Patents Assigned to Zimmer Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8999000
    Abstract: A cartilage resurfacing implant is provided for replacing cartilage of an articulating portion of a bone at a skeletal joint having opposed joint surfaces. The cartilage resurfacing implant includes a body having a bearing surface and a bone interface. The bearing surface is able to support articulation with an opposing joint surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Hodorek, Antony J. Lozier, Cheryl R. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8940054
    Abstract: An implant system for total shoulder arthroplasties, hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties including a humeral stem having an enlarged head portion with interfaces adapted to removably receive various modular interchangeable components, such as articulating liners, spacers, and adapter inserts. The humeral stem functions as a universal platform that may be used in either conventional or “reverse” total shoulder arthroplasties, as well as hemi shoulder arthroplasties, and may remain implanted in place during a revision in which the implant system is converted between the foregoing configurations, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy C. Wiley, Brian C. Hodorek
  • Patent number: 8882777
    Abstract: Instruments for use in resecting, reshaping, and preparing the end of a bone to receive an implant. The instruments may be equipped with indicator devices in the form of light-emitting devices to project an indicator onto the bone. Examples of such instruments may be a cut guide equipped with a built-in cut plane indicator device and a cut plane indicator device for use with existing cut guides. The cut plane indicator device may provide a visual indication or cue on a surface of the bone indicating where the cut plane of the cut guide will intersect the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson R. Heavener, Shawn E. McGinley, James S. Collins, Kathleen J. Radford, James E. Grimm
  • Patent number: 8313490
    Abstract: A system for preparing a surface of an anatomical structure, such as a bone or cartilage, for example, to receive an orthopaedic implant. The system includes a surgical instrument for preparing the surface and a guide engageable with a follower of the surgical instrument. The guide includes a track or path configured to guide the follower and prepare a desired surface on the anatomical structure. The guide facilitates guidance of the surgical instrument in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Justin J. May
  • Publication number: 20120234461
    Abstract: A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components, femoral hip components, and/or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a solid metal substrate; providing a porous metal structure; contouring a surface of the porous metal structure; placing the porous structure against the substrate such that the contoured surface of the porous metal structure is disposed against the substrate, thereby forming an assembly; applying heat and pressure to the assembly in conjunction with thermal expansion of the substrate in order to metallurgically bond the porous structure and the substrate; and removing mass from the substrate after the porous structure is bonded to the substrate, thereby finish processing the assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Steven J. Charlebois, Leslie N. Gilbertson, Michael E. Hawkins, Dana J. Medlin, H. Ravindranath Shetty, Steven A. Zawadzki
  • Patent number: 8241367
    Abstract: Modular bone implants, modes of assembly, and their method of use are presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignees: Zimmer, Inc., Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Justin, E. Marlowe Goble, Thomas Wade Fallin, Nathan A. Hammond, Daniel J. Triplett, Robert A. Hodorek, Daniel Gerbec, Gordon Baker
  • Patent number: 8206455
    Abstract: A hip prosthesis is provided for insertion into a femur. In one exemplary embodiment, the hip prosthesis includes a stem having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis. This stem may include anterior and posterior locking surfaces which diverge away from the longitudinal axis. A shank portion may extend distally from the anterior and posterior locking surfaces and converge at an angle distally toward the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Natalia Fridshtand, Douglas W. Gabel, Steven J. Charlebois, David L. Glass, Steven A. Zawadzki, Jeffrey P. Matney
  • Patent number: 8191760
    Abstract: A method for attaching a porous metal layer to a dense metal substrate, wherein the method is particularly useful in forming orthopedic implants such as femoral knee components, femoral hip components, and/or acetabular cups. The method, in one embodiment thereof, comprises providing a solid metal substrate; providing a porous metal structure; contouring a surface of the porous metal structure; placing the porous structure against the substrate such that the contoured surface of the porous metal structure is disposed against the substrate, thereby forming an assembly; applying heat and pressure to the assembly in conjunction with thermal expansion of the substrate in order to metallurgically bond the porous structure and the substrate; and removing mass from the substrate after the porous structure is bonded to the substrate, thereby finish processing the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Charlebois, Leslie N. Gilbertson, Michael E. Hawkins, Dana J. Medlin, H. Ravindranath Shetty, Steven A. Zawadzki
  • Publication number: 20120116525
    Abstract: Various embodiments of femoral trochlea prostheses useable in a knee joint. The knee joint includes a patella and a distal femur with a femoral trochlea, or patello-femoral groove. In one embodiment, a femoral trochlea prosthesis includes a nonarticulating surface including contoured surfaces and/or planar surfaces. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing a bone surface for receiving the prostheses described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Brown, Adam M. Griner, Robert A. Hodorek, Raymond C. Parisi, Brian E. Vanskyock, Toby N. Farling
  • Patent number: 8167888
    Abstract: The present invention relates to one or more tibial spacer blocks used during knee arthroplasty, each configured to be temporarily positioned upon a resected proximal portion of a tibia (essentially mimicking the tibial component of the knee prosthesis), for performing a range of motion analysis and for checking flexion and extension gaps prior to cutting the distal or posterior femur. Preferably, the spacer blocks each include an attachment arrangement configured and arranged to mate with a complementary attachment arrangement of an alignment tower and/or a femoral cutting guide. The alignment tower, which is configured to be used with an alignment rod, is used for verifying the alignment of the limb's mechanical axis when the spacer block is positioned between the tibia and the femur. The femoral cutting guide is used for guiding a cutting member into proper orientation for resecting a distal or posterior portion of a femur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Steffensmeier
  • Publication number: 20120059484
    Abstract: Modular bone implants, means of assembly, and their method of use are presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel F. Justin, E. Marlowe Goble, Daniel J. Triplett, Robert A. Hodorek
  • Patent number: 8114086
    Abstract: A navigated guide is provided for establishing datums used to position subsequent components during a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody L. Claypool, Shawn E. McGinley, Sudip Hui
  • Patent number: 8070041
    Abstract: A method for constantly controlling a direct application of pressure for bonding porous coatings to substrate materials used in orthopaedic implants. The direct pressure is applied to an interface between the porous coating and the substrate material via a pressure application mechanism unaffected by heat and air pressure conditions of the bonding process. The pressure application mechanism maintains a pressure on the implant which is constantly controlled throughout the bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brad L. Rauguth, William G. Hutchison, Clarence M. Panchison
  • Publication number: 20110224791
    Abstract: A cartilage resurfacing implant is provided for replacing cartilage of an articulating portion of a bone at a skeletal joint having opposed joint surfaces. The cartilage resurfacing implant includes a body having a bearing surface and a bone interface. The bearing surface is able to support articulation with an opposing joint surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Hodorek, Antony J. Lozier, Cheryl R. Blanchard
  • Patent number: 8017139
    Abstract: The present invention provides blend water-swellable materials and hydrogels suitable for use in biomedical or other applications. The blend water swellable materials and hydrogels have at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one other polymer or oligomer having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic recurring units where the blend phase separates and is opaque and immiscible in the presence of water. Methods of making these blend water-swellable materials and hydrogels are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Thomas, Donald Yakimicki, Robert Garryl Hudgins
  • Patent number: 7993341
    Abstract: A navigated orthopaedic guide is provided for establishing datums used to position subsequent components during an orthopaedic surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Grimm, Shawn E. McGinley, Sudip Hui
  • Patent number: 7985259
    Abstract: An acetabular implant for hip replacement surgery includes a shell component and first and second alternative bearing components interchangeably engageable with the shell component to provide a choice in bearing materials. The shell component has an engagement mechanism suitable for locking engagement with the first alternative shell component. A conversion ring is lockingly engageable with the shell component to adapt the shell component to provide an engagement mechanism suitable for locking engagement with the second alternative shell component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Berger, Erin M. Johnson, Archie W. Newsome, Randy L. Schlemmer
  • Publication number: 20110172665
    Abstract: By providing components securable to anchor pins or screws of different diameters as well as providing clamps which hold associated pins in any position during adjustments, an external fixation or adjustable frame structure is provided which is capable of being quickly and easily assembled in any desired configuration. In the present invention, the frame structure is retained in any assembled configuration in order to allow final adjustments to be made, prior to the final securement of the frame assembly in the precisely desired configuration by closure of each clamp member. In this way, an entire frame assembly is capable of being constructed, adjusted, and readjusted in order to assure each component is oriented in the precisely desired position prior to final closure of the clamping members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: ZIMMER TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. Winquist, Roy Bogert, Charles Hummel, James Seaton, James Nelson
  • Patent number: 7963969
    Abstract: A provisional component for use with differently sized first and second prosthetic orthopedic components. The provisional component has a configuration which is substantially similar to the first prosthetic component and has a predefined correspondence to the second prosthetic component. The provisional component is mounted on a bone to assess the fit of the first prosthetic component. The provisional component includes a referencing element for defining a reference point on the bone if the fit of the provisional component indicates that the second prosthetic component should be used. An instrument guide is aligned with the reference point and used to properly position a surgical instrument to prepare the bone to receive the second prosthetic component. The provisional and prosthetic components may all be femoral components which have an articulating surface defining a single condylar-shaped projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam H. Sanford
  • Patent number: 7963979
    Abstract: A provisional bone plate formed of an implantable plastic and having a length corresponding to the longest bone plate in a particular family of bone plates. The provisional bone plate includes a head contoured to match the head of a particular bone as well as a shaft for placement adjacent the bone shaft. The provisional bone plate includes a plurality of circumferential notches surrounding the elongate body or shaft of the bone plate. The circumferential notches are substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the bone plate and define frangible portions of the bone plate which can be removed from the distal end thereof to alter the length of the provisional periarticular bone plate to correspond to the length of the various bone plates in a family of bone plates. The provisional bone plate is constructed of a biologically suitable plastic, is radiographic, and melts at a temperature less than 200° Fahrenheit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Phillips, Mark Bryant, Bradley T. Durcholz, Krishnakant K. Merchant