Patents by Inventor Alain Tornier

Alain Tornier 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: 20050278030
    Abstract: This glenoidal component for a shoulder prosthesis comprises a base which may be immobilized on the glenoid cavity of a shoulder, and an element provided to be mounted on this base and forming a convex surface of articulation centred on an axis of symmetry. This axis of symmetry is non perpendicular to a rear face of the base intended to abut against the glenoid cavity, this making it possible to compensate a defect in parallelism between the resectioned surface of the glenoid cavity and the axis of the patient's spinal column. A surgeon can select the component most adapted to the orientation of the resectioned surface from a set of components in which the axes of symmetry of the components are oriented differently with respect to their rear faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, François Sirveaux, Gilles Walch, Daniel Mole, Christophe Levigne, Pascal Boileau, Luc Favard
  • Publication number: 20050278032
    Abstract: The glenoidal component for shoulder prosthesis according to the invention comprises a base adapted to be immobilized on a patient's glenoid cavity and an element adapted to be added on the base and defining a convex surface of articulation of which at least a part is globally in the form of a portion of sphere and centred on a geometric point, the base being provided with a part centred on an axis and on which is added the afore-mentioned element. When the component is in assembled configuration, the geometric centre and the afore-mentioned axis are offset with respect to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, Francois Sirveaux, Gilles Walch, Daniel Mole, Christophe Levigne, Pascal Boileau, Luc Favard
  • Patent number: 6969406
    Abstract: A prosthetic element comprising two principal components which are assembled together and immobilized with respect to each other by a screw which may be selectively threaded into at least one tapping in at least one of the principal components. The screw comprises at least one radial element adapted to abut against a stop surface within the first component, and a non-threaded end forming a guide which is adapted to slide in a bore in the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Tornier SA
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20050165490
    Abstract: This prosthesis comprises a humeral or femoral component and an intermediate component. The concave surface of articulation of the humeral or femoral component is formed by a plate connected by a neck to a part of this component adapted to be anchored in the humeral or femoral medullary cavity. The intermediate component is provided with a member for retaining the humeral or femoral component in a position where the plate is in abutment against the first convex surface of the intermediate component. The retaining member defines a non-circular passage in which the neck is adapted to be displaced as a function of the movements of the humeral or femoral component with respect to the other components of the prosthesis. The retaining member defines with the first convex surface of articulation of the intermediate component a volume for receiving a part of the plate projecting radially with respect to the neck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Publication date: July 28, 2005
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Patent number: 6890357
    Abstract: A humeral component, forming a first articulating surface, and an ulnar component forming a second articulating surface adapted to be disposed around a part of the first articulating surface and to pivot about its longitudinal axis. This ulnar component is provided with structure for mounting a locking element which forms a third articulating surface extending the second and adapted likewise to be disposed around a part of the first surface. These mounting structure comprise guiding structures adapted to cooperate with complementary structure provided on the locking element in order to guide this element in translation with respect to the ulnar component, up to a position where blocking structure provided respectively on the locking element and on the ulnar component may be employed to immobilize this element on this component, these blocking structure being able to be employed only in this position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Tornier
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20050055102
    Abstract: A tibial prosthetic assembly generally comprises a base (6) intended to be connected to a tibia and a shoe adapted to be fixedly mounted on the base. This shoe defines a prosthetic articulating surface intended to cooperate with a femoral element (2) and presenting an anterior spine (56) on either side of which are located two glenoidal cavities (54, 55) for receiving femoral condyles (14, 15). In order to form such an assembly, the surgeon has at his disposal a set comprising the base (6) and a plurality of shoes which are adapted to be assembled in respective inherent angular positions in each of which the longitudinal axis of the anterior spine (56) of each shoe forms a predetermined angle with the antero-posterior median axis of the base (6). Application to the domain of prostheses of the knee joint, particularly of humans.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Publication date: March 10, 2005
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, David Dejour, Michel Bonnin
  • Publication number: 20050049709
    Abstract: The glenoid component according to the invention comprises a metal body of which the inner face is adapted to be immobilized on the glenoid cavity of a shoulder and of which the outer face bears a concave articulating surface adapted to cooperate with a humeral component. This articulating surface extends on the periphery by a convex surface forming, at least in part, the edge of the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20040243243
    Abstract: The prosthesis according to the invention comprises a humeral component, forming a first articulating surface, and an ulnar component forming a second articulating surface adapted to be disposed around a part of the first articulating surface and to pivot about its longitudinal axis. This ulnar component is provided with means for mounting a locking element which forms a third articulating surface extending the second and adapted likewise to be disposed around a part of the first surface. These mounting means comprise guiding means adapted to cooperate with complementary means provided on the locking element in order to guide this element in translation with respect to the ulnar component, up to a position where blocking means provided respectively on the locking element and on the ulnar component may be employed to immobilize this element on this component, these blocking means being able to be employed only in this position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Patent number: 6824567
    Abstract: A method of positioning a malleolar implant for partial or total ankle prosthesis wherein the implant includes a head intended to bear against the astragalus or astragalian prosthetic component and a shank provided to be introduced in a bore in the fibula including providing an orifice in the shank and inserting the implant in the bore by use of force applied along a flexible traction member extending through the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Tornier
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, Michel Bonnin, Jean-Alain Colombier, Thierry Judet
  • Publication number: 20040230197
    Abstract: This ancillary tool (1) comprises a plate (4) which defines a convex surface (12) intended to bear against the glenoid cavity of a patient's scapula (2) and which forms a directional guide for a drilling, fashioning or like member. To allow the surgeon to apply this member in a chosen direction (C—C), the tool (1) comprises means (6) for adjusting the position of the guide with respect to the plate (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, Anders Ekelund
  • Publication number: 20040215200
    Abstract: The ancillary tool according to the invention comprises a handle for manipulating an acetabulum provided, in its distal part, with a head for gripping the acetabulum and, in its proximal part, with a surface for application of a force of impaction. The tool further comprises at least one added endpiece adapted to be removably connected to the distal end of the handle. This endpiece defines both a face for wedging the acetabulum and an opposite face for interaction of the endpiece with the head of the handle, these faces both being borne by a radially deformable supple ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 28, 2004
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, Jean-Pierre Berger, Patrick Reynaud, Arnaud Godeneche, Christophe Hulet, Jean-Claude Panisset, Philippe Deroche, Jean Puget, Andre Ferreira
  • Publication number: 20040210220
    Abstract: The invention concerns an osteosynthesis plate designed for osteosynthesis of displaced fracture of the upper end of the arm bone comprising a T-shaped main body (2) whereof the longitudinal branch (3) and the transverse branch (4) are respectively perforated with holes (5, 6, 8) for passing through screws for anchoring and fixing said plate against the outer profile of a bone, and fixing lugs (9) which extend from each side of the transverse branch (4) of the main body (2), said lugs being less thick than the main body and perforated with holes (10) which co-operate with other anchoring screws for completely fixing bone fragments when urged in contact with the bone external profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Patent number: 6802864
    Abstract: A patellar implant for total or partial prosthesis of the knee joint incorporates an outer articular surface and an inner articular surface provided to cooperate respectively with an outer side and an inner side of a femoral trochlea or of a femoral prosthetic component. The inner and outer articular surfaces are separated by a transition ridge which is curved, as viewed from a front of the implant, so as to be concave facing the outer articular surface. The outer articular surface is concave in a plane parallel to a sagittal plane and in a transverse plane of the knee joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Toriner SA
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Patent number: 6767368
    Abstract: An elbow prosthesis which includes a humeral component having a rod extending along a longitudinal axis and this component further includes a generally cylindrical body having a first articulating surface about which an ulnar component is pivotally mounted so as to pivot about a longitudinal axis of the body. A spacing between a plane extending through the longitudinal axis of the body and the longitudinal of the rod of the humeral component is selected to define a desirable spacing therebetween depending upon a patient's morphology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Tornier SA
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20040134821
    Abstract: In order to package a prosthetic implant made of polyethylene in sterile manner, this implant is placed in a flexible, gas-impermeable sachet adapted to be closed, a vacuum is created in this sachet before it is hermetically closed, this sachet is placed in a gas-impermeable envelope adapted to be closed, an inert gaseous atmosphere is formed in the envelope, the envelope is closed hermetically, and the assembly formed by the implant, the sachet and the envelope is exposed to radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Patent number: 6761740
    Abstract: A shoulder prosthesis glenoid component which includes a base adapted to be immobilized on a glenoid cavity of a shoulder, and an element including a convex articulation surface adapted to cooperate with a humeral component of the prosthesis. The element is selectively mounted on the base in a plurality of positions corresponding to different positions of the convex articulation surface with respect to the glenoid cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Tornier
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20040039449
    Abstract: The prosthesis of this invention comprises a humeral or femoral component presenting a concave articulation surface, and an intermediate component presenting first and second convex articulation surfaces intended to cooperate respectively with said concave articulation surface of the humeral or femoral component and with a concave glenoid or cotyloid articulation surface. The locus of the instantaneous centres of rotation of the first convex articulation surface, with respect to the concave humeral or femoral articulation surface, and the locus of the instantaneous centres of rotation of the second convex articulation surface on the glenoid or cotyloid surface, are located on either side of the first surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20030158605
    Abstract: This shoulder prosthesis glenoid component comprises a base adapted to be immobilized on the glenoid cavity of a shoulder, and an element forming a convex articulation surface adapted to cooperate with a humeral component of the prosthesis. This element is adapted to be mounted on the base in a plurality of positions respectively corresponding to different positions of the articulation surface with respect to the glenoid cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Publication number: 20030149485
    Abstract: This invention relates to a prosthetic element comprising two principal components intended to be assembled together and immobilized with respect to each other by means of a screw, which may be screwed by means of at least one thread in two tappings which are respectively fast or intended to be rendered fast with one and the other principal components. The screw comprises at least one radial element in relief adapted to come into abutment against a stop surface fast with a first component, and a non-threaded end forming guide finger and adapted to slide in a housing, of cross-section correspondiong to that of this finger and made in the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: TORNIER SA
    Inventor: Alain Tornier
  • Patent number: 6599295
    Abstract: A device for setting and removing a deformable implant from bone wherein the device includes a body on which is mounted a movable handle which is operatively connected to activating elements for displacing a rod relative to the body for deforming and/or removing an implant from the bone. The device further includes a rod locking and disengaging assembly which is movable from a first position to prevent movement of the rod to a second position to permit movement of the rod relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Tornier SA
    Inventors: Alain Tornier, Francois Bonnomet