Patents by Inventor Paul Brophy

Paul Brophy 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: 6146406
    Abstract: A bone anchor includes first and second anchoring legs and a bridge joining the anchoring legs between their proximal and distal ends. Portions of the anchoring legs on a proximal side of the bridge are configured to elastically compress together in response to an insertion force applied to the bone anchor during insertion of the bone anchor into a bone hole, and to plastically splay apart in response to a withdrawal force applied to the bone anchor. Portions of the anchoring legs on a distal side of the bridge are configured to compress together in during application of the withdrawal force to limit the splaying of the proximal portions of the anchoring legs. A method for attaching soft tissue to bone includes inserting the bone anchor with attached suture into the bone, and deploying the bone anchor within the bone by applying tension to the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan E. Shluzas, Steve Reynolds, William R. Davis, Paul Brophy