Patents Examined by Alvin Stewart
  • Patent number: 9763792
    Abstract: System, including methods and apparatus, for replacing an end of a bone, such as a radial bone, with a prosthesis. In exemplary embodiments, the prosthesis is a radial head prosthesis having a stem portion and a head portion. The head portion may be configured to be (a) placed onto the stem portion by movement of the head and stem portions relative to one another transverse to a longitudinal axis of the stem portion, and then (b) rotated with respect to the stem portion to produce friction that firmly attaches the head portion to the stem portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Acumed LLC
    Inventors: Jeff A. Bergquist, Devan H. Jaecker, Kenny Chinn, Li-I Lan
  • Patent number: 9764061
    Abstract: A coating of blue-black or black zirconium of uniform and controlled thickness on a zirconium or zirconium alloy material is accomplished through the treatment of an amorphous zirconium or zirconium alloy substrate, which may have an altered surface roughness. The treatment of amorphous zirconium or zirconium alloy substrates includes oxidation of the substrates. A zirconium coating of uniform and controlled thickness is especially useful in various applications because the uniformly thick zirconium surface of controlled depth provide a barrier against implant corrosion caused by ionization of the metal substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Hunter, Shilesh Jani, Vivek Pawar
  • Patent number: 9757241
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a resilient interpositional arthroplasty implant for application into a joint to pad cartilage defects, cushion, and replace or restore the articular surface, which may preserve joint integrity, reduce pain and improve function. The implant may endure variable joint compressive and shear forces and cyclic loads. The implant may repair, reconstruct, and regenerate joint anatomy, and thereby improve upon joint replacement alternatives. The walls of this invention may capture, distribute and hold living cells until aggregation and hyaline cartilage regrowth occurs. The implant may be deployed into debrided joint spaces, molding and conforming to surrounding structures with sufficient stability so as to enable immediate limb use after outpatient surgery. Appendages of the implant may repair or reconstruct tendons or ligaments, and menisci by interpositional inflatable or compliant polymer arthroplasties that promote anatomic joint motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: R. Thomas Grotz
  • Patent number: 9750596
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for limiting absorption of food products in specific parts of the digestive system is presented. A gastrointestinal implant device is anchored in the stomach and extends beyond the ligament of Treitz. All food exiting the stomach is funneled through the device. The gastrointestinal device includes an anchor for anchoring the device to the stomach and a flexible sleeve. When implanted within the intestine, the sleeve can limit the absorption of nutrients, delay the mixing of chyme with digestive enzymes, altering hormonal triggers, providing negative feedback, and combinations thereof. The anchor is collapsible for endoscopic delivery and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: GI Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andy H. Levine, John F. Cvinar, David A. Melanson, John C. Meade
  • Patent number: 9744044
    Abstract: An implant providing for both short and long term stability and fixation is disclosed. The implant includes a plurality of projections extending from a bone contacting surface, and a porous material covering at least portions of the surface and projections. The orientation of the projections and the porous material provide for the stability and fixation. Methods of forming and utilizing the implant are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Mako Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Craig Cohen, Philip Harris Frank
  • Patent number: 9744007
    Abstract: An expendable bone implant has a first member with a coronal end portion configured for supporting a prosthesis. A second member is at least partially porous, engages the first member, and is configured to expand outwardly upon a longitudinal force being applied to at least one of the first and second members. This anchors the implant in bone before mastication forces are applied to the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Zimmer Dental, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Lomicka, Srilakshmi Vishnubhotla, Jeffrey Bassett
  • Patent number: 9737647
    Abstract: Disclosed are self-expanding medical implants for placement within a lumen of a patient. The implants comprise a woven or non-woven structure having a substantially tubular configuration, and are designed to be low-profile such that they are deliverable with a small diameter catheter. The implants have a high recoverability and desired mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Arsenal Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Maria Palasis, Changcheng You, Danny Concagh, Lee Core, Kicherl Ho, Upma Sharma, Gregory T. Zugates
  • Patent number: 9737406
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant to cover at least partially a surface of a bone of a patient. The orthopedic implant comprises a body having at least one retaining section, a bone-facing surface, and an articular surface. The at least one retaining section is configured to retain the orthopedic implant on the surface of the patient's bone along at least one axis by covering a corresponding retaining surface thereof. The bone-facing surface of at least one of the at least one retaining section nestingly conforms to an unresected portion of the surface of the bone of the patient. A method for conceiving and implanting an orthopedic implant is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: LABORATORIES BODYCAD INC.
    Inventors: Jean Robichaud, Marc Bédard, Geoffroy Rivet-Sabourin
  • Patent number: 9730819
    Abstract: A biodegradable stent prosthesis formed from a degradable material, having a plurality of luminal, abluminal, and side surface regions, wherein a surface portion extending between the abluminal and luminal surface region of at least some structural elements is convex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Elixir Medical Corporation
    Inventors: John Yan, Vinayak Bhat
  • Patent number: 9724198
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein thus provide systems and methods for providing improved surgical implants. Embodiments of the implants may include a thin porous sheet formed on a mandrel. The porous sheet that is formed has an interconnected pore structure that may be compressed by a heat compression mold without losing porosity. Additional membrane materials or other layer materials may be applied to one of the face surfaces of the porous sheet or to one of the edges of the porous sheet. For example, a solid membrane surface may be compressed, bonded, welded, or secured a surface face or an edge of the porous sheet. The solid membrane may be compressed or laminated to the upper surface, lower surface, or both. The solid membrane may be welded to at least one edge of the porous sheet (by, for example, being butt welded, thermally bonded, or heat compressed to the at least one edge).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Poriferous, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron Noble
  • Patent number: 9707085
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for knee joint replacement with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) substitution. Generally, the methods and devices can allow a knee joint to be partially or totally replaced in conjunction with substitution of the knee joint's ACL. In one embodiment, a knee replacement prosthesis can include a medial or lateral femoral implant, a femoral intercondylar notch structure, a medial or lateral tibial insert, and an ACL-substitution member. The ACL-substitution member can be configured to engage with the femoral intercondylar notch structure during a full range of knee motion and/or during only early knee flexion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Orhun K. Muratoglu, Kartik Mangudi Varadarajan, Guoan Li, Harry E. Rubash, Thomas Zumbrunn
  • Patent number: 9707070
    Abstract: A prosthesis and a method for securing a prosthesis at a treatment site are provided. The prosthesis includes a material portion. The material portion includes a liquid-impermeable material layer, a porous material layer having a pore size adapted for promoting tissue ingrowth, and an adhesive portion provided on the porous material layer adapted to secure the material portion to a site for at least 24 hours following implantation of the prosthesis at the site. In some embodiments, the prosthesis further includes a body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Shaun D. Gittard, Vihar C. Surti
  • Patent number: 9700390
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a soft tissue preservation arrangement includes a hollow shell defining an interior volume extending from a proximal opening to a distal opening. The proximal opening is defined by a first perimeter that is smaller than a second perimeter defining the distal opening such that the shell tapers outwardly from the first perimeter to the second perimeter. The second perimeter is asymmetrically scalloped. The hollow shell either (1) is transparent or semi-transparent or (2) has a color configured to correspond to a color of a gingival tissue or a tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet 3I, LLC
    Inventors: Stephan S. Porter, Michael J. Traylor
  • Patent number: 9700418
    Abstract: A hip prosthesis includes a stem intended to be inserted in the neck of the femur, a prosthetic head shaped as a substantially hemispherical cup, intended to be inserted in the acetabular seat, a distal prosthetic component connected to the stem and shaped as a substantially hemispherical cup with concavity towards the concavity of the prosthetic head, and a ball disposed between the distal prosthetic component and the prosthetic head in such manner to generate a ball coupling, wherein the prosthetic head includes a flattened pole that defines an external central flat planar surface in order to adjust to various shapes of the acetabular seat, grooves externally obtained to be coupled with the acetabular seat and holes to receive screws that are screwed into the acetabular seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventor: Alessandro Melozzi
  • Patent number: 9700428
    Abstract: Spinal implants are disclosed. One spinal implant includes a support body, an articulating element, a blocking member and a motion limiting member. The support body includes a superior end surface and a lower end surface having teeth. In between the superior end surface and the lower end surface is a recess formed in a sidewall of the support body for receiving the articulating element. The blocking member can be received in the recess to prevent inadvertent back-out of the articulating element from within the recess. The articulating element can articulate in one or more directions, thereby allowing articulation of the spinal implant into a desired position within a disc space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Globus Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcin Niemiec, Mark Adams, Andrew Iott
  • Patent number: 9702037
    Abstract: A surgical implant comprising: a substrate having an exterior surface and a plurality of layers disposed over the substrate exterior surface. The substrate comprises a polymeric material, and the plurality of layers comprises: an activated substrate surface layer; a valve metal layer; and a porous valve metal oxide layer, wherein the valve metal layer is disposed between the activated substrate layer and the porous valve metal oxide layer. The disclosure provides for a method for producing a polymeric surgical implant. The exterior substrate surface is treated by one or more processes comprising: plasma activation; electron beam irradiation; ultraviolet light; and low energy Ar+ ion beam irradiation; producing an activated substrate surface layer. A plurality of layers is applied over the activated substrate surface layer. The surface is converted by a spark-anodization process in an alkaline bath containing Ca and P ions into a layer of porous valve metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Cyril Voisard, Philippe Gédet, Nicolas Bouduban
  • Patent number: 9681906
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant system includes an orthopedic implant having an articulating component with an articulating surface and an interface surface opposed to the articulating surface, and a body component connected to the interface surface and having a bore formed therein, the bore having at least one lip; and an orthopedic screw connected to the orthopedic implant, the orthopedic screw including a main body having a torqueing end, an inner chamber formed therein, and at least two mating features separated by a separation gap, the separation gap extending into the inner chamber and at least one of the at least two mating features abutting against the at least one lip, and a support member removably placed in the inner chamber of the main body and having a support portion at least partially filling the separation gap between the at least two mating features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SMcd-TA/TD, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory C. Stalcup, Troy D. Knapp, Travis J. Geels
  • Patent number: 9681957
    Abstract: A cage assembly for implanting between and securing together two portions of bone in a tibial tuberosity advancement includes an elongated cage body having a first end and a second end, and a securing member. The first end of the cage body and the securing member are engagable with each other so as to interlock in a manner that prevents the securing member from moving longitudinally away from the cage body. The securing member is arrangable, when interlocked with the cage body, such that it has a portion which extends laterally outwards beyond each opposing side of the cage body for use in attaching the securing member to the portions of bone. Different sizes of securing member may be engaged with the cage body. The cage assembly therefore provides a convenient and flexible approach to tibial tuberosity advancement procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Inventor: Harold M Wotton, III
  • Patent number: 9675441
    Abstract: A bearing component 2 for a joint replacement prosthesis comprises a first bearing element 4; a second bearing element 6, and a linking element 8, operatively connecting the first and second bearing elements 4, 6 and permitting relative motion there between. The flexible linking element 8 prevents dislocation of mobile bearings in a total knee replacement prosthesis. The invention also relates to a bridging element which retains the linking element 8 with some play, which acts as a ligament support 2051, and which causes a deflection of the line of action of a ligament 1018. A joint replacement prosthesis is also disclosed comprising a biasing element 1140 or a tensioning element 1220 operatively coupled to the artificial ligament 1018. The biasing element 1140 or tensioning element 1220 may be housed in the stem of a tibia tray 1006.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet UK Limited
    Inventors: David Wolfson, Russell Lloyd, John Joseph O'Connor, Mohammed Imran Khan, David Wycliffe Murray, Christopher Alexander Dodd, John William Goodfellow
  • Patent number: 9668887
    Abstract: The present foot prosthesis includes various structural features that provide the foot with advantageous rollover properties. In certain embodiments, the foot guides rollover toward the medial side. For example, an asymmetrical upper element and a correspondingly shaped resilient ankle member support more of the wearer's weight on the lateral side as the foot rolls over. In another embodiment, stiffeners added to the resilient ankle member increase the stiffness on the lateral side relative to the medial side. In certain other embodiments, the foot provides progressively increasing support from mid stance through toe off. For example, a gap between the resilient ankle member and the lower element closes during the later portion of the wearer's gait. The closing gap increases a contact area between the resilient ankle member and the lower element, providing progressively increasing support. In another embodiment, the foot includes a gap between a lower front edge of an attachment adapter and the upper element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Össur hf
    Inventors: Christophe Guy Lecomte, Hjordis Thorhallsdottir, Heidrun Gígja Ragnarsdottir, Arinbjörn Viggo Clausen