Patents Examined by Randy Shay
  • Patent number: 8956403
    Abstract: A medical implant includes a metallic base, a tie layer, and at least a first layer overlying an outer surface of the tie layer. The tie layer is bonded to at least a portion of a surface of the metallic base. The tie layer includes magnesium or a magnesium-based alloy. The tie layer can have an outer surface comprising dendritic grains. The tie layer can have a rough outer surface defined by pores, projecting grain structures, and/or projecting particles. A method of producing a tie layer on a medical device includes applying magnesium or a magnesium-based alloy to the medical device and cooling the magnesium or the magnesium-based alloy to produce a rough outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Boston Scientific SciMed, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gregorich, Michael P. Meyer, Jonathan S. Stinson
  • Patent number: 8951301
    Abstract: A method of assembling a surgical instrument includes selecting a tibial bearing surface trial component, orienting a shim relative to the tibial bearing surface trial component, and securing the shim to the tibial bearing surface trial component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: DePuy (Ireland)
    Inventors: Thomas E. Wogoman, Jon M. Edwards, Duncan G. Young, Liam T. Dower, Rusty T. Meier, David W. Waite, II, Rebecca L. Chaney, Michael J. Rock, Matthew S. Wallace, Scott M. Thomas, Robert S. Gorab
  • Patent number: 8945217
    Abstract: A medical device that includes a coating of a composite material that includes a polymeric material having a void structure and particulate ceragenin material (i.e., ceragenin particles) associated with the void structure. The average particle size of the ceragenin particles in the composite is in a range from 5 nm to 20 ?m, 50 nm to 10 ?m, 100 nm to 5 ?m, or 1 ?m to 10 ?m. The composite has a high loading of ceragenin particles (e.g., about 10% to about 25%, by weight). The composite has good polymer stability, the ability to release ceragenins from the ceragenin particles disposed in the composite over a sustained period of time at a characteristic elution rate, and the ability to kill large numbers of bacteria and other susceptible microbes over the sustained period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignees: Brigham Young University, University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Paul B. Savage, Roy D. Bloebaum, Dustin L. Williams, Kristofer D. Sinclair, Bryan S. Haymond
  • Patent number: 8940043
    Abstract: A method of testing the performance of a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes wrapping an aortic band around an outer surface of a portion of an aorta, fastening a first end portion of the aortic band to a second end portion of the aortic band, implanting a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in the aorta at an implantation site, and flowing a pressurized fluid through the aorta. The aortic band may be positioned near the sinotubular junction of the aorta. When installed around the aorta, the aortic band reinforces the portion of the aorta so as to be more resistant to radial expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Chalekian, Paul Edward Ashworth, Daniel J. Klima, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
  • Patent number: 8940041
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a woven fabric for use in an implantable medical device. The woven fabric has shape memory element strands woven with textile strands. At least one of the shape memory element strands has at least one float of at least five textile strands between binding points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventors: James M. Carlson, Shyam S.V. Kuppurathanam, Fred T. Parker, Rebecca Sue Todd
  • Patent number: 8932365
    Abstract: An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component which exhibits enhanced articular features, minimizes removal of healthy bone stock from the distal femur, and minimizes the impact of the prosthesis on adjacent soft tissues of the knee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond C. Parisi, Nick Drury, Charles A. Baldridge
  • Patent number: 8932343
    Abstract: A collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly. The stent has a proximal end and a distal end and includes a plurality of struts. The struts have free ends configured to inhibit tissue penetration. The valve assembly, including a plurality of leaflets, is disposed within the stent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
    Inventors: Yousef F. Alkhatib, Peter Nicholas Braido, Thomas M. Benson
  • Patent number: 8920497
    Abstract: Methods and instruments for repairing a damaged acetabular labrum. The arc length of a portion of an acetabular rim proximal to the damaged (torn or broken) region of the acetabular labrum is measured, and a graft, such as a meniscal allograft or a gracilis autograft, is trimmed according to the measurement and secured in the damaged region of the acetabular labrum as a replacement. Various instruments, such as a wheel mounted on an arm, a measuring member with spaced tines, or a hollow arm with a graduated wire, can be used to measure the arc length of the damaged region of the acetabular labrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Albertorio, Arley Perez, III, Benjamin G. Domb, Robert K. Sluss
  • Patent number: 8911499
    Abstract: A surgical planning method is provided. A representation of a bone of a joint is created. The joint is moved to a first position. A first point corresponding to a first location in the joint is identified when the joint is in the first position. The joint is moved to a second position. A second point corresponding to a second location in the joint is identified, when the joint is in the second position. Bone preparation for implanting an implant on the bone is planned based at least in part on the first and second points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: MAKO Surgical Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur E. Quaid, Hyosig Kang, Dennis Moses, Rony A. Abovitz, Maurice Ferre, Binyamin Hajaj, Martin Roche, Scott Illsley, Louis K. Arata, Dana C. Mears, Timothy Blackwell, Alon Mozes, Sherif Aly, Amardeep Singh Dugal, Randall Hand, Sandi Glauser, Juan Salcedo, Peter Ebbitt, William Tapia
  • Patent number: 8900300
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a prosthetic capsular bag and method for inserting the same. The prosthetic capsular bag helps to maintain the volume of the natural capsular bag, thereby stabilizing the effective lens position of an IOL so that refractive outcomes may be improved with cataract surgery. The prosthetic capsular bag further provides an integrated refractive surface, providing a means for experimentally determining an effective lens position prior to inserting an IOL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Omega Ophthalmics LLC
    Inventor: Gary N. Wortz
  • Patent number: 8894716
    Abstract: A method of orienting a femoral head member of an implant relative to an acetabular member positioned in the acetabulum including implanting a femoral stem of an implant within an intramedullary canal of a femur, inserting an acetabular member in the acetabulum, positioning a femoral head member of the implant at least partially in the acetabular member with the femoral head member including a curved articulating surface and a plurality of indicia on the curved articulating surface, and orienting the femoral head member relative to the acetabular member and generally aligning one of the indicia on the curved articulating surface with an alignment feature of the acetabular member to signify an orientation of the femoral head member relative to the acetabular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen McMahon, Charles Wayne Allen, David C. Kelman
  • Patent number: 8882844
    Abstract: An intervertebral instrument includes a shaft having distal and proximal ends. The proximal end of the shaft includes an attaching feature connected to handle. The shaft defines a pair tracks disposed along a portion of the surface thereof. The distal end includes a pair of wings. Each track guides instruments and implants along the intervertebral instrument. The implants are configured to receive bone graft or bone enhancers. The distal end of the shaft may include a removably attachable tip configured to engage the implants. The implants and the removably attachable tip form an implantable intervertebral disk. An intervertebral instrument and implant kit is also disclosed. A method of inserting intervertebral implants is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: K2M, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry McClintock
  • Patent number: 8882845
    Abstract: A prosthesis assembly configured for use with a scapula in one embodiment includes a spherical humeral component, an elongated glenoid bearing including a first bearing surface with (i) a first spherical end portion with a first radius of curvature, (ii) a second spherical end portion with a second radius of curvature, and (iii) a central portion located between the first spherical end portion and the second spherical end portion, and a first coupling portion extending from a second bearing surface opposite the bearing surface, and a base configured to rotatably support the elongated glenoid bearing, wherein the first radius of curvature is substantially equal to the second radius of curvature and the central portion does not have a radius of curvature that is substantially equal to the second radius of curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Wirth, Joseph P. Iannotti, Gerald R. Williams, Jr., Kyle E. Lappin, Matthew T. Stone
  • Patent number: 8858632
    Abstract: Implants with hydrogel layers reinforced by three-dimensional fiber arrays can replace hyaline cartilage. Such implants should replace an entire cartilage segment, rather than creating a crevice around a plug, so these implants must be thin and flat, they must cover large areas, the tips of any tufts or stitches must not reach the hydrogel surface, and they must be flexible, for arthroscopic insertion. The use of computerized stitching machines to create such arrays enables a redesigned and modified test sample to be made with no delays, and no overhead or startup costs. This provides researchers with improved tools for making and testing implants that will need to go through extensive in vitro, animal, and human testing before they can be approved for sale and use. Fiber-reinforced hydrogels also can be secured to strong shape-memory rims, for securing anchoring to bones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Formae, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Mansmann, Peter Popper
  • Patent number: 8858626
    Abstract: A two-optic accommodative lens system is disclosed. Two coupled lenses are located within the capsular bag to extend depth of focus and/or restore accommodation following extraction of a natural lens. The first lens comprises a spring-like structure attaching an optic to a ring-like support structure. The optic can be a monofocal or multifocal optical element having a positive or negative power. The first lens further comprises features designed to couple the ring-like structure to a second lens. The first lens can be located anteriorly within the capsular bag. The second lens is located posteriorly to the first lens within the capsular bag and can have an opposite or supplementary power to that of the first lens. The second lens can also be a monofocal or multifocal lens and comprises a plurality of haptics which can be used to size the lens system over a range of capsular bag sizes. The second lens further comprises features for coupling the second lens to the ring-like structure of the first lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Novartis AG
    Inventor: Stephen Van Noy
  • Patent number: 8845746
    Abstract: An implantable orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a component that is configured to be coupled to a surgically-prepared bone. A fixation side of the component includes a fixation surface that has an angled cement pocket formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: DePuy (Ireland)
    Inventors: Christel M. Wagner, Joseph G. Wyss, David S. Barrett
  • Patent number: 8845751
    Abstract: An endoprosthesis component and a method for producing an endoprosthesis component is disclosed. The endoprosthesis component comprises a body predefining the shape of the endoprosthesis component. On surface portions with which the endoprosthesis component in the implanted state is in contact with human tissue, the body is covered with an outer layer which comprises a nitride, an oxynitride or an oxide based on a refractory metal and which contains silver and/or copper. An intermediate layer is arranged between the outer layer and the body in such a way that parts of the intermediate layer are accessible from the outside. The endoprosthesis component enables generation of a long-term antimicrobial action with the outer layer and, in addition, action on the surrounding tissue from the intermediate layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Waldemar Link GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Helmut D. Link, Roger Thull
  • Patent number: 8845720
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve can include a valve frame having a wireform portion and a stent portion. The wireform and stent portions can be undetachably coupled together via a plurality of upright struts so as to form a one-piece prosthetic heart valve frame. Alternatively, a self-expanding wireform portion and a balloon-expandable stent portion can be coupled together via one or more leaflets and a subassembly having a flexible leaflet support stent and a sealing ring. The wireform portion can include cusps and commissures configured to support a plurality of leaflets. The prosthetic valve can be radially collapsible for minimally invasive and/or transcatheter delivery techniques. Disclosed embodiments can also provide flexion of the wireform portion (e.g., of the commissures) in response to physiologic pulsatile loading when the valve is implanted in a patient's native valve annulus. Methods of making and using prosthetic heart valves are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventor: Brian S. Conklin
  • Patent number: 8845742
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stemless shoulder prosthesis comprising a fixation device for fixing the prosthesis to a resected humerous bone, the fixation device comprising a base portion and anchoring means the base portion having a distal side adapted to contact a resection plane of the bone and a proximal side for carrying a humeral head. The anchoring means are connected to the distal side of the base portion and adapted to fix the prosthesis to the bone. The anchoring means define a central axis perpendicular to the distal side of the base portion and a free central space around the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Levent Kusogullari, Andrew Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8840671
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a stemless shoulder prosthesis comprising a fixation device for fixing the prosthesis to a resected humerus bone, the fixation device comprising a base portion and anchoring means, the base portion having a distal side adapted to contact a resection plane of the bone and a proximal side for carrying a humeral head. The anchoring means are connected to the distal side of the base portion and adapted to fix the prosthesis to the bone. The anchoring means define a central axis perpendicular to the distal side of the base portion and a free central space around the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Ambacher