Patents Examined by Alvin Stewart
  • Patent number: 9572651
    Abstract: An implantable digestive organ is provided for the transport of materials through the digestive tract and in one particular application to an artificial large bowel for replacing all or part of a colon. The prosthetic organ of one embodiment includes an outer support structure, an expandable member or members located within the support structure, and a flexible inner member forming a conduit for passage of material. The inner member is located within the outer member and the expandable member(s) is located between the inner member and the support structure. The expandable members are expanded and contracted, or inflated and deflated to provide pumping action that pumps material through the organ. The prosthesis may also include valves or sphincters at its entrance and/or exit points where material moves into and out of the prosthesis. An implantable pump may be included for inflating and deflating the expandable members in a desired sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Python Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Mir A. Imran
  • Patent number: 9572672
    Abstract: Certain disclosed examples provide methods for strengthening, reinforcing, and/or stimulating repair of residual patella bone to be resurfaced. Also provided in some examples are devices associated with the methods. These methods and devices may be utilized during or following total knee replacement (TKR) or total knee arthroscopy (TKA).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: ZIMMER KNEE CREATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Peter F. Sharkey
  • Patent number: 9566162
    Abstract: An adjustable humeral implant includes a humeral tray and a humeral coupler. The humeral tray includes a humeral coupler receiving portion. The humeral coupler includes a humeral tray mating portion and a stem portion extending from the humeral tray mating portion along a first axis. The humeral tray mating portion is translatable within the humeral coupler receiving portion in a direction transverse to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Bryce Isch
  • Patent number: 9566371
    Abstract: The disclosure provides biodegradable implantable devices such as a stent comprising a biodegradable polymeric wherein the polymeric material is treated to control crystallinity and/or Tg. The stent is capable to expand at body temperature in a body lumen from a crimped configuration to a deployed diameter and have sufficient strength to support a body lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Elixir Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoxia Zheng, John Yan, Vinayak Bhat
  • Patent number: 9566152
    Abstract: Heart valve assembly systems and methods configured for medical interventional procedures. In one aspect, the methods and systems involve a modular approach to treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Caisson Interventional, LLC
    Inventors: Cyril J. Schweich, Jr., Todd J. Mortier
  • Patent number: 9566178
    Abstract: Sealable and repositionable implant devices are provided with features that increase the ability of implants such as endovascular grafts and valves to be precisely deployed or re-deployed, with better in situ accommodation to the local anatomy of the targeted recipient anatomic site, and/or with the ability for post-deployment adjustment to accommodate anatomic changes that might compromise the efficacy of the implant. A surgical implant includes an implant body and a selectively adjustable assembly attached to the implant body, the assembly having adjustable elements and being operable to cause a configuration change in a portion of the implant body and, thereby, permit implantation of the implant body within an anatomic orifice to effect a seal therein under normal physiological conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC
    Inventors: Richard George Cartledge, Kevin W. Smith, Thomas O. Bales, Jr., Max Pierre Mendez, Korey Kline, Matthew A. Palmer, Michael Walter Kirk, Carlos Rivera, Derek Dee Deville
  • Patent number: 9561354
    Abstract: An orthopedic implant system includes an external fixation device implantable at a selected location within a corporeal body and configured for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to the corporeal body. The external fixation device includes an implantable pin, a sheath coupled with the pin, a reservoir coupled with the sheath and a plurality of channels. The pin defines the plurality of channels. The reservoir is configured for receiving the at least one therapeutic agent. The plurality of channels are configured for conveying the at least one therapeutic agent from the reservoir to a treatment site relative to the corporeal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: SMed-TA/TD, LLC
    Inventors: Paul S. Nebosky, Sarah L. Zimmerman, Gregory C. Stalcup, Troy D. Knapp
  • Patent number: 9554916
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for partial replacement of a metatarsophalangeal joint defined by a proximal face of a phalanx and a distal face of a metatarsal. The apparatus and method include a joint surface element and an elongated fusing element. The elongated fusing element has an end configured for tool engagement. The joint surface element has a generally concave surface configured to serve as the proximal face of the phalanx and a socket configured to engage the end of the elongated fusing element. The elongated fusing element fuses an interphalangeal joint when the apparatus is surgically implanted to prevent the deterioration of the interphalangeal joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Sarah Miller
  • Patent number: 9555166
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for healing blood vessels by stimulating the formation of a confluent endothelial autologous cell layer in vivo on an implantable metallic stent having a lumen and a luminal surface, and an exterior surface. More specifically, the method includes implanting the stent with a coating in a patient in need of thereof; wherein the coating includes one or more layers of a matrix covalently adherent on said luminal and exterior surface of said stent containing one or more pharmaceutical substances on said exterior surface and a therapeutically effective amount of a single type of antibody, antibody fragments or combinations thereof being compatible to binding selectively to a specific cell surface antigen of circulating autologous endothelial progenitor cells in peripheral blood. In addition, genetically engineered endothelial progenitor cells can be captured on said luminal surface of stent in vivo, to proliferate to form rapidly a confluent endothelium in situ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: OrbusNeich Medical Inc.
    Inventors: Michael John Bradley Kutryk, Robert John Cottone, Jr., Stephen Maxwell Rowland
  • Patent number: 9549811
    Abstract: A system for single tunnel, double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction includes implant constructs and instruments. The implant constructs provide a combination of cortical fixation and bone tunnel aperture fixation. The implant constructs separate a graft into distinct bundles. The instruments are used to prepare shaped bone tunnels to receive the implant constructs and graft bundles. Methods for reconstructing the antero-medial and postero-lateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament may rely on single femoral and tibial tunnels and a single strand of graft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: IMDS LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Myers
  • Patent number: 9549814
    Abstract: Described herein is a prosthetic valve device having an optimized valve component for durability and functionality of the collapsible leaflets. Specially designed commissures contribute to the optimization along with identified parameters. In other embodiments, the invention is a frame formed from a unique cutting pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Thubrikar Aortic Valve, Inc.
    Inventors: Mano J. Thubrikar, Yogesh Darekar
  • Patent number: 9549819
    Abstract: A surgical fixation device is provided, including a preformed cranial mesh configured to generally conform to a predetermined averaged geometry. The cranial mesh includes a preformed flexible mesh body having opposed inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of apertures that extend through the mesh body from the outer surface to the inner surface, each of the plurality of apertures extending along a respective central axis from the outer surface to the inner surface. The mesh body is configured as-manufactured to contact the predetermined averaged geometry at least at three spaced apart locations, such that 1) no portion of the mesh body crosses the predetermined averaged geometry in a first direction from the outer surface toward the inner surface, and 2) no location on the inner surface of the mesh body is spaced from the predetermined averaged geometry a distance greater than a select distance along the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Bravo, Bryan James Griffiths, Eric B. Reno, Stanley Kniezewski
  • Patent number: 9545316
    Abstract: A spinal implant which is configured to be deployed between adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant has at least one extendable support element with a retracted configuration to facilitate deployment of the implant and an extended configuration so as to expand the implant and effectively distract the disc space, stabilize the motion segments and eliminate pathologic spine motion. The implant has a minimal dimension in its unexpanded state that is smaller than the dimensions of the neuroforamen through which it typically passes to be deployed within the intervertebral space. The implant is provided with a locking system having a plurality of linked locking elements that work in unison to lock the implant in an extended configuration. Bone engaging anchors also may be provided to ensure secure positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: John E. Ashley, Philip J. Simpson, Walter Dean Gillespie, Damien Shulock, Murali Kadaba, David G. Matsuura, George A. Mansfield, III, Thomas Grotz, Rudy Pretti, Dennis Crandall
  • Patent number: 9539013
    Abstract: A patient-specific alignment guide includes a three-dimensional engagement surface customized in a pre-operating planning stage by computer imaging to closely mate and conform to a corresponding bone portion of a patient's elbow joint. The patient-specific alignment guide defines a first longitudinal guiding bore aligned with a reference axis associated with the elbow joint of patient when the alignment guide is mounted onto the corresponding bone portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Katrana, Thomas M. Vanasse, Robert Metzger
  • Patent number: 9539089
    Abstract: A prosthetic valve has a support structure that meets with a plurality of leaflets capable of transitioning between open and closed states. The support structure can include a base frame with a polymer coating and the leaflets can be artificial. The interface between the support structure and each leaflet can be at least partially convex when viewed from an exterior of the support structure along a normal to a plane formed by a central axis of the support structure and a central axis of the leaflet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FOLDAX, INC.
    Inventor: Jason G. Beith
  • Patent number: 9532804
    Abstract: A system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint and a method of implantation includes a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint and a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MOXIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Anton G. Clifford, Josef L. Friedmann, Michael E. Landry, David Lowe, Joshua Makower, Mary O'Connell, Alan C. Regala, Michael Rode, Clinton N. Slone
  • Patent number: 9532872
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for endovascularly delivering and releasing a prosthesis, e.g., an aortic prosthesis, within and/or across a patient's native heart valve, referred to hereinafter as replacing the patient's heart valve. In some embodiments the delivery system comprises a plurality of first actuatable element adapted to engage a plurality of second elements in a first configuration to capture the implant within the delivery system, and wherein the plurality of first actuatable element are adapted to engage the plurality of second elements in a second configuration and to release the implant from the delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Amr Salahieh, Hans F. Valencia, Brian D. Brandt, Claudio Argento, Ulrich R. Haug, Jean-Pierre Dueri, Daniel K. Hildebrand, Dwight P. Morejohn, Tom Saul
  • Patent number: 9532870
    Abstract: Embodiments of a prosthetic heart valve comprise an annular main body, an atrial cap extending radially outwardly from the atrial end of the main body, and a plurality of ventricular anchors extending outwardly from the ventricular end of the main body. Each ventricular anchor can have a proximal end portion connected to the ventricular end, an intermediate portion extending away from the atrial end and then back toward the atrial so as to define a first bend, and a free distal end portion that extends from the intermediate portion. The distal end portion can comprise a first section, a second section, and a second bend between the first and second sections, the first section extending from the intermediate portion in a direction toward the atrial end and radially away from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander H. Cooper, Matthew A. Peterson, William C. Brunnett
  • Patent number: 9517135
    Abstract: The condylar prosthesis (10) for a temporo-mandibular joint includes a mandibular implant (12), which is intended to be rigidly attached to the branch of a mandible, and a joint head (16), which is intended to serve as a replacement mandibular condyle, the mandibular implant (12) including an anchoring stem (14) permitting the use of an intramedullary connection in the summit of the branch of the mandible, and the distal end of the anchoring stem (14) being offset towards the front of the prosthesis (10) with respect to the joint head (16) and in a median plane of the prosthesis (10), the condylar prosthesis (10) being characterized in that the anchoring stem (14) follows a curved profile along its length and in the median plane of the prosthesis, the direction of curvature of the anchoring stem being oriented towards the front of the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignees: UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUX, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSIDADE DE AVEIRO
    Inventors: Antonio Ramos, Michel Mesnard
  • Patent number: 9504577
    Abstract: A partial rim implant for an acetabulum in a pelvic bone comprises a ridge, a bearing surface, and a fixation surface. The ridge is oriented to replace a labrum. The bearing surface is configured to align with the articulating surface of the acetabulum. The bearing surface extends from the ridge toward the apex of the acetabulum. The fixation surface is configured to fix the implant to a prepared bone surface of the pelvic bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Frederick, Kevin Belew, Lauren Jasper, James Gatewood, Luke Gibson, John Masonis, Michael Cooper, David C. Kelman