Patents Examined by Christopher D. Prone
  • Patent number: 9956083
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a modular assembly for an arthroplasty in a long bone and methods for achieving an anatomically accurate reconstruction. A modular arthroplasty assembly includes the components of: a convertible offset coupler bounded on a first side by an implant surface adapted to receive an implant component, and bounded on an opposite second side by a bone anchor engagement surface, prosthesis component and a bone anchor configured to be inserted in bone and adapted for engagement with the convertible offset coupler. Together, the components of the system, including the array of selectable engagement orientations of the components, enables adaptation to the existing anatomy of the patient and the ability to most closely achieve the native anatomy of the healthy shoulder joint so as to provide the patient with the most natural use of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Deltoid, LLC
    Inventor: C. Scott Humphrey
  • Patent number: 9931207
    Abstract: An exemplary two-stage prosthetic heart valve system has a radially expandable base stent implanted within a native valve annulus. The two-stage heart valve system also has a valve component that is delivered to and mounted within the base stent in a separate or sequential operation after the base stent has been anchored within the annulus. The valve component in certain embodiments comprises a hybrid valve component that includes a conventional, non-expandable surgical valve that is modified to include an expandable coupling stent that can be expanded to engage the inner surface of the base stent, thereby anchoring the valve component to the base stent. In its expanded configuration, the outflow end portion base stent has tri-lobular shape that closely conforms to the shape of the aortic root and a support ring of the prosthetic valve that is mounted within the base stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: Travis Oba, Rafael Pintor, Louis A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 9931206
    Abstract: A transcatheter atrio-ventricular valve prosthesis for functional replacement of an atrio-ventricular valve in a connection channel, having a circumferential connection channel wall structure, between atrial and ventricular chambers of a heart, including an inner device to be disposed in the interior of the connection channel, the inner device having a circumferential support structure which is radially expandable and having a valve attached to the circumferential support structure, and an outer device to be disposed on the exterior of the connection channel, wherein the outer device at least partly extends around the inner device at a radial distance to the inner device, wherein the inner and outer devices form a securing mechanism for securing the circumferential connection channel wall structure therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: HIGHLIFE SAS
    Inventor: Josef Weber
  • Patent number: 9931215
    Abstract: A total knee replacement prosthesis is presented whose bearing surfaces are derived from an anatomically representative femur and a modified baseline tibial surface. The contacting femoral and tibial bearing surfaces include the inter-condylar as well as condylar regions. The modified baseline tibial surface is generated by modifying a baseline tibial surface. For example, the baseline tibial surface can be flattened mathematically to generate the modified baseline tibial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: Peter Stanley Walker
  • Patent number: 9913714
    Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for implantation at a native semilunar valve of a native valve complex, the native valve complex having three semilunar sinuses and three native commissures. The prosthesis includes a valve prosthesis support, which comprises a support structure comprising exactly three engagement arms that meet one another at three respective junctures. The engagement arms are shaped so as define three peak complexes at the three respective junctures, and three trough complexes, each of which is between two of the peak complexes. Upon implantation of the prosthesis, each of the engagement arms is at least partially disposed within a respective one of the semilunar sinuses, such that each of the peak complexes is disposed distal to and in rotational alignment with a respective one of the native commissures, and each of the trough complexes is disposed at least partially within the respective one of the semilunar sinuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Yossi Tuval, Raphael Benary, Ido Kilemnik
  • Patent number: 9913715
    Abstract: A collapsible and expandable stent body includes a generally tubular annulus section, one or more prosthetic valve elements mounted to the stent body, and a cuff attached to the stent body. The prosthetic valve is operative to allow flow in an antegrade direction but to substantially block flow in a retrograde direction. The prosthetic heart valve may include paravalvular leak mitigation features in the form of first and second sealing members. The sealing members are attached to the cuff and extend circumferentially around an abluminal surface of the stent body. The sealing members each have an open side facing in a first axial direction and a closed side facing in an opposite second axial direction. Flow of blood in the second axial direction will tend to force blood into the sealing members and cause the sealing members to billow outwardly relative to the stent body, helping to mitigate paravalvular leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Braido, Mina S. Fahim
  • Patent number: 9907662
    Abstract: A total knee replacement whose bearing surfaces are derived from an anatomically representative femur and a modified baseline tibial surface. The contacting femoral and tibial bearing surfaces include the inter-condylar as well as condylar regions. The modified baseline tibial surface is generated by modifying a baseline tibial surface. For example, the baseline tibial surface can be flattened mathematically to generate the modified baseline tibial surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: Peter Stanley Walker
  • Patent number: 9907663
    Abstract: An implant system includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion includes a hydrogel. The second portion includes a porous material and the hydrogel in pores of the porous material. The third portion includes the porous material. The first portion is free of the porous material. The third portion is free of the hydrogel. Methods of making and using the implant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cartiva, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Patrick, Carribeth B. Ramey, Letitia Tudor, Michael A. Axelrod
  • Patent number: 9901451
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for orthopedic implants. The implants may include a base member, such as an acetabular shell or an augment, that is configured to couple with an augment, flange cup, mounting member, or any other suitable orthopedic attachment. Mounting members include, for example, flanges, blades, hooks, and plates. In some embodiments, the orthopedic attachments may be adjustably positionable about the base member or other attachments, thereby providing modularity for assembling and implanting the device, and various securing and/or locking mechanisms may be used between the components of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Steve Conway, David C. Kelman, Richard D. Lambert, Jeffrey A. Sharp, Jeffrey Joel Shea, Brian Ronald Yokoo
  • Patent number: 9895220
    Abstract: A heart valve assembly has a leaflet support structure and a leaflet assembly. The leaflet support structure has a wire frame that supports the leaflet assembly. The leaflet assembly has first and second separate leaflets, each of which is comprised of a skirt section and a sinus leaflet section. Each skirt section has a flange portion and a body portion that has a smaller diameter than the flange portion, with the body portion having opposing side edges, and a curved opening defined by a first stitching edge at about the central portion of the body portion. Each sinus leaflet section has an outflow edge, and a curved second stitching edge, with the sinus leaflet section stitched to the skirt section along the first and second stitching edges. The opposing side edges of the body portion of the first leaflet are stitched to the corresponding side edges of the body portion of the second leaflet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Venus Medtech (Hangzhou) Inc.
    Inventors: Min Frank Zeng, Pham Lo
  • Patent number: 9889227
    Abstract: A bone implant for implantation into bone tissue includes a metallic material having a surface that is covered by an oxide layer wherein the oxide layer has a thickness within the range of from 2 to 100 nm and includes strontium ions homogenously dispersed in the oxide layer. The oxide layer is a metal oxide layer formed from the metallic surface of the implant. The local administration of strontium ions in bone tissue has been found to improve the bone formation and bone mass upon implantation of a bone tissue implant in the bone tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: ASTRA TECH AB
    Inventors: Christina Gretzer, Ingela Petersson
  • Patent number: 9877749
    Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for dynamically stabilizing the spine are provided. The devices include an expandable spacer or member having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein the expandable member in an expanded configuration has a size, volume and/or shape configured for positioning between the spinous processes of adjacent vertebrae in order to distract the vertebrae relative to each other. The systems include one or more expandable members and an expansion medium for injection within or for filling the interior of the expandable member via the port. The methods involve the implantation of one or more devices or expandable spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: Daniel H. Kim
  • Patent number: 9878073
    Abstract: The invention involves bioresorbable stents which elute nitric oxide (NO). The stent is comprised of three main key design elements: a bioresorbable scaffold, a bioresorbable polymeric coating layer(s), and NO-releasing nanoparticles incorporated in the bioresorbable polymeric coating layer, and optionally also in the scaffold. The NO-releasing nanoparticles are made of nontoxic biocompatible and biodegradable materials; for example a chitosan polymer and optionally a sugar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HEART BIOTECH LIMITED
    Inventors: Magdi Habib Yacoub, Ibrahim El-Sherbiny
  • Patent number: 9872757
    Abstract: Artificial salivary gland devices and assemblies are provided. The present disclosure provides artificial salivary pump/gland devices and assemblies, and related methods of use. One embodiment utilizes the interstitial/marrow fluid reservoir within the underlying mandibular or maxillary bone as a source for replacement saliva. The salivary pump/assembly, which is implantable in the mandibular or maxillary bone as a dental implant and driven by incidental tooth contact and masticatory forces, harvests interstitial/marrow fluid and treats it via semi-permeable membrane technology and soluble particles as a continuously available saliva replacement. Masticatory forces and tooth contact power the pump to both harvest interstitial/marrow fluid and drive flow through a bed of ion-exchange resins and/or soluble particles to adjust fluid chemistry providing a continuously available saliva-like solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: University of Connecticut
    Inventors: John Robert Kelly, Douglas J. Adams, Martin Allen Freilich
  • Patent number: 9867725
    Abstract: In one embodiment according to the present invention, a stent is described having a generally cylindrical body formed from a single woven nitinol wire. The distal and proximal ends of the stent include a plurality of loops, some of which include marker members used for visualizing the position of the stent. In another embodiment, the previously described stent includes an inner flow diverting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: MicroVention, Inc.
    Inventors: Tai D. Tieu, Gregory M. Cruise, Heather Griffith, Helen Nguyen, Minh Nguyen, Ponaka Pung, Shirley Vong
  • Patent number: 9867695
    Abstract: A cardiac-valve prosthesis is adapted for percutaneous implantation. The prosthesis includes an armature adapted for deployment in a radially expanded implantation position, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion, which are substantially axially coextensive with respect to one another. A set of leaflets is coupled to the support portion. The leaflets can be deployed with the armature in the implantation position. The leaflets define, in the implantation position, a flow duct that is selectably obstructable. The anchor portion can be deployed to enable anchorage of the cardiac-valve prosthesis at an implantation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Sorin Group Italia S.r.l.
    Inventors: Carla Stacchino, Giovanni Bergamasco, Gaetano Burriesci
  • Patent number: 9861398
    Abstract: An implantable spacer for placement between adjacent spinous processes is provided. The spacer includes a body and a wing rotatably connected to the body. The wing includes two U-shaped configurations that together define a substantially H-shaped configuration for retaining the spacer between adjacent spinous processes. An actuator assembly is connected to the body and to the wing with the proximal end of the spacer being connectable to a removable driver that is configured to engage the actuator assembly. While connected to the spacer, the driver is rotatable in one direction to deploy the wing from an undeployed to a deployed configuration and in an opposite direction to undeploy the wing. In the deployed configuration, the spacer acts as a space holder opening up the area of the spinal canal, maintaining foraminal height, reducing stress on the facet joints and relieving pain for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: VertiFlex, Inc.
    Inventors: Moti Altarac, Shawn Tebbe, Joey Camia Reglos, Yang Cheng
  • Patent number: 9861485
    Abstract: A reverse knee prosthesis for use in knee replacement surgery having a femoral component and a trochleal component. The femoral component comprises a stem, which is affixed in a femur, and a femoral cup having a generally concave portion which is sized to articulate on the trochleal component. The femoral cup also comprises a posterior lip and an anterior lip wherein the anterior lip is longer than the posterior lip. The trochleal component is affixed to a tibial tray which in turn is affixed to the tibia and has a transverse curved body with a narrowed waist. The generally concave portion of the femoral cup has a ridge extending outwardly therefrom, the ridge being sized to articulate on the narrowed waist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: JOINT INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventor: Zafer Termanini
  • Patent number: 9861476
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes an expandable anchor with leaflet engagement elements on the proximal end of the anchor and a replacement valve. The leaflet engagement elements can be used to prevent distal migration and insure proper positioning of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED INC.
    Inventors: Amr Salahieh, Brian D. Brandt, Robert A. Geshlider, Dwight P. Morejohn, Tom Saul
  • Patent number: 9861473
    Abstract: A cardiac valve with a first anchor frame and a cover on the first anchor frame for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Lafontaine