Patents Examined by Megan Wolf
  • Patent number: 9597190
    Abstract: A modular reverse shoulder orthopaedic implant includes a humeral stem component and a separable fracture epiphysis component having a number of suture holes formed therein. The fracture epiphysis component is configured to receive a number of sutures for surgically repairing a proximal humeral fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason M. Chavarria, Dwight T. Todd, Didier Poncet
  • Patent number: 9597185
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent, the valve assembly including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each of the leaflets having a free edge having a first end and a second end, and a second edge secured to the cuff, the second edge having a first end, a second end, a first folded portion adjacent the first end, a second folded portion adjacent the second end, and an unfolded portion between the first and second folded portions. The first and second folded portions couple the leaflet to ones of the commissure features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter N. Braido, Julia Ann Schraut, Mina S. Fahim, Andrea N. Para, Kent J. Smith
  • Patent number: 9592127
    Abstract: A set of distal femoral knee prostheses which are designed to be more narrow in medial/lateral dimensions with increasing anterior/posterior size than existing prostheses to more closely correspond to the physical anatomy of female patients. The prostheses are designed to have a substantially trapezoidal shape or profile when viewed distally which features a more pronounced narrowing of the medial/lateral dimensions beginning at the posterior end of the prostheses and progressing anteriorly to the anterior end of the prostheses. Additionally, the prostheses each include a reduced profile patellar sulcus and reduced profile anterior condyles to more closely conform to the anatomy of a resected femur, and also include sulcus tracking optimized to conform to female anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian D. Earl, Abraham P. Habegger, Aaron A. Hoffman, Kim C. Bertin, Lawrence Dorr, Robert E. Booth, Jr., Aaron Rosenberg, Sergio Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 9592136
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described, including identifying a subject as suffering from hypertension. In response to the identifying (a) a radius of curvature of a first set of at least three regions of an arterial wall of the subject is increased at a given longitudinal location, while (b) allowing the first set of regions of the arterial wall to pulsate. A device is implanted inside the artery at the longitudinal location such that the device applies pressure to the arterial wall at a second set of at least three regions of the artery, but does not contact the first set of regions, the first set of regions and the second set of regions alternating with each other. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Vascular Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yossi Gross, Ori Weisberg, Itzik Avneri
  • Patent number: 9532878
    Abstract: A device for ameliorating joint conditions and diseases comprising a) a first section comprising a joint-ward end, an opposing mating end, and a lateral wall, a peripheral column partially forming the lateral wall of the first section, a central column, and three or more than three struts extending between and connecting the peripheral column and the central column, and each strut thereby supporting the central column, the joint-ward end further comprising a plurality of fenestrations formed by a confluence of the peripheral column, the central column and two adjacent struts of the three or more than three struts, and first section further comprising a central aperture within and formed by the central column, and configured to mate with a driver, b) a second section comprising a mating end, an opposing leading end, and a lateral wall, the lateral wall of the second section comprising threads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SUBCHONDRAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Derek Dee
  • Patent number: 9522503
    Abstract: Stents and methods of manufacturing a stents with enhanced fracture toughness are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Gale, Bin Huang, Timothy A. Limon, Vincent A. Gueriguian
  • Patent number: 9517149
    Abstract: Stents and methods of manufacturing a stents with enhanced fracture toughness are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Gale, Bin Huang, Stephen Schaible
  • Patent number: 9510942
    Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve has an upper frame section and a lower frame section. The upper frame section has a plurality of struts and a first leaflet receiving surface at a lower portion of the upper frame section. The lower frame section has a second leaflet receiving surface at an upper portion of the lower frame section. An edge of a flexible leaflet is disposed between the first and second leaflet receiving surfaces to attach the leaflet to the upper and lower frame sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventor: Netanel Benichou
  • Patent number: 9504564
    Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis is provided having a self-expanding multi-level frame that supports a valve body comprising a skirt and plurality of coapting leaflets. The frame transitions between a contracted delivery configuration that enables percutaneous transluminal delivery, and an expanded deployed configuration having an asymmetric hourglass shape. The valve body skirt and leaflets are constructed so that the center of coaptation may be selected to reduce horizontal forces applied to the commissures of the valve, and to efficiently distribute and transmit forces along the leaflets and to the frame. Alternatively, the valve body may be used as a surgically implantable replacement valve prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Medtronic Corevalve LLC
    Inventors: Than Nguyen, Hung Nguyen, MyKim Nguyen, Stanley Komatsu, Robrecht Michiels
  • Patent number: 9486336
    Abstract: A prosthesis can be deployed within a body cavity. The prosthesis can include an expandable frame, a plurality of proximal prongs, and a plurality of distal prongs. Each prong of the proximal and distal pluralities is connected to the frame. When the frame is expanded, the ends of the prongs are positioned radially outward from the frame. The frame is configured such that radial expansion of the frame causes the ends of the proximal prongs and the ends of the distal prongs to draw closer together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC
    Inventor: Arshad Quadri
  • Patent number: 9486318
    Abstract: A medical device for fixation in a femoral bone of a patient is provided, the medical device comprises: a connecting portion adapted to be connected to a prosthetic hip joint contacting portion, an expanding portion, and a bone contacting surface on the expanding portion. The expanding portion could be adapted to be at least partially inserted into the femoral bone of a patient and to expand within the femoral bone, such that the bone contacting surface is placed in contact with the inside of the femoral bone for fixating the medical device to the femoral bone. By the fixation using an expanding portion a sturdy fixation is achieved without the need to go into or penetrate bone, or the need for fixation using bone cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 9439785
    Abstract: Hip replacement surgery (hip arthroplasty) includes implantation of a distal stem into a femur of a patient, and implantation of a proximal body to connect to the distal stem. A practitioner uses a “trial” or “provisional” to determine a suitable size and configuration for the implantable proximal body, then selects a suitable proximal body from a set of differently sized and shaped proximal bodies. The trial adjusts discretely, as opposed to continuously, and has discrete settings that correspond to the sizes and configurations available in the set of implantable proximal bodies. In some examples, the trials are provided as a kit of parts, where each part in the kit is adjustable for height (i.e., the length of the femur). The parts in the kit can have different, fixed, values for offset (i.e., the lateral distance of the femur to the center of the femoral head in the acetabulum).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Christopher Huddle, Robert D. Krebs
  • Patent number: 9433514
    Abstract: A method of securing a prosthesis atraumatically to body tissue can include one or more of the following steps. A prosthesis can be delivered into a patient. The prosthesis may include an expandable frame. The frame can be expanded within a body cavity of the patient. Expansion of the frame can causes respective ends of both proximal prongs and distal prongs to draw closer together to grasp native tissue between the respective ends of the proximal prongs and distal prongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC
    Inventor: Arshad Quadri
  • Patent number: 9427323
    Abstract: A knee prosthesis comprises a femoral component for securement to a femur, the femoral component defining medial and lateral condyles and an intercondylar groove; and a tibial component for securement to a tibia, the tibial component having respective bearing surfaces shaped to engage with said condyles both when the knee, in use, is extended and also over a range of flexion. At least one of the condyles is part-helical in shape and the respective bearing surface of the tibial component is correspondingly part-helical in at least a medio-lateral direction. In addition, the other bearing surface is incongruent with the other condyle in at least the antero-posterior direction so as to allow for antero-posterior movement of the femoral component relative to the bearing surfaces of the tibial component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Derek J. W. McMinn
  • Patent number: 9421096
    Abstract: An expandable venous valve having a support structure that is configured to enlarge the area adjacent to the valve structure such that the flow patterns of retrograde flow are modified in a way that facilitates the flushing of the pockets at the base of the valve area to prevent stagnation of bodily fluid, which in the venous system, can lead to thrombus formation. The enlarged pocket areas can be created by forming an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure in an unsupported section of vessel wall between two support frame sections or the support frame can comprise an expanded-diameter intermediate or proximal section that forms an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Brian C. Case, Michael L. Garrison, Andrew Hoffa, Darin G. Schaeffer, Jacob A. Flagle
  • Patent number: 9398927
    Abstract: Medical implant which at least partially comprises a biocompatible, electrically conductive polymer with electrical resistivity p, having the property of being able to be heated and softened by a flow of current through the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: SYNERGY BIOSURGICAL AG
    Inventors: Wolf-Friedrich Baehre, Kurt Ruffieux
  • Patent number: 9381086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthesis for implantation into a long bone during joint arthroplasty, particularly Total Shoulder Arthoplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty, and a method for use of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Shoulder Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Ries, Desmond O'Farrell, Andrew John Rodenhouse, Stephen B. Gunther
  • Patent number: 9375317
    Abstract: A knee arthrodesis implant has a femur nail and a tibia nail. A connecting module has two longitudinally separated half shells that when connected form a passage. One end of the connecting module is coupled to a femur nail neck and the other end is coupled to a tibia nail neck. The half shells have a plurality of corresponding recesses extending perpendicularly to the passage. Each recess receives a tensioning screw, and tightening the tensioning screws couples the femur and tibia nail necks to the connecting module by holding the femur and tibia nail necks within the passage by frictional contact. Each of the two half shells is angled along its length, an angle of one of the half shells corresponding to an angle of the other of the half shells, allowing the tibia nail and femur nail to extend from the passage at an angle from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Merete Medical GmbH
    Inventors: Emmanuel Anapliotis, Curt Kranz, Martin Hilse, Guenter Lob
  • Patent number: 9358119
    Abstract: A glenoid component having an offset center of articulation and associated systems and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Tomier SAS
    Inventors: Yves-Alain Ratron, Robert J. Ball
  • Patent number: 9352126
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices that help to curb appetite and/or reduce food intake. In one embodiment, the methods and devices of the present invention include a small intestinal/duodenal insert comprising an elongated member with at least one flow reduction element that can cause the stimulation of one or more biological signals of satiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Endosphere, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth F. Binmoeller