Patents by Inventor Richard Wenstrom

Richard Wenstrom 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: 20100217318
    Abstract: A suture anchor having a conical surface and a bore in which an end of an insertion tool is inserted. The insertion end of the insertion tool is made of material having elastic properties. The bore and base of the suture anchor are angled with respect to the central axis of the suture anchor and preferably are parallel to each other. During insertion, the suture anchor is reoriented to fit into the hole, thereby bending the elastic end of the insertion tool. When the suture anchor is within cancellous bone tissue, the elastic properties of the insertion tool deploys the suture anchor to an orientation in which the suture anchor cannot fit through the bone hole, thereby firmly anchoring the suture anchor in the human bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Edwin Bartlett, Richard Wenstrom
  • Publication number: 20060095131
    Abstract: A graft fixation system for fixing graft material in a bone tunnel includes an expandable fixation member having a graft receiving eyelet disposed proximate its distal end, opposed bone engaging elements disposed about its periphery, and an expansion plug receiving opening defined in its proximal end. The system also includes an expansion plug having a diameter greater than the diameter of the expansion plug receiving opening so that forceable insertion of the expansion plug into the expansion plug receiving opening causes an expansion of the expandable fixation member driving the opposed bone engaging elements apart so as to fix the bone engaging elements, as well as the graft material, in a bone tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: ETHICON, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Justin, Richard Wenstrom, Andrew Levy
  • Publication number: 20060074434
    Abstract: A cannulated drill guide for use in orthopedic surgical procedures. The drill guide includes a distal tip having distally extending tangs for positioning at a drilling site on bone. The drill guide also includes a triangular cross- section handle that provides tactile feedback to a surgeon for determining the rotational orientation of the distal tip at the drilling site with respect to a site on a bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 6, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Wenstrom, Ran Oren
  • Publication number: 20060036283
    Abstract: A suture anchor having a conical surface and a bore in which an end of an insertion tool is inserted. The insertion end of the insertion tool is made of material having elastic properties. The bore and base of the suture anchor are angled with respect to the central axis of the suture anchor and preferably are parallel to each other. During insertion, the suture anchor is reoriented to fit into the hole, thereby bending the elastic end of the insertion tool. When the suture anchor is within cancellous bone tissue, the elastic properties of the insertion tool deploys the suture anchor to an orientation in which the suture anchor cannot fit through the bone hole, thereby firmly anchoring the suture anchor in the human bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Edwin Bartlett, Richard Wenstrom
  • Publication number: 20060030941
    Abstract: A graft ligament anchor comprises a graft ligament engagement member disposed in an opening in a bone, the graft ligament engagement member being arranged to receive a graft ligament alongside the engagement member, and a locking member for disposition in the opening, and at least in part engageable with the graft ligament engagement member. Movement of the locking member in the opening causes the locking member to urge the engagement member, and the graft ligament therewith, toward a wall of the opening, to secure the graft ligament to the wall of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Publication date: February 9, 2006
    Inventors: Joseph Sklar, Harold Martins, Richard Wenstrom
  • Publication number: 20050203523
    Abstract: A tunnel notcher and guidewire delivery device is provided for creating a notch and positioning a guidewire within a bone tunnel. In general, the device includes an elongate member having proximal and distal ends with an inner lumen extending therebetween that is adapted to receive a guidewire. The device also includes a cutting element disposed on a distal portion of the elongate member that is adapted to remove bone within an opening of a bone tunnel. In use, the device 10 can be at least partially positioned within a bone tunnel containing a bone plug, and it can be manipulated to form a notch within or adjacent to an opening of the bone tunnel using the cutting element 18. The device 10 is also effective to deliver a guidewire 16 to the bone tunnel at a location adjacent to the notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Richard Wenstrom, Robert Breech
  • Publication number: 20050171603
    Abstract: A graft fixation system for fixing graft material in a bone tunnel includes an expandable fixation member having a graft receiving eyelet disposed proximate its distal end, opposed bone engaging elements disposed about its periphery, and an expansion plug receiving opening defined in its proximal end. The system also includes an expansion plug having a diameter greater than the diameter of the expansion plug receiving opening so that forceable insertion of the expansion plug into the expansion plug receiving opening causes an expansion of the expandable fixation member driving the opposed bone engaging elements apart so as to fix the bone engaging elements, as well as the graft material, in a bone tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Daniel Justin, Richard Wenstrom, Andrew Levy