Patents by Inventor Thomas C. May

Thomas C. May 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: 7846181
    Abstract: A device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue is provided. The device comprises an anchor having a cannula and a locking mechanism for securing the suture within the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert E. Schwartz, Thomas C. May, Robert-Jan Enzerink, John Margetts
  • Publication number: 20100249802
    Abstract: A soft tissue graft preparation device includes a handle portion, a body portion extending distally from the handle portion, and an end effector operatively connected to a distal end of the body portion. The end effector includes first and second members. The soft tissue graft preparation device also includes a filamentous material attachment structure that includes at least one filamentous material attached thereto, wherein the filamentous material attachment structure is placed in longitudinal juxtaposition to a tissue contacting surface of the first member and/or a tissue contacting surface of the second member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Joseph Hotter
  • Publication number: 20090287259
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fixation device. The fixation device includes a base portion having a first leg, a second leg, and a groove located between the first and second legs, and a top portion extending from the base portion. A method of tissue repair and a kit are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Trenhaile, Thomas C. May
  • Publication number: 20090275963
    Abstract: First and second yarns are interconnected to form surgical devices. The first yarns include a plurality of filaments including one or more filaments made from a high strength material and the second yarns include a plurality of filaments including one or more filaments made from an absorbable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Joseph Hotter, Jon Reinprecht, Richard Hammond
  • Patent number: 7527648
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a human knee. Femoral and tibial tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia. A transverse tunnel is drilled into the femur to intersect the femoral tunnel. A replacement graft is formed into a loop and moved into the femoral and tibial tunnels using a surgical needle and suture. A flexible filamentary member is simultaneously moved along with the loop into the femoral and transverse tunnels. A pin passing member maintains one end of the filamentary wire in the transverse tunnel as the graft is being moved into place in the femoral and tibial tunnels. The filamentary member is used as a guide wire in the transverse tunnel to insert a cannulated cross-pin to secure a top of the looped graft in the femoral tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products Div of Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Gregory Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20090112270
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an anchor assembly. The anchor assembly includes an anchor defining a cavity and an opening to the cavity and an insertion member configured for arrangement within the anchor cavity. The insertion member includes a body having a proximal end portion and a flat distal end portion, and a head coupled to the proximal end portion of the body. A method of tissue repair and other anchor assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lunn, David A. Paulk, Thomas C. May, Stevan Astorino
  • Patent number: 7491206
    Abstract: An adjustable drill guide is provided that can be used to deliver a cross pin at a distance near the entrance to the femoral bone tunnel during ligament surgery. The cross pin positioned at the joint line, or tunnel opening, compresses and secures the graft within the bone tunnel, thereby preventing the graft from swaying back and forth post surgery when the joint is in motion. The adjustable drill guide assembly comprises a guide frame that includes an arm portion and a base portion that extends transversely to the arm portion. A rod member connects to the base portion for extending into the hone tunnel of the bone. Also included is a guide member configured for connection to the arm portion. The guide member is configured to be in moveable and lockable disposition along a length of the arm portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Whittaker, Thomas C. May
  • Patent number: 7458975
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a human knee. Femoral and tibial tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia. A transverse tunnel is drilled into the femur to intersect the femoral tunnel. A filamentary loop is threaded through the femoral tunnel and tibial tunnel and partially through the transverse tunnel. A replacement graft is formed into a loop and moved into the tibial tunnels using a surgical needle and suture. A flexible filamentary member is simultaneously moved along with the loop into the femoral and transverse tunnels. The filamentary member is used as a guide wire in the transverse tunnel to insert a cannulated cross-pin to secure a top of the looped graft in the femoral tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Gregory Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20080188893
    Abstract: A suture anchor system for repairing torn or damaged tissue is provided and generally includes a first suture anchor having at least one length of suture attached thereto, and a second suture anchor having at least one length of suture attached thereto. Each length of suture is coupled to one another such that a distance between the first and second suture anchors with respect to each other can be selectively adjustable. The suture anchor system also preferably includes at least one slip knot that allows the first and second suture anchors to be maintained in a fixed position with respect to one another. In use, the suture anchors can be deployed through tissue to be repaired and into the anchoring tissue at a position spaced apart from one another by a selected distance. The suture length(s) can then be tensioned to re-approximate the tom or damaged tissue toward the anchoring tissue, thereby securely attached the torn tissue to the anchoring tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: DEPUY MITEK, INC.
    Inventors: David Selvitelli, Thomas C. May, Debra Mack, Stuart Fromm, Christopher A. Battles
  • Patent number: 7390332
    Abstract: A suture anchor system for repairing torn or damaged tissue is provided and generally includes a first suture anchor having at least one length of suture attached thereto, and a second suture anchor having at least one length of suture attached thereto. Each length of suture is coupled to one another such that a distance between the first and second suture anchors with respect to each other can be selectively adjustable. The suture anchor system also preferably includes at least one slip knot that allows the first and second suture anchors to be maintained in a fixed position with respect to one another. In use, the suture anchors can be deployed through tissue to be repaired and into the anchoring tissue at a position spaced apart from one another by a selected distance. The suture length(s) can then be tensioned to re-approximate the torn or damaged tissue toward the anchoring tissue, thereby securely attached the torn tissue to the anchoring tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Depuy Mitek, Inc.
    Inventors: David Selvitelli, Thomas C. May, Debra Mack, Stuart Fromm, Christopher A. Battles
  • Patent number: 7300439
    Abstract: A bioimplantable tissue fixation device is provided for use in repairing and replacing torn or damaged connective tissue such as ligaments and tendons. The device includes an elongate body formed of a bioresorbable material including an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The body includes an internal cavity open at the proximal end which terminates proximal to the distal end. The internal cavity is in fluid communication with at least one opening formed in the outer surface of the body. The internal cavity is able to accept a treatment material for delivery external to the outer surface of the body through the at least one opening at the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas C. May
  • Patent number: 7032599
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a human knee. Femoral and tibial tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia. A transverse tunnel is drilled into the femur to intersect the femoral tunnel. A replacement graft is formed into a loop and moved into the femoral and tibial tunnels using a surgical needle and suture. A flexible filamentary member is simultaneously moved along with the loop into the femoral and transverse tunnels. The filamentary member is used as a guide wire in the transverse tunnel to insert a cannulated cross-pin to secure a top of the looped graft in the femoral tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Mitek Surgical Products Div. of Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Gregory Whittaker
  • Patent number: 7033380
    Abstract: A device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue is provided. The device comprises an anchor having a cannula and a locking mechanism for securing the suture within the cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert E. Schwartz, Thomas C. May, Robert-Jan Enzerink, John Margetts
  • Patent number: 6884249
    Abstract: A surgical knot pusher device allows a prepared knot to be pushed down a length of suture without deforming or collapsing the knot. The surgical knot pusher device includes a handle portion and an elongate body extending from the handle portion. The elongate body has a curved tip that is tapered and has a groove along a length of the tip. The tip also includes a central channel extending from the groove to a distal end of the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: DePuy Mitek, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Stuart E. Fromm
  • Publication number: 20040267273
    Abstract: An adjustable drill guide is provided that can be used to deliver a cross pin at a distance near the entrance to the femoral bone tunnel during ligament surgery. The cross pin positioned at the joint line, or tunnel opening, compresses and secures the graft within the bone tunnel, thereby preventing the graft from swaying back and forth post surgery when the joint is in motion. The adjustable drill guide assembly comprises a guide frame that includes an arm portion and a base portion that extends transversely to the arm portion. A rod member connects to the base portion for extending into the hone tunnel of the bone. Also included is a guide member configured for connection to the arm portion. The guide member is configured to be in moveable and lockable disposition along a length of the arm portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Gregory R. Whittaker, Thomas C. May
  • Publication number: 20040230302
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a human knee. Femoral and tibial tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia. A transverse tunnel is drilled into the femur to intersect the femoral tunnel. A replacement graft is formed into a loop and moved into the femoral and tibial tunnels using a surgical needle and suture. A flexible filamentary member is simultaneously moved along with the loop into the femoral and transverse tunnels. The filamentary member is used as a guide wire in the transverse tunnel to insert a cannulated cross-pin to secure a top of the looped graft in the femoral tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Gregory Whittaker
  • Patent number: 6793676
    Abstract: A method of reconstructing a joint having two bones separated by cartilaginous material is provided. The method comprises the steps of removing a portion of the cartilaginous material to create a defect site, positioning an anatomically shaped reconstructive structure comprising multiple layers of submucosa and having a thickness of about 1 to about 12 millimeters adjacent to the defect site, and securing the reconstructive structure to the defect site. The method can further comprise the steps of positioning a barrier layer between the bleeding bone and the reconstructive structure, securing the barrier layer to the bleeding bone, and securing the reconstructive structure to the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Pamela L. Plouhar, Michael D. Dunn, Jerry L. Lower, Thomas C. May
  • Publication number: 20020169478
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is a device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue. The device comprises an anchor having a cannula and a locking mechanism for securing the suture within the cannula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventors: Herbert E. Schwartz, Thomas C. May, Robert-Jan Enzerink, John Margetts
  • Publication number: 20020116012
    Abstract: A surgical knot pusher device allows a prepared knot to be pushed down a length of suture without deforming or collapsing the knot. The surgical knot pusher device includes a handle portion and an elongate body extending from the handle portion. The elongate body has a curved tip that is tapered and has a groove along a length of the tip. The tip also includes a central channel extending from the groove to a distal end of the tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas C. May, Stuart E. Fromm
  • Patent number: 6432123
    Abstract: The invention disclosed is a device for locking a suture in place without the need for tying knots once the suture is placed within tissue. The device comprises a locking ring, the locking ring comprising a series of laminated sheets having an aperture formed to allow the suture to pass when pulled in a first direction, but formed to lock the suture in place when the suture is pulled in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Ethicon, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert E. Schwartz, Thomas C. May, Robert-Jan Enzerink, John Margetts