Patents Examined by Dave Willse
  • Patent number: 7507259
    Abstract: A prosthetic foot (70) incorporates a foot keel (77) and a calf shank (72) connected to the foot keel to form an ankle joint area of the prosthetic foot. The foot keel has forefoot and hindfoot portions and an upwardly arched midfoot portion extending between the forefoot and midfoot portions. The calf shank includes a downward convexly curved lower end which is adjustably attached at a portion thereof to the foot keel by way of a releasable fastener arrangement. The upper end of the calf shank is movable longitudinally of the foot keel in response to force loading and unloading the calf shank during use of the prosthetic foot. A device (71) connected between the ends of the calf shank limits the extent of the motion of the upper end of the calf shank relative to the lower end and foot keel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Bioquest Prosthetics, LLC
    Inventors: Barry W. Townsend, Byron Kent Claudino
  • Patent number: 7491235
    Abstract: A prosthesis is provided for implantation into a body joint, such as a knee joint compartment between a femoral condyle and its corresponding tibial plateau, without requiring bone resection. The prosthesis includes a body having a generally elliptical shape in plan and including opposed top and bottom surfaces. The body includes a supporting portion and a coating portion, where the supporting portion has at least one surface at least partially disposed within an interior of the body and the coating portion has at least one surface disposed on an exterior of the body. The supporting portion is constructed from a higher modulus material than the coating portion such that the body is at least slightly deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Barry M. Fell
  • Patent number: 7491237
    Abstract: An allogenic implant for use in intervertebral fusion is formed from one or more two pieces. The pieces are made from bone, and are joined together to form an implant having sufficient strength and stability to maintain a desired distance between first and second vertebrae in a spinal fusion procedure. The implant pieces may be formed of cortical bone and connected by dovetail joints, and at least one cortical bone pin may be provided to lock the pieces together and to add strength to the implant. Teeth are formed on the vertebra engaging surfaces of the implant prevent short-term slippage of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Synthes USA, LLC
    Inventors: Brandon L Randall, Roger D Goodwin, Dominique Messerli, Jacqueline Myer, Robert J Delurio, Michael L Boyer, II, Christopher M Angelucci
  • Patent number: 7485151
    Abstract: A medical stent provides an active agent to a patient's body while simultaneously maintaining an open passageway within the body of the patient. The stent includes a first segment, a second segment, a connecting segment disposed between the first and second segments, and the active agent. The active agent may be a hemostatic agent that stops or controls bleeding by coagulation, or any other medical drug, such as, for example an antibiotic or an anticoagulant. When the stent is properly positioned within the patient's urinary system, the first segment is located on one side of the external sphincter and the second segment is located on the other side. The connecting segment is sized to extend through the external sphincter to couple the first and second segments together while not interfering with the normal operation of the external sphincter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth P. Reever
  • Patent number: 7476398
    Abstract: A membrane for corneal implant or keratoprosthesis comprising a biological polymer and a polyacrylamide is described. The mixture of both polymers produces a hydrogel that becomes a transparent film or membrane upon drying. The resulting device and tissue engineered implants are useful for biomedical applications of the cornea, such as tissue repair and transplantation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Universite Laval
    Inventors: Charles J. Doillon, May Griffith, Fengfu Li, Shigeto Shimmura
  • Patent number: 7468078
    Abstract: A modular orthopedic hip prosthesis having three main components: a stem, a proximal body, and a neck. The components are removably connectable and selectively adjustable. The neck is rotationally adjustable about the stem, and the proximal body is both rotationally and axially adjustable about the stem. A collet and locking member hold and lock the proximal body to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Sederholm, Scott Ely, Kenneth Gustke, Rodney Plaster, Henry Tischler
  • Patent number: 7462193
    Abstract: An intraocular ring assembly and an artificial lens kit, both of which are usable for implantation in a lens capsule or capsular bag of natural eye. The intraocular ring assembly includes a first ring element having recessions therein, a second ring element, and a biasing element provided between the first and second ring elements. The artificial lens kit comprises such intraocular ring assembly and an intraocular lens to be movably supported in the recessions of the ring assembly in a coaxial relation therewith. A guide element may be provided to assist in rectilinear coaxial movement of the first and second ring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Nagamoto
  • Patent number: 7435258
    Abstract: An accommodating intraocular lens device including a lens portion connected to a plate haptic portion. Preferably, the lens portion is connected to the plate haptic portion by a pair of flexible or resilient arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Inventor: Larry W. Blake
  • Patent number: 7431723
    Abstract: A tool, system and method for separating connected orthopaedic components are disclosed. The system includes two orthopaedic components that are connected end to end. One of the orthopaedic components has a notch that receives a cam carried by the tool. The notch and cam are sized and shaped so that when the cam is turned, the cam forces the two components apart. The invention is particularly useful when Morse tapers are used to connect the components. The invention can be used with the modular orthopaedic implants as well as with modular trials used intraoperatively. The cam can be removably mounted on the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Depuy Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen A. Hazebrouck
  • Patent number: 7419507
    Abstract: A prosthetic elbow for replacing an elbow of a dog or a human to restore normal, pain-free joint function. The elbow includes a humeral component for attachment to a humerus and a radioulnar component for attachment to an ulna. The humeral component includes a generally cylindric spool having a contoured external surface defining a first articular surface. The radioulnar component has a generally U-shaped contour with an inner peripheral surface defining a second articular surface sized and shaped for engagement with the first articular surface. Positional guides provide for implantation at precise locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: James L. Cook, Jerry Lower
  • Patent number: 7419509
    Abstract: A prosthetic foot device includes an elongated upper forefoot portion, an ankle portion, and a lower footplate. The forefoot portion can extend rearwardly through an upper attachment section, downwardly through an ankle section, forwardly through an arch section, and to a toe section. The ankle portion can attach to the forefoot portion, and can extend rearwardly through an upper attachment section, downwardly through an ankle section, forwardly under the ankle section of the forefoot portion, and rearwardly to a heel section, in a substantial s-shaped profile. The lower footplate is disposed under the ankle and forefoot portions, and can extend through a heel section, an arch section, and to a toe section. The upper forefoot portion, the ankle portion, and the lower footplate are flexible to store energy and resilient to return energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Freedom Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: Roland J. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7410500
    Abstract: An intraocular lens comprises, as one face thereof, a Fresnel prism. Such a lens can be used for the treatment of a macular condition requiring a change of focus, e.g. age-related macular degeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Rayner Intraocular Lenses Ltd
    Inventor: Charles Claoue
  • Patent number: 7407510
    Abstract: A coating for an orbital implant where the coating has an anterior portion having a different, longer term bioabsorbability than a posterior portion. This allows the implant to have a smooth surface for insertion and to provide reduced irritation to neighboring tissues, to help prevent exposure of the porous core of the implant, and to provide a stable anchorment for extraocular muscles, but which also encourages rapid fibrovascular ingrowth. The coating is marked with a visual indicator to facilitate proper orientation. Shell materials are further selected to allow for sterile packaging, the securing of therapeutic agents thereon, and to provide adequately strong securing of the coating to the core. Apertures are formed through the coating to enhance fluid flow to and from the core, and to provide exposure of the surface of the core to extraocular muscles, and for sutures. The apertures are sized and shaped to reduce irritating surface contact with orbital tissues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventors: Arthur C. Perry, James Cahill
  • Patent number: 7396362
    Abstract: A stent and catheter for implanting or removing a helical-shaped stent within a body passageway; the catheter having an elongate sheath with a socket for securing one end of the stent at a distal region of the sheath and an inner member extending from the sheath, and also having a socket at a distal region of the inner member for securing the other end of the stent. The inner member is rotatable relative to the sheath to transmit torque to the stent to permit unwinding of the helical stent at its limiting strain to expand the stent. Also discussed are methods for performing procedures for implanting or removing a helical stent from a body passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: General Surgical Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: James E. Jervis
  • Patent number: 7252683
    Abstract: An intraocular lens implantable in an eye includes an optic for placement in the capsular bag of the eye and for directing light toward the retina of the eye. The optic has a central optical axis, an anterior face, an opposing posterior face and a peripheral edge between the faces. The peripheral edge has one or more curved or angled surfaces that reduce glare within the IOL. For instance, a rounded transition surface on the anterior side of the peripheral edge diffuses the intensity of reflected light, or a particular arrangement of straight edge surfaces refracts the light so as not to reflect, or does not reflect at all. The intersection of the peripheral edge and at least one of the anterior face and the posterior face, preferably both of such faces, forms a peripheral corner located at a discontinuity between the peripheral edge and the intersecting face or faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Medical Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Marlene L. Paul, Daniel G. Brady, Jim Deacon