Patents by Inventor Aaron P. Smith

Aaron P. Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20140174754
    Abstract: An annular blowout preventer assembly has an annular element housing and a central cavity with an elastomeric annular element in the central cavity. An annular element piston is located within the central cavity in engagement with the annular element. A connector housing has an upper end that abuts a lower end of the annular element housing. Bolts extend upward from the connector housing into threaded blind holes in the annular element housing for securing the connector housing to the annular element housing. A locking element is carried within the connector housing for radial inward movement into engagement with a profile on a mandrel of a blowout preventer stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Hydril USA Manufacturing LLC
    Inventor: Aaron P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8758446
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods of protecting modular implant connection portions are provided. A guard includes an outer sidewall and an inner sidewall defining a cavity that covers a modular implant connection portion. The modular implant connection covered with the guard can facilitate test-fitting of other modular implant components and allows reaming of the tissue around the guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140172115
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus that can be positioned in a subject to include, selectively, a modular connection portion. The modular connection portion can be provided to allow for soft tissue connection that replaces a greater trochanter of a natural femur. The soft tissue connection portion can include a plurality of regions to allow for reattachment of soft tissue in a plurality of position to mimic a natural anatomy. A method of using, selecting, and implanting the prosthesis is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua R. PORTER, Troy W. Hershberger, Aaron P. Smith
  • Patent number: 8715289
    Abstract: A medical device for preparing a bone of a joint of a patient includes a numerically controlled instrument having a housing including a controller, a processor and a tool driver, a patient-specific reference guide removably couplable to the housing, and a cutting tool removably coupled to the tool driver. The patient-specific reference guide has a three-dimensional inner surface preoperatively configured to mirror and mate with a corresponding surface of a bone of a joint of a patient in only one position. The patient-specific reference guide is configured to automatically register the numerically controlled instrument to the patient's bone portion intraoperatively. The cutting tool is movable along a patient-specific tool path determined during the preoperative plan for preparing a portion of the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Aaron P. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140114429
    Abstract: An acetabular shell assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a substrate and a screw hole plug. The substrate can have an inner surface, an outer surface, and a screw hole extending through the inner and outer surfaces and configured to receive a screw to fix the substrate to bone within an acetabulum. The screw hole plug can be configured to be selectively retained relative to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: BIOMET MANUFACTURING, LLC
    Inventors: W. Jason SLONE, Margaret KELLY, Aaron P. SMITH, Jason D. MERIDEW, Austen DAVENPORT, Paige SCOTT, Randi HOLDERBAUM, Jason M. ENDSLEY, Mark A. BOLLINGER
  • Patent number: 8702804
    Abstract: The present teachings are directed to a shoulder prosthesis having an adjustable radial offset and/or angular inclination provided by relative rotation of an adapter interdisposed between a stem and a head. In one example, a prosthesis has a stem having a first longitudinal axis. The prosthesis can also include an adaptor including a first taper. The first taper can have a first taper axis. The prosthesis can include a head supported by the adaptor. The head can be selectively oriented and then coupled to the first taper and the combination can be selectively orientated and the coupled to the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Smith, Kevin T. Stone, Nicholas Cordaro
  • Publication number: 20140100576
    Abstract: A modular reaming system for reaming a plurality of pockets in an anatomical feature extends along a longitudinal axis. The system includes a first reamer in a first position on the longitudinal axis, and the first reamer reams a first pocket in the anatomical feature. The system further includes a second reamer that is removably coupled to the first reamer in a second position on the longitudinal axis. The second reamer reams a second pocket in the anatomical feature. The second reamer is keyed against rotation relative to the first reamer to ream the first and second pockets substantially simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. SMITH, Eric J. FONTENOT
  • Publication number: 20140094816
    Abstract: A method for inserting an acetabular implant into the acetabulum of a patient. The method includes engaging a patient-specific surface of acetabular alignment guide to a complementary rim surface and periacetabular area of a patient. A plurality of alignment pins are inserted through corresponding alignment apertures of the acetabular alignment guide and into the periacetabular area of the patient. The acetabular alignment guide is removed without removing the alignment pins from the patient. An alignment adapter is coupled to an acetabular inserter over the alignment pins and an acetabular implant is implanted using the acetabular inserter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: John R. WHITE, Lance D. PERRY, Aaron P. SMITH, Jason D. MERIDEW, Bryan MORRISON, W. Jason SLONE, Tyler D. WITT, Mark A. BOLLINGER, Robert METZGER
  • Patent number: 8679130
    Abstract: An assembly for use in guiding a lateral fastener into a lateral bore of a femoral body implant. The assembly can include an outrigger having an arm portion, a leg portion extending from the arm portion, and an alignment tube extending from the leg portion. The assembly can further include a support pad and an adjustable shaft member coupled to the support pad and the leg portion. A quick-release system can adjustably maintain a position of the shaft member relative to the leg portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Smith, Tyler D. Witt
  • Patent number: 8679125
    Abstract: A method of performing hip surgery with a robotic guided system on a patient with femoral acetabular impingement can include identifying the femoral acetabular impingement on the patient. Data related to a proximal femur and an acetabulum of the patient is acquired. A three-dimensional model of at least one of the patient's proximal femur and acetabulum is created based on the data acquired. A location and amount of bone to be removed is determined. Dynamic movement limits of a cutting tool associated with the robotic guided system is set based on the determination. The determined bone of at least one of the proximal femur and acetabulum is removed with the tool while being inhibited from moving the tool outside of the dynamic limit by the robotic guided system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Smith, Jason D. Meridew
  • Publication number: 20140081272
    Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthetic component is disclosed that includes attaching a guide rod to the prosthetic component, removably coupling the guide rod to a shaft extending from a handle, and positioning the prosthetic component in an anatomical feature. The method also includes impacting an impaction portion of the handle and uncoupling the guide rod from the shaft, leaving the guide rod attached to the prosthetic component. The method further includes positioning a reamer over the guide rod to create a reamed opening in the anatomical feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. SMITH, Tyler D. WITT
  • Publication number: 20140081282
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for engaging a prosthesis and for implanting the same. The system can include a component or plurality of components to engage an acetabular prosthesis in both rotational and axial fixation. A method of using the insertion assembly is also disclosed. In addition, a method of assembling, disassembling, and cleaning the insertion assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: BIOMET MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventors: Austen DAVENPORT, Aaron P. SMITH, Tyler D. WITT
  • Publication number: 20140012268
    Abstract: A system for preparing a proximal femur can include a broach that includes a broach body having an anterior side, a posterior side, a lateral side and a medial side. The medial side can have a roughened cutting surface. The lateral side can have a smooth, non-cutting surface. The system can further comprise a cutting scribe assembly and a cutting guide assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. SMITH, Eric J. Fontenot, Tyler D. Witt
  • Patent number: 8603180
    Abstract: An acetabular device includes a patient-specific acetabular alignment guide including a bone engagement surface. The bone engagement surface has a first portion configured and shaped to be conforming and complementary to an acetabular rim surface and a second portion configured and shaped to be conforming and complementary to a periacetabular area of an acetabulum of a patient. The acetabular alignment guide includes a plurality of guiding formations extending through the second portion for guiding a plurality of alignment pins therethrough. The bone engagement surface and the plurality of guiding formations are prepared from a three-dimensional model of the acetabulum of the specific patient reconstructed pre-operatively from a scan of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: John R. White, Lance D. Perry, Aaron P. Smith, Jason D. Meridew, Bryan Morrison, W Jason Slone, Tyler D. Witt, Mark A. Bollinger, Robert Metzger
  • Patent number: 8591518
    Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthetic component is disclosed that includes attaching a guide rod to the prosthetic component, removably coupling the guide rod to a shaft extending from a handle, and positioning the prosthetic component in an anatomical feature. The method also includes impacting an impaction portion of the handle and uncoupling the guide rod from the shaft, leaving the guide rod attached to the prosthetic component. The method further includes positioning a reamer over the guide rod to create a reamed opening in the anatomical feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Smith, Tyler D. Witt
  • Publication number: 20130310945
    Abstract: An acetabular shell assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a substrate and a screw hole plug. The substrate can have an inner surface, an outer surface, and a screw hole extending through the inner and outer surfaces and configured to receive a screw to fix the substrate to bone within an acetabulum. The screw hole plug can be configured to be selectively retained relative to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: BIOMET MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventors: W. Jason Slone, Margaret Kelly, Aaron P. Smith, Jason D. Meridew, Austen Davenport, Paige Scott, Randi Holderbaum, Jason M. Endsley, Mark A. Bollinger
  • Publication number: 20130274889
    Abstract: An implant for a hip can include a lateral augment adapted to be coupled to a lateral side of a femoral body implant. The lateral augment can include a body portion having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a protrusion extending from the second surface. The protrusion can have a shape adapted to mate with a complementary shaped recess formed in the lateral side of the femoral body implant. An aperture can be positioned in the body portion and extend through the protrusion. A fastener can be received through the aperture and adapted to be threadably secured to the lateral bore. The fastener can be configured to have a length sufficient to pass through a portion of a greater trochanter for securing the portion of the greater trochanter and the lateral augment to the femoral body implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Aaron P. SMITH, Tyler D. WITT, Hugh APTHORP, Keith R. BEREND, Andrew FREIBERG, John BARRINGTON, David R. BROWN
  • Patent number: 8529569
    Abstract: A system for preparing a proximal femur can include a broach that includes a broach body having an anterior side, a posterior side, a lateral side and a medial side. The medial side can have a roughened cutting surface. The lateral side can have a smooth, non-cutting surface. The system can further include a cutting scribe assembly and a cutting guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron P. Smith, Eric J. Fontenot, Tyler D. Witt
  • Publication number: 20130231674
    Abstract: A method of implanting a modular implant having a proximal implant and a distal implant into an anatomic site includes sequentially assembling a plurality of components of an assembly tool on to the proximal and distal implants and holding corresponding tapers of the proximal and distal implants separated by a selected separation distance by the assembly tool. The method also includes impacting the proximal and distal implants to an anatomic depth without changing the separation distance by impacting the assembly tool, and actuating the assembly tool to lock the corresponding tapers of the proximal and distal implants without removing the assembly tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron P. SMITH, Tyler D. Witt, Andrew Freiberg
  • Patent number: 8464752
    Abstract: Method and blowout preventer for sealing a well. The blowout preventer includes a body having first and second chambers, the first chamber extending substantially perpendicular to and intersecting the second chamber; a ram block configured to move within the first chamber to seal a first region of the second chamber from a second region of the second chamber; a rod connected to the ram block and configured to extend along the first chamber; a piston connected to the rod and configured to move along and within the first chamber; a bonnet configured to receive the piston, the bonnet being detachably attached to the body; and an indicator device partially mounted outside the bonnet and configured to indicate a physical position of the ram block within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Hydril USA Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: David Albert Dietz, Aaron P. Smith