Patents Assigned to Tenjin LLC
  • Publication number: 20230085430
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation, namely embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein. Other preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to multi-anchor constructs that may employ threaded implants exclusively, push-in implants exclusively, or a combination of threaded and push-in implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. DOUGHERTY, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 11504224
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TENJIN LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 10548711
    Abstract: A simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a socket in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the socket, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture is disclosed. Alternate embodiments of the anchor placement system and method of the present invention may forego tensioned sutures in favor of direct engagement with the soft tissue graft, whereby an end or a portion of the graft is trapped between an outer surface of the anchor and the boney surface of the wall of the socket such that friction force between the inserted portions of graft and socket maintains the position of graft relative to socket and bone. In either case, particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: TENJIN LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 10548588
    Abstract: Herein described are suture-anchoring implanted medical devices formed from a bioresorbable metal alloy that may be used to secure soft tissue to bone. The metallic bioresorbable tissue anchoring devices of the present invention are optimally configured such that all portions of the device are resorbed over a short predetermined period of time while maintaining their tissue anchoring capability and preventing the generation of loose foreign bodies therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20190290420
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. DOUGHERTY, Gary R. HEISLER, Robert A. VAN WYK
  • Patent number: 10321919
    Abstract: Described herein are specialized endoscopic drilling devices that may be readily powered by a conventional shaver handpiece and further may be utilized to secure a soft tissue graft to a boney surface. More particularly, the devices, systems and methods of the present invention enable the efficient and minimally invasive formation of off-axis sockets and/or tunnels in boney surfaces that may then serve as a site for graft placement by aperture and/or suspensory fixation means. As such, the present invention has particular applicability to the surgical repair and reconstruction of torn or ruptured tissues, such as ligaments and tendons, in the leg, knee and shoulder, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TENJIN LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20190053888
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a socket in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the socket, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Alternate embodiments of the anchor placement system and method of the present invention may forego tensioned sutures in favor of direct engagement with the soft tissue graft, whereby an end or a portion of the graft is trapped between an outer surface of the anchor and the boney surface of the wall of the socket such that friction force between the inserted portions of graft and socket maintains the position of graft relative to socket and bone. In either case, particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. DOUGHERTY, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 10188417
    Abstract: In the context of bone surgery and in particular arthroscopic surgery, there is frequently a need for the application of “percussive force” to the distal end component(s) of a surgical device, i.e., repetitive percutient or striking force analogous to that of a hammer driving a nail. Disclosed herein are mechanisms and methods for automating and/or controlling the application of such a percussive force so as to avoid the present need in the art for a “third hand”. The present invention addresses the significant and long felt need by providing a powered percussive driver device that may be controlled directly by the primary surgeon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Tenjin, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler, Christopher P. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 10149752
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20180199954
    Abstract: Described herein is combination sealing and stabilizing collar component designed to both prevent the leakage of vacuum through the interface between an endoscopic shaver device and a powered handpiece that provides rotational motion thereto and stabilize the endoscopic shaver device when it is mounted onto the powered handpiece. The collar may be further coupled with a conventional cannula to prevent the leakage of intra-articular fluid when performing an arthroscopic procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. DOUGHERTY, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 9999496
    Abstract: Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to multi-anchor constructs. Multi-anchor constructs of the present invention may employ threaded implants exclusively, push-in implants exclusively, or a combination of threaded and push-in implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: TENJIN LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20180125474
    Abstract: A number of surgical procedures, particularly orthopaedic procedures, involve manual percussion, typically mallet-applied. As discussed in detail herein, such procedures can be problematic as they not only require a second set of hands but are often associated with incomplete and/or uncontrolled axial movement and/or injury to the surgeon's hands. Described herein are specialized hand-held devices, as well as systems, kits, and methods associated therewith, that avoid such problems by joining or replacing the external “mallet” with an internal “hammer” that can automate the delivery of controlled repetitive “strikes”, more particularly repeated strikes to a proximal end of a drill, driver and/or insertion device, so as to mete out pre-determined incremental movement to a distal end component, such as a sharpened socket-forming tip, an interference-plug type suture anchor, or a dilating device for modifying the cross-section of a tunnel formed in a bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler
  • Patent number: 9907548
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft or “suture anchor”, threaded, knotless or otherwise, by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. The simplified placement system and method of the present invention allows the surgeon to establish the graft position and, while maintaining that position, secure the anchor without changing the suture tension or causing a shift in the graft position and furthermore, when the anchor is threaded, without spinning of the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler
  • Publication number: 20180055527
    Abstract: In the context of bone surgery and in particular arthroscopic surgery, there is frequently a need for the application of “percussive force” to the distal end component(s) of a surgical device, i.e., repetitive percutient or striking force analogous to that of a hammer driving a nail. Disclosed herein are mechanisms and methods for automating and/or controlling the application of such a percussive force so as to avoid the present need in the art for a “third hand”. The present invention addresses the significant and long felt need by providing a powered percussive driver device that may be controlled directly by the primary surgeon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. VAN WYK, Gary R. HEISLER, Christopher P. DOUGHERTY
  • Publication number: 20170367812
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 9833255
    Abstract: In the context of bone surgery and in particular arthroscopic surgery, there is frequently a need for the application of “percussive force” to the distal end component(s) of a surgical device, i.e., repetitive percutient or striking force analogous to that of a hammer driving a nail. Disclosed herein are mechanisms and methods for automating and/or controlling the application of such a percussive force so as to avoid the present need in the art for a “third hand”. The present invention addresses the significant and long felt need by providing a powered percussive driver device that may be controlled directly by the primary surgeon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Tenjin, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler, Christopher P. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20170319327
    Abstract: Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention relate to multi-anchor constructs. Multi-anchor constructs of the present invention may employ threaded implants exclusively, push-in implants exclusively, or a combination of threaded and push-in implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. DOUGHERTY, Gary R. HEISLER, Robert A. VAN WYK
  • Patent number: 9795374
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone while maintaining suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 9782250
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments allow for the one-handed operation. To that end, embodiments in which relative axial movement between the inner tensioning device and outer driver device is optionally physically constrained, for example by means of cooperating and/or compressive elements disposed in the respective hub and handle portions, are described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Patent number: 9770240
    Abstract: Using the simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor of the present invention, a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply a precise amount of tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone, preferably while maintaining the requisite pre-determined suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture. Particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention allow for the placement of small diameter knotless anchors. For example, the implant placement system may include a cannulated tensioning device having disposed therein an elongate member of a suitably elastic metallic or polymeric material, such as nitinol, that includes at its distal end a loop of material suitable for suture retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk