Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Norman F. Hainer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8167592
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rotor assembly for a peristaltic pump. The pump includes a first rotor having a plurality of rollers and a second rotor, coupled to the first rotor, having a plurality of rollers. The rollers of the first and second rotors are located at an angle of about 45° relative to each other. In an embodiment, the first rotor and the second rotor are circular. In another embodiment, the rollers of the first rotor are equally spaced or located at an angle, about 90°, relative to each other. In yet another embodiment, the rollers of the second rotor are equally spaced or located at an angle, about 90°, relative to each other. A peristaltic pump and a method of supplying fluid to a surgical area are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Cemal Shener-Irmakoglu
  • Patent number: 8092431
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a seal assembly for a cannula. The cannula includes a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion. The seal assembly is located in the proximal portion of the housing and includes a first seal including a first tri-slit, a second seal disposed co-axially and proximal to the first seal and including a second tri-slit, and a third seal disposed co-axially to the first seal and the second seal and including a central opening. A cap is coupled to the proximal portion of the housing and adjacent the third seal and includes a plurality of suture retaining features, such as tabs, for management of sutures during surgery. Fluid leakage out of the cannula, during surgery, is substantially reduced due to the leakage being limited to a channel defined by the first tri-slit, the second tri-slit, and the central opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Lunn, David A. Paulk, Julie K. Tripodi
  • Patent number: 8087909
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a rotor assembly for a peristaltic pump. The pump includes a first rotor having a plurality of rollers and a second rotor, coupled to the first rotor, having a plurality of rollers. The rollers of the first and second rotors are located at an angle of about 45° relative to each other. In an embodiment, the first rotor and the second rotor are circular. In another embodiment, the rollers of the first rotor are equally spaced or located at an angle, about 90°, relative to each other. In yet another embodiment, the rollers of the second rotor are equally spaced or located at an angle, about 90°, relative to each other. A peristaltic pump and a method of supplying fluid to a surgical area are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Cemal Shener
  • Patent number: 7942881
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a microfracture pick having a shaft and a handle. The shift has a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end includes an angled tip. The handle has a body with a first end portion, a second end portion, and an impact surface located therebetween. The handle is operatively coupled to the proximal end of the shaft at the first end portion. Methods of microfracture stimulation are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Alexander Torrie, Marc Philippon
  • Patent number: 7905385
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for joining ceramics to metals and a tool for use in the methods. A medical device and a method of manufacturing a medical device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Gheorge Mihalca
  • Patent number: 7785347
    Abstract: Surgical instruments and methods are provided. In one aspect, a method of securing a fixation device within an opening in a tissue is provided, including delivering a material in a flowable state to said opening, and changing the state of the material so that the material forms an interference fit that secures the fixation device in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Fraser Harvie, Graham Smith, Philip B. Sample, Gary R. McCarthy, Adam James, Peter Richardson, Sally L. Carter
  • Patent number: 7758642
    Abstract: Sheaths for implantable fixation devices and methods of using the sheaths are disclosed. Sheaths have a flexible body with a perforated wall, and an interior of the body is sized and shaped to receive the fixation device. Sheaths include a plurality of flexible or inflexible tubes arranged to form a ring, where the central cavity defined by the ring is sized and shaped to receive the fixation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond A. Bojarski, Paul Alexander Torrie, Fraser Harvie, Steven W. Ek
  • Patent number: 7740657
    Abstract: A sheath for organizing soft tissue includes a first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a fixation device, and a second tube coupled to the first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a soft tissue graft. A method for implanting soft tissue in a bone tunnel includes coupling a soft tissue graft to a sheath assembly; and positioning the sheath assembly relative to the soft tissue graft based on a measured depth of a bone tunnel. A set of surgical devices for implanting soft tissue grafts in a bone tunnel includes a sheath assembly, a measurement device for measuring the depth of the bone tunnel, a securing element configured to secure the sheath assembly to the soft tissue graft at a position determined by the measured bone tunnel depth, and a tensioning device configured to organize a plurality of soft tissue grafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Inventors: Charles H. Brown, Jr., Bernard J. Bourque, Rebecca A. Blough, Michael C. Ferragamo, Raymond A. Bojarski, Paul Alexander Torrie, Ben K. Graf, Fraser Harvie, Steve Ek
  • Patent number: 7524335
    Abstract: A fiber-reinforced, polymeric implant material useful for tissue engineering, and method of making same are provided. The fibers are preferably aligned predominantly parallel to each other, but may also be aligned in a single plane. The implant material comprises a polymeric matrix, preferably a biodegradable matrix, having fibers substantially uniformly distributed therein. Inorganic particles may also be included in the implant material. In preferred embodiments, porous tissue scaffolds are provided which facilitate regeneration of load-bearing tissues such as articular cartilage and bone. Non-porous fiber-reinforced implant materials are also provided herein useful as permanent implants for load-bearing sites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Slivka, Gabriele G. Niederauer, Kristine Kieswetter, Neil C. Leatherbury
  • Patent number: 7510563
    Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a cutting member with an implement for cutting tissue, and a drive coupled to the cutting member. The drive may include a drive member having a helical groove and being attached to the cutting member. Furthermore, the drive may include an inner drive hub coupled to the drive member such that the drive member rotates with the inner drive hub while being free to translate relative to the inner drive hub. The drive simultaneously rotates and translates the cutting member in response to a force applied to the drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M Cesarini, Karen Drucker, Rafal Jezierski, Roger R. Cassidy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7473860
    Abstract: A device includes a printed circuit board having a first surface and a second surface. The printed circuit board defines an opening therethrough from the first surface to the second surface and a circuit formed on the first surface of the printed circuit board with no portion of the circuit intersecting the opening. The second surface of the printed circuit board at least partially bounds a first channel in fluid communication with the opening. A method of venting includes displacing air within a cavity of a switch by moving the air through one or more channels formed in a layer defining cut-outs in fluid communication with the cavity. The air is moved through an opening formed in a printed circuit board. The layer is positioned at a first side of the printed circuit board. In addition, the method includes moving the air through a venting channel positioned at a second, opposite side of the printed circuit board and into the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip B. Sample
  • Patent number: 6808003
    Abstract: A method of operating a twin wheel conform metal extrusion device or a cladding extrusion device for producing a composite of an extruded metal shell bonded to a metal foam core. A metal feedstock is extruded through an extrusion die defining a cavity housing a hollow extrusion mandrel to produce a metal shell. Liquid foam of a second metal is simultaneously delivered through the hollow mandrel bore such that the foam exiting the axial bore is metallurgically bonded to the metal extruded through the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Narsimhan Raghunathan, J. Daniel Bryant, Andrew J. Hinkle
  • Patent number: 6783836
    Abstract: A lithographic sheet product having a substrate with a roll textured surface covered by a pretreatment layer. The pretreatment layer enhances adhesion of a printing composition to the sheet product and is composed of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polymers of acrylic acid, polymers of methacrylic acid, an organophosphorous polymer and copolymers of an organophosphorous compound and acrylic acid or methacrylic acid. Dopant particles of alumina, silica, titanium dioxide or a black dye or pigment may be added to the pretreatment layer to reduce the gloss and reflectance of the pretreatment layer in a printing process. Etching of the substrate also reduces gloss and reflectance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: David Bennett, Sallie L. Blake, Robert E. Bombalski, Joseph D. Guthrie, Daniel L. Serafin
  • Patent number: 6752368
    Abstract: A clamping device for grasping and suspending a workpiece is disclosed. The clamping device comprises a clamp body, the clamp body comprises at least one slotted arcuate spring end portion; an intermediate spring spreading portion contiguous with and extending from the slotted arcuate spring end portion, the intermediate spring spreading portion having an eccentric bore; a jaw end portion contiguous with and extending from the intermediate spring spreading portion, the jaw end portion comprising a jaw clamping surface, and a bracket, the bracket having a beveled sidewall; wherein the jaw clamping surface and the bracket define a jaw opening; and a suspending means attached to the intermediate spring spreading portion; an eccentric wedge slideably mounted in the bracket; and an eccentric cam rotatably disposed within the eccentric bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Wade A. Winchip, Edward H. Connelly