Patents Examined by Thomas C. Barrett
  • Patent number: 8114086
    Abstract: A navigated guide is provided for establishing datums used to position subsequent components during a surgical procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Zimmer Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jody L. Claypool, Shawn E. McGinley, Sudip Hui
  • Patent number: 8114081
    Abstract: A set of at least two osteosynthesis plates (2g, 2h) for implantation, anatomical reduction and internal splinting of bone fragments, in particular after fractures of the distal humerus. The two osteosynthesis plates (2g, 2h) according to the invention are provided with drilled holes (3a, 3b, 3c) which are arranged or formed so that the bone crews (12) passing through them come to rest in different directions in space, so that bone screws (12) can pass more completely than in the past through the bone space of the splinted bone (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Synthes USA, LLC
    Inventors: Georges Kohut, Beat Inauen, Joanna Norström, Daniel Andermatt
  • Patent number: 8114017
    Abstract: An endoscopic instrument comprises a shaft, comprising a proximal end and a distal end. A grip comprising a handle is arranged at said proximal end of said shaft and a tool having at least an open and a closed position is arranged at said distal end of said shaft. Said shaft comprises at least two sections, a first section and a second section, which can be articulated with respect to said first section. Said second section comprises said tool. Said instrument further comprises an actuating element, by means of which said handle is in operative connection with said second section and with which an articulation of said second section can be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Uwe Bacher
  • Patent number: 8114082
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to tissue anchors and methods of delivering same to the intervertebral disc or other sites within the body. In some embodiments, the anchors provide pull-out resistance, stability and/or maximize contact with tissue involving a minimum amount of penetration. In some embodiments, delivery methods are minimally invasive and include linear, lateral, and off-angle implantation or driving of anchors along, against or within tissue surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Boyajian, Almir Velagic, Robert Kevin Moore, Christopher Tarapata, Jacob Einhorn, Gregory Lambrecht, Sean Kavanaugh
  • Patent number: 8114138
    Abstract: Template systems and methods of use are disclosed herein for use in conjunction with corresponding spinal fusion plates. Preferred templates are slotted to allow for use with distractor pins and a distractor. Additionally preferred templates include windows to allow the operating surgeon to have more visibility of the intervertebral area, including the graft. After the appropriate sized template has been placed against the targeted vertebrae, holding pins can be placed into the vertebral bodies to help guide the fusion plate and to compress the intervertebral space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Daniel Nehls
  • Patent number: 8114084
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to medical devices and medical methods, in particular, devices and methods useful for stabilizing compression fractures of the spine. In one embodiment, the present invention is a device comprising a housing having a lumen; a plunger having a proximal portion and a distal portion, where the plunger is disposed within the lumen and is movable relative to the housing; a plurality of blades, where the blades can expand radially from the axis of the housing; and a manipulator functionally connected to the plunger, wherein the manipulator is operable to: move the plunger relative to the housing; expand the blades radially from the axis of the housing; and move the blades about the axis of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Vertech, Inc.
    Inventor: Andres Betts
  • Patent number: 8114091
    Abstract: A surgical instrument including at least one tibial phantom generally corresponding to at least certain features of the tibial implant. The tibial phantom includes a top surface adapted to move freely against the prepared bottom end of the tibia. At least one talus phantom generally corresponding to at least certain features of the talus implant is engaged with the prepared top surface of the talus. At least one phantom skid is located between the tibial phantom and the talus phantom. The phantom skid is engaged with the tibial phantom such that dynamic engagement between the phantom skid and the talus phantom through at least extension and flexion of the ankle joint positions the tibial phantom on the prepared bottom end of the tibia. The phantom skid can either be a part of the tibial phantom or a separate component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Tornier
    Inventors: Yves-Alain Ratron, Jean-Emmanuel Cardon, Thierry Judet, Jean-Alain Colombier, Michel Bonnin
  • Patent number: 8114090
    Abstract: A tool centers an elongated drill bit within an elongated canal surrounded by bone tissue. A sleeve having an expandable diameter is internally threaded. The sleeve threadedly engages an externally-threaded cylindrical guide. A key includes a handle at one end of an elongated rod. The rod includes transversely-protruding buttons for engaging the guide so that rotation of the handle produces rotation of the guide to cause radial expansion of the sleeve. This results in symmetrical contacting of the interior surfaces of the bone tissue, thereby creating a vertical, centered channel with respect to the bone, that extends through the tool for guiding the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventors: Richard I. Kertzner, Michael Wang
  • Patent number: 8114089
    Abstract: An instrument for gripping a cup component of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis comprises a drive plate having a spiral track formed on it and at least two jaw members. Each of the jaw members has a formation on it which can engage the spiral track, and a guide in which the jaw member is a sliding fit. The formations on the jaw members cause the jaw members to translate in their respective guides when the drive plate is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Depuy (Ireland)
    Inventors: Laurent Divoux, Laurent Zanchin
  • Patent number: 8114087
    Abstract: A cutting guide for removal of bone during arthroplasty. The cutting guide includes a housing having a three-dimensional guide path and an arm coupled to the housing and extending through the guide path. The arm includes a burr. As the arm is slid along the path, the burr simultaneously cuts in two planes on the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Depuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack F. Long, Stephen R. Donnelly
  • Patent number: 8112870
    Abstract: A faceted bone screw and a method for manufacturing the same includes a screw thread configuration having facets that are substantially transverse to the thread. The facets are generally made up of a plurality of transitioning peaks and valleys which vary the depth of the thread and are disposed in one or more locations throughout the threaded portion of the bone screw. The facets operate to reduce the torque required to drive the bone screw into bone, while at the same time operate to assist in anchoring the bone screw within the bone once inserted therein, and thereby reduce the possibility for the screw backing out after insertion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Medical Facets LLC
    Inventors: Wayne A. Willert, Glenn A. Rupp, Kevin J. Lovell
  • Patent number: 8114092
    Abstract: An inserter for implanting an intervertebral spacer into a spinal disc space is disclosed. The inserter comprises a jaw assembly connected to a shaft assembly that is connected to a handle assembly. The user operates the handle assembly to open and close the jaw assembly to thereby connect to and release from the intervertebral spacer. Furthermore, the handle assembly is operable to lock and unlock rotation of the jaw assembly while still connected thereto to permit angulation of the jaw assembly relative to the shaft assembly without losing hold of the intervertebral spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Exactech, Inc.
    Inventors: Moti Altarac, Stanley Kyle Hayes, Tyler Jay Haskins
  • Patent number: 8114140
    Abstract: The device includes a support structure (2) having an orifice (3) that delimits a seat (5) for receiving a nut (6) intended to cooperate with a locking screw (4). The seat (5) comprises an upper part (5a) and a lower part (5b), both shaped as truncated spheres and concentric to each other. Furthermore, the nut (6) has a spherical contour (11), and the screw head (15) has a lower part (15b), also with a spherical contour, and an upper part (15a) provided with a thread (17). The upper (15a) and lower (15b) parts of the screw head (15) cooperate respectively with the complementary thread (14) of the nut (6) and with the lower part (5b) of the receiving seat (5) such that, in the final phase of screwing the spherical contour (11) of the nut (6) bears against the upper spherical part (5a) of the seat (5), and of the lower part of the screw head (15b) against the lower spherical part (5b) of the seat (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: D.L.P.
    Inventor: Guillaume Derouet
  • Patent number: 8114139
    Abstract: A plate (1) includes blocking elements (4b, 5, 6) including: at least one slot (5) comprising a first portion opening into the hole (2) and a second portion extending over a section of this hole (2), at a distance from the edge defining this hole (2), this slot (5) thereby isolating a portion of material (6); this portion (6) has a first part (6a) with a radially increased thickness and a second part (6b) having a radially reduced thickness; this part (6b) has a thickness such that the portion (6) may be radially mobile between a withdrawn position and an active position; a pad (4b) engaged in the slot (5), able to be moved in such a way as to bring the portion of material (6) from its withdrawn position to its active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Medicrea Technologies
    Inventors: Denys Sournac, Jean-Philippe Caffiero, François Carlier
  • Patent number: 8114163
    Abstract: A modular prosthesis system for replacement of a head portion of a radius. The prosthesis system includes a head component having a first connection portion that connects to a second connection portion and a collar component having the second connection portion and a third connection portion. The system also includes a stem component including a fourth connection portion that connects with the third connection portion, the stem component having a stem anchoring portion that connects to the radius. The collar component provides the modular geometry to the prosthesis without having to have an increased number of head components and stem components with variable lengths and angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Brian K. Berelsman, Russell M. Parrott, Christopher H. Martin, Donald H. Lee, Thomas J. Graham
  • Patent number: 8114137
    Abstract: Implants (7) for forming a positive connection with human or animal parts include a material, such as thermoplastics and thixotropic materials, that can be liquefied by means of mechanical energy. The implants (7) are brought into contact with the tissue part, are subjected to the action of ultrasonic energy while being pressed against the tissue part. The liquefiable material liquefies and is pressed into openings or surface asperities of the tissue part so that, once solidified, the implant is positively joined thereto. The implantation involves the use of an implantation device that includes a generator (2), an oscillating element, and a resonator (6). The generator (2) causes the oscillating element to mechanically oscillate, and the element transmits the oscillations to the resonator (6). The resonator (6) is used to press the implant (7) against the tissue part to transmit oscillations to the implant (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Woodwelding AG
    Inventors: Marcel Aeschlimann, Laurent Torriani, Antonino Lanci, Jorg Mayer
  • Patent number: 8114094
    Abstract: A device for introducing an anchor element into a bone, having a loop of thread extending laterally from said anchor element. The device has an elongate body having a distal end which can be inserted into the anchor element in a rotationally locked manner. A distal end portion of said elongate body has at least one cutting for inserting the loop protruding laterally from the anchor element. The cutting is designed in such a way that the loop when inserted into the cutting is prevented from falling laterally away. The elongate body further has a longitudainlly extending recess in an area of the cutting. The recess is designed as an opening extending right through the elongate body, such that the loop inserted into the cutting can be gripped from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Sascha Berberich
  • Patent number: 8114080
    Abstract: A bone fixation device bone fixation device includes a first construct comprising a plurality of first flexible plates configured to bend when a first threshold force is applied to the first construct and the plurality of first flexible plates are in an unlocked relationship and a second construct including a plurality of second flexible plates. The plurality of second flexible plates are configured to bend when a second threshold force is applied to said second construct and the plurality of second flexible plates are in an unlocked relationship. The device also includes a first locking member configured to compress first flexible plates and second flexible plates together and into a locked relationship, wherein the first threshold force applied to the first construct and the second threshold force applied to the second construct is insufficient to bend the first flexible plates and second flexible plates in the locked relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: DePuy Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Dale R. Schulze
  • Patent number: 8114141
    Abstract: The present invention relates to dynamic bone fixation elements and a surgical method to stabilize bone or bone fragments. The dynamic bone fixation elements preferably include a bone engaging component and a load carrier engaging component. The bone engaging component preferably includes a plurality of threads for engaging a patient's bone and a lumen. The load carrier engaging component preferably includes a head portion for engaging a load carrier (e.g., bone plate) and a shaft portion. The shaft portion preferably at least partially extends into the lumen. Preferably at least a portion of an outer surface of the shaft portion is spaced away from at least a portion of an inner surface of the lumen via a gap so that the head portion can move with respect to the bone engaging component. The distal end of the shaft portion is preferably coupled to the lumen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Synthes USA, LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Appenzeller, Robert Frigg, Beat Lechmann, Cyril Voisard, Silas Zurschmiede, Urs Hulliger
  • Patent number: 8114093
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aiming, or targeting, device which is used to guide and place longitudinal bone fixing means in a predetermined direction with respect to a bone fixing device. The aiming device includes securing means, which can be detachably secured to a bone fixing device, a first centering part, which can be placed on the bone fixing device, and a second centering part, which is arranged at a distance from the first centering part. Both of the centering parts include at least one pair of guiding elements which are arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Synthes USA, LLC
    Inventor: Romano Matthys