodied anchor and an associated delivery system which enhances fixation of a micro anchor in a bone hole or tunnel, as well as improving suture lock within bone. Initially, the two bodies are separated by a length of an inner shaft of the delivery system. The proximal body is fixed on the inner shaft of the delivery system and cannot move relative to the handle until after insertion into the bone, when the delivery system is disengaged from the anchor. The distal body further includes expansion wings and/or other features for increasing suture lock within the bone hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Joseph Balboa, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Matthew Edwin Koski, Nehal Navinbhai Patel
  • Publication number: 20200305898
    Abstract: Surgical drill guides having a guide shaft and a set of distal guide teeth extending from the guide shaft. The guide shaft has proximal and distal portions having two distinct inner and outer diameters, with a tapered zone extending between the two portions. Wall thickness is maintained or increased from the proximal portion to the distal portion of the shaft, reinforcing the rigidity of both the shaft and the distal guide teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Arai, Matthew Edwin Koski, Timothy Young, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Marc Joseph Balboa
  • Publication number: 20200261072
    Abstract: Methods for superior capsular repair use knotless anchors on the glenoid row to simplify graft shuttling and reduce the number of sutures required to complete the repair. A single suture knotlessly attached to the graft and to a glenoid row anchor is the primary pulley used to shuttle the graft into the joint Other sutures attached to the graft may be placed in working portals to add further control over the graft orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Duane George Beaulier, Marc Joseph Balboa, Geoffrey Karasic, Christopher Michael Connolly
  • Publication number: 20200245997
    Abstract: A suture anchor assembly includes an eyelet of a pound-in tip formed through both of a distal portion and a proximal portion of the tip. An anchor body of the assembly is configured to be inserted over the proximal portion of the tip such that it partially occludes the tip eyelet, allowing for a shorter overall total length of the anchor assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Joseph Balboa, Mark Edwin Housman, Jon-Paul Rogers, Jason Hamilton, Kyle Turner
  • Patent number: 10631850
    Abstract: Driver assemblies are configured to protect a threaded sleeve of an anchor from damage due to over-insertion. An internal spring permits axial retraction of an outer shaft coupled to the sleeve independent of the inner shaft and the handle. Connection members extending along the spring create an axial stop between a drive housing and a center housing of the driver assembly. The drive housing is allowed to travel proximally in response to axial loading against the spring, while travel distally is limited by the engagement between the connection members and receivers on the center housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Mark Edwin Housman, Robert B. Litchfield, Scott W. Trenhaile, Marc Joseph Balboa
  • Patent number: 10631851
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns a suture anchor including a distal body and a proximal body. The distal body defines a bounded transverse eyelet therethrough and the proximal body defines an unbounded transverse eyelet therethrough at a distal end thereof the unbounded transverse eyelet being unbounded distally. The proximal body is cannulated for receiving a proximal portion of the distal body through the cannula, whereby the eyelets are configured for alignment with one another to as to enable receiving a suture therethrough. Once the suture is received, the distal body and proximal body may be rotated relative to one another along a longitudinal axis of the suture anchor such that the eyelets are rotated out of phase with one another causing the suture to wrap around the proximal portion of the distal body and pinching the suture between an outer surface of the distal body and an inner surface of the proximal body. This has the advantage of causing the distal end of the proximal body to expand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Joseph Balboa, Geoffrey Ian Karasic
  • Publication number: 20200113586
    Abstract: An anchor delivery system includes both a straight and curved drill guide along with a flexible drill, a flexible obturator and a flexible anchor inserter. The curved drill guide has a distal tip with approximately a 15° bend from the primary axis of the drill guide. Both the drill and the obturator have a reduced diameter section to improve flexibility during passage through the curved drill guide. Additionally, a surface of the inserter shaft has a laser cut pattern which permits flexing of the inserter around the inner diameter of the curved drill guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Ian Karasic, Nehal Navinbhai Patel, Marc Joseph Balboa, Matthew Edwin Koski, Benjamin Hall
  • Publication number: 20190357898
    Abstract: Driver assemblies are configured to protect a threaded sleeve of an anchor from damage due to over-insertion. An internal spring permits axial retraction of an outer shaft coupled to the sleeve independent of the inner shaft and the handle. Connection members extending along the spring create an axial stop between a drive housing and a center housing of the driver assembly. The drive housing is allowed to travel proximally in response to axial loading against the spring, while travel distally is limited by the engagement between the connection members and receivers on the center housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Edwin Housman, Robert B. Litchfield, Scott W. Trenhaile, Marc Joseph Balboa