Patents Assigned to Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone
    Patent number: 9936940
    Abstract: A method for securing a suture to bone can include loading the suture in a distal opening of an inserter of an assembly. The suture can be coupled to soft tissue. The assembly can include the inserter, an anchor carried by the inserter, a distal tip and a driver each coupled to the inserter. A hole can be formed in the bone with the distal tip, and the distal opening and a portion of the suture can be positioned in the hole. The driver can be actuated to allow movement relative to the inserter and can be advanced in a first direction to drive the anchor about the inserter into the hole to secure the distal tip, anchor and suture to the bone with an absence of a knot. The driver can be moved in a second direction to remove the inserter from the distal tip, anchor and suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher M. Palese, Gregory J. Denham, Dan Norton
  • Scaffold for spring ligament repair
    Patent number: 9918826
    Abstract: A construct is disclosed that may be used to repair or replace a natural ligament. The construct may be formed of materials for biocompatibility and/or resorbtion. The construct may be provided or connected to a soft anchor for connection to a bone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, Mark S. Myerson, Kevin T. Stone
  • Scaffold for spring ligament repair
    Patent number: 9918827
    Abstract: A construct is disclosed that may be used to repair or replace a natural ligament. The construct may be formed of materials for biocompatibility and/or resorbtion. The construct may be provided or connected to a soft anchor for connection to a bone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, Mark S. Myerson, Kevin T. Stone
  • Wheeled suture passer
    Patent number: 9877716
    Abstract: A suture passer assembly is used for manipulating a suture with a selectively moveable wire member. The suture passer assembly includes at least one grasping member and a single-body hollow tube. The tube defines a first end, a second end, a tube wall, and a tube passage extending from the first end to the second end. The wire member is moveably received within the tube passage. The tube wall includes at least one aperture that is disposed between the first end and the second end. A first portion of the grasping member extends through the tube wall and into the tube passage via the aperture. A second portion of the grasping member remains outside the hollow tube. The first portion is operable to grasp the wire member and selectively move the wire member relative to the hollow tube due to manipulation of the second portion of the grasping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Terry H. Snyder, Daniel D. Fritzinger
  • Adjustable knotless loops
    Patent number: 9861351
    Abstract: Methods of attaching a soft tissue to an adjacent bone at a defect site are provided. An adjustable loop region of a flexible construct contained in a bore defined by a fastener is passed through a tissue. The adjustable loop is passed through the tissue. The fastener is passed back through the adjustable loop to fold the adjustable loop upon itself. The fastener is attached to the bone. An adjusting arm on the flexible construct is engaged to reduce the size of the adjustable loop and secure the soft tissue to the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Fracture fixation device
    Patent number: 9833230
    Abstract: Assemblies for securing a fractured or weakened bone within a subject's body are provided. The assembly includes a frame having an adjustable flexible member construct thereon. The adjustable flexible member construct is disposed in the frame such that the adjustable flexible member and the frame encircle the fractured or weakened bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin T. Stone
  • Tibial tubercule osteotomy
    Patent number: 9833245
    Abstract: Patient-specific guides for a tibial tubercle osteotomy are provided. The guides include a guide body defining a portion with a bone-engaging surface that conforms as a negative surface to a corresponding surface of a specific patient's tibia, and a guide portion that guides a surgical instrument to a specific location on the specific patient's tibia, wherein the bone-engaging surface and guide portion are configured during a pre-operative planning stage. Methods for performing a tibial tubercle osteotomy with the patient-specific guides are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: William Maxson
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone
    Patent number: 9801620
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone. The method includes the following: implanting in bone a first anchor including a first suture construct connected to the first anchor; passing a first adjustable loop of the first suture construct at least one of over or through the soft tissue; coupling the first adjustable loop to one of a first locking feature of the first anchor or a second locking feature of a second anchor; adjusting the first adjustable loop by pulling a first end of the first suture construct; and securing the soft tissue against bone by pulling the first end of the first suture construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone, Frank O. Bonnarens
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to a bone
    Patent number: 9801708
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Denham, Kevin T. Stone
  • Fracture fixation device
    Patent number: 9788876
    Abstract: Assemblies for securing fractured bone are provided. The assembly includes a first fixation element, a second fixation element, and an adjustable flexible member construct. The first fixation element having a male or a female sleeve is secured within a first portion of the fractured bone. The second fixation element having the other of the male or female sleeve telescopically received within the one of the male or female sleeve is secured within a second portion of the fractured bone. The adjustable flexible member construct extends between the first and second fixation elements and has at least one adjustable loop coupled to the first fixation element and the second fixation element and a pair of adjusting ends extending through an opening in the first fixation element. The pair of adjusting ends can be pulled to reduce a diameter of the adjustable loop and to compress fragments of the fractured bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Brian K. Berelsman, Ryan A. Kaiser
  • Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation
    Patent number: 9763656
    Abstract: A tissue fixation apparatus can include a flexible construct and an elongated locking member. The flexible construct can include at least two adjustable loops and tensioning members. The two adjustable loops can be configured to pass through the first tissue, and to be spaced apart along an outer surface of the first tissue in a first direction. The tensioning members can extend from the two adjustable loops, and can be configured to reduce the two adjustable loops from a first size to a second size. The flexible construct can be attached to the second tissue by an anchor. The locking member can be configured to be received within the two adjustable loops at the first size, and to engage the two adjustable loops at the second size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Gregory J. Denham
  • Visual aid for identifying suture limbs arthroscopically
    Patent number: 9757119
    Abstract: A flexible suture for coupling tissue includes a first suture portion extending to a first end and a second suture portion extending to a second end. A plurality of braided strands form the first and second suture portions. An identifier characteristic is formed into the plurality of braided strands. The identifier characteristic extends from the first end of the first suture portion to the second end of the second suture portion, and the identifier characteristic distinguishes the first suture portion from the second suture portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Norton, Gregory J. Denham, Benjamin P. Heilman, Nathan A. Winslow, Kevin T. Stone, Christopher Palese, Brian K. Berelsman
  • Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone
    Patent number: 9717491
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a suture to bone can include grasping a first suture portion with a grasping member on a positioning tool. The first suture portion can be located into a first cannulation defined in the positioning tool. A cutting member can be advanced through a second cannulation defined on the positioning tool and out through a distal opening defined on the positioning tool. A first bone hole can be cut into the bone with the cutting member. A flexible member advancing tool can be advanced through the first cannulation. The first suture portion can be urged out of the distal opening and into the first bone hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: Jacy C. Hoeppner
  • Capsule retractor
    Patent number: 9700291
    Abstract: An articular capsule retractor including a flexible construct, a dermal abutting member, and an anchor. The flexible construct includes a strand extending between a first end and a second end. The dermal abutting member is coupled to the flexible construct and is configured to abut a dermal layer. The anchor is coupled to the flexible construct such that the strand extends through a passageway defined by the anchor. Pulling the first end and the second end draws the dermal abutting member and the anchor together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Norton, William Maxson
  • Method and apparatus for pre-forming a high tibial osteotomy
    Patent number: 9700414
    Abstract: An osteotomy implant including a porous portion, a solid portion, and a hinge portion. The porous portion includes a first part and a second part that defines a clearance therebetween. A solid portion abuts the porous portion. A hinge portion of the solid portion is coupled to the first part and the second part. The hinge portion is configured to enable the implant to be changed from a first configuration to a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: William Maxson, Gautam Gupta
  • Apparatus and method for repairing bone defects
    Patent number: 9700327
    Abstract: A system can include a sizing and drill guide having a body with a bone engaging side, an opposite side and first and second guide holes. The bone engaging side can include a profile for positioning in the trochlear groove and the guide holes can include axes that can be orientated at an acute angle. Retaining members can be positioned in bores formed in the body and can fix the guide to the femur. A cutting device can be guided by the guide holes and can include a bone engaging end having a body and first and second cutting portions. The first cutting portion can have a smaller diameter than the second cutting portion and can be axially spaced apart therefrom so as to form a stepped pocket in the femur. The body can include an outer diameter sized to be complimentary to an inner diameter of the guide holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventor: William Maxson
  • Method for repairing bone defects
    Patent number: 9693786
    Abstract: A method for repairing a soft tissue or bone defect can include selecting one of a plurality of sizing guides having a base perimeter size corresponding to a size of the defect, where each base has a different perimeter size and a plurality of apertures spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, with the predetermined distance being the same for each of the sizing guides. The selected sizing guide base can be positioned against a distal end of the femur relative to the defect. A plurality of guide wires can be positioned through the plurality of apertures in the sizing guide base and the guide wires can be fixed to the femur such that the guide wires are parallel to each other. A first guide can be positioned over the guide wires and against the distal end of the femur to guide a first cutting member relative to the femur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, William Maxson, Paul Robert
  • Suture passer with tissue reinforcement positioner
    Patent number: 9687225
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a suture passer device that includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, a suture carrier secured to the handle and extending through the shaft, and a suturing head extending from the shaft and configured to retain tissue. The handle is operable to advance the suture carrier through the suturing head to pass a suture through tissue retained in the suturing head. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the suture passer device includes a quick-connect mechanism releasably connecting the shaft to the handle. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the shaft includes a first shaft and a second shaft pivotally coupled to the first shaft, and the first shaft defines a first channel for receiving the second shaft. Methods of disassembling the suture passer device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Palese, Kevin T. Stone, Brad Topper, John Valadez
  • Ligament system for knee joint
    Patent number: 9681940
    Abstract: A system for an anatomical joint includes a first fastener, a second fastener, a prosthetic ligament member, and a biasing member associated with at least one of the first and second fasteners. The first fastener is operable to be connected to a first bone portion. The second fastener is operable to be connected to a second bone portion. The prosthetic ligament member is flexible and is directly coupled to both the first and second fasteners to support the first bone portion and the second bone portion for relative movement. A portion of the prosthetic ligament member extends from the first fastener to the second fastener and has an adjustable length. The biasing member is operable to bias the prosthetic ligament member to thereby maintain tension in the prosthetic ligament member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Robert Metzger
  • Methods and apparatuses for securing suture
    Patent number: 9662107
    Abstract: Various suture anchors and surgical methods are provided. A two-part suture anchor is provided having a continuously threaded anchor body defining an axial bore and a pin. The pin includes a tip and a plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axial bore is disposed in anchor body. Methods of attaching soft tissue to bone are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Gregory J. Denham, Nathanael K. Conner