Patents by Inventor Alfred Benoit
Alfred Benoit 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).
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Patent number: 8157806Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of treating a collapsed vertebra may include inserting cannulae into the damaged vertebral body and one or more adjacent vertebral bodies and repositioning the one or more adjacent vertebral bodies by manipulating one or more of the cannulae. Before or after repositioning the vertebral bodies, the method may further include passing through the cannula and into the damaged vertebra a disruption tool for fracturing the damaged vertebral body. Once the cortical bone is broken or otherwise disrupted, the height of the damaged vertebral body may be restored, for example by removing the disruption tool and inserting through the cannula another tool, implant, device and/or material to restore the height of the vertebral body and to restore normal spinal curvature in the affected area. Bone cement, bone chips, demineralized bone or other grafting material or filler may be added with or without an implanted device to augment the damaged vertebral body.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2006Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventors: Robert Frigg, Christof Dutoit, Andreas Appenzeller, Thierry Stoll, Alfred Benoit, Christoph Fuerst, Paul Heini
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Patent number: 8080061Abstract: Implants and methods for bone treatment, preferably minimally invasive treatment, including repositioning of vertebrae may comprise insertion of a bobbin having a wire, string, thread or band, coiled around the bobbin. During coiling, the diameter of the bobbing/band complex may increase. Such increase in diameter can push against the inner side of the endplates of the vertebral body, and augment the vertebral body to its original height. The implant may also take the form of a coiled sleeve which when inserted into the vertebral body is uncoiled. The force of the uncoiling sleeve pushes against the inner side of the endplates of the vertebral body, restoring the vertebral body to its original height.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2006Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventors: Andreas Appenzeller, Christof Dutoit, Alfred Benoit, Thierry Stoll, Erich Röthlisberger, Stefan Mathys
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Publication number: 20070093899Abstract: Implants and methods for minimally invasive augmentation and repositioning of vertebrae may comprise one or more expandable members, e.g., stents, implants, surrounding a balloon-tipped catheter or other expansion device, inserted into a vertebral body or other bone. Expansion of the expandable member within the vertebral body or other bone may reposition the fractured bone to a desired height and augment the bone to maintain the desired height. A bone cement or other filler can be added to further augment and stabilize the vertebral body or other bone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Christof Dutoit, Andreas Appenzeller, Thierry Stoll, Alfred Benoit, Stefan Mathys, Simon Stucki
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Publication number: 20070093846Abstract: Apparatuses and methods of treating a collapsed vertebra may include inserting cannulae into the damaged vertebral body and one or more adjacent vertebral bodies and repositioning the one or more adjacent vertebral bodies by manipulating one or more of the cannulae. Before or after repositioning the vertebral bodies, the method may further include passing through the cannula and into the damaged vertebra a disruption tool for fracturing the damaged vertebral body. Once the cortical bone is broken or otherwise disrupted, the height of the damaged vertebral body may be restored, for example by removing the disruption tool and inserting through the cannula another tool, implant, device and/or material to restore the height of the vertebral body and to restore normal spinal curvature in the affected area. Bone cement, bone chips, demineralized bone or other grafting material or filler may be added with or without an implanted device to augment the damaged vertebral body.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Robert Frigg, Christof Dutoit, Andreas Appenzeller, Thierry Stoll, Alfred Benoit, Christoph Fuerst, Paul Heini
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Publication number: 20070055274Abstract: Implants and methods for bone treatment, preferably minimally invasive treatment, including repositioning of vertebrae may comprise insertion of a bobbin having a wire, string, thread or band, coiled around the bobbin. During coiling, the diameter of the bobbing/band complex may increase. Such increase in diameter can push against the inner side of the endplates of the vertebral body, and augment the vertebral body to its original height. The implant may also take the form of a coiled sleeve which when inserted into the vertebral body is uncoiled. The force of the uncoiling sleeve pushes against the inner side o the endplates of the vertebral body, restoring the vertebral body to its original height.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2006Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Andreas Appenzeller, Christof Dutoit, Alfred Benoit, Thierry Stoll, Erich Rothlisberger, Stefan Mathys
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Patent number: 6843805Abstract: The present invention relates to an intervertebral implant for fusion of vertebrae. The implant has top and bottom surfaces configured and dimensioned to contact end plates of the vertebrae and a jacket forming a side surface of the implant and having a three-dimensional texture for promoting initial stability. The implant is made of a porous ceramic material. The implant according to this invention is characterized in that upon primary fusion during the resorption process, it equalizes the distance (corresponding to intervertebral disk height) between two vertebrae while providing adequate fusion and is resorbed by the body after a certain amount of time.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: John Webb, Inga Maren Häfeli-Knothe, Thomas Häfeli, Alfred Benoit
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Publication number: 20030114932Abstract: A hollow cylindrical intervertebral implant with a longitudinal axis (3), a top surface (1) and a bottom surface (2), consisting essentially of a ceramic material displaying a maximum porosity of 30 vol. %, the pores of which are filled with air. The implant according to this invention is characterized in that upon primary fusion during the resorption process it equalizes the distance (corresponding to intervertebral disk height) between two vertebrae while providing adequate fusion and is resorbed by the body after a certain amount of time.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2003Publication date: June 19, 2003Applicant: SYNTHES (USA)Inventors: John Webb, Inga Hafeli-Knothe, Thomas Hafeli, Alfred Benoit
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Patent number: 6524341Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vertebral bone prosthetic device comprising an interior body, provided with an outer surface and a first coupling element thereon, and an exterior hollow body with a bore therein extending along a central axis, with the interior body being configured and dimensioned to be slidably received by the exterior body along the central axis, and provided with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a groove. The device also comprises a fixation ring having inner and outer surfaces, with the inner surface having a second coupling element thereon. The fixation ring is configured and dimensioned to be received within the groove of the exterior body for rotational movement about the central axis of the exterior body. Rotation of the fixation ring results in engagement of the first and second coupling elements to thereby prevent relative sliding movement between the interior and exterior bodies.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Synthes (USA)Inventors: Bruno Läng, Alfred Benoit
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Patent number: 6503279Abstract: The present invention relates to an intervertebral implant for fusion of vertebrae. The implant has top and bottom surfaces configured and dimensioned to contact end plates of the vertebrae and a jacket forming a side surface of the implant and having a three-dimensional texture for promoting initial stability. The implant is made of a porous ceramic material. The implant according to this invention is characterized in that upon primary fusion during the resorption process, it equalizes the distance (corresponding to intervertebral disk height) between two vertebrae while providing adequate fusion and is resorbed by the body after a certain amount of time.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 1999Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Synthes (USA)Inventors: John Webb, Inga Maren Häfeli-Knothe, Thomas Häfeli, Alfred Benoit
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Publication number: 20020161441Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vertebral bone prosthetic device comprising an interior body, provided with an outer surface and a first coupling element thereon, and an exterior hollow body with a bore therein extending along a central axis, with the interior body being configured and dimensioned to be slidably received by the exterior body along the central axis, and provided with an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a groove. The device also comprises a fixation ring having inner and outer surfaces, with the inner surface having a second coupling element thereon. The fixation ring is configured and dimensioned to be received within the groove of the exterior body for rotational movement about the central axis of the exterior body. Rotation of the fixation ring results in engagement of the first and second coupling elements to thereby prevent relative sliding movement between the interior and exterior bodies.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Bruno Lang, Alfred Benoit
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Patent number: 6443990Abstract: An intervertebral implant in the form of a support unit with a central yoke and four legs extending in a direction is described. The legs are configured in two substantially mutually parallel planes spaced apart by the yoke and are abuttable as support surfaces against adjacent vertebrae. A guide cylinder extending from the yoke in the same direction as the legs has at least on threaded surface. A dilator member is adapted to be fixed to the guide cylinder and to deformably spread the legs of the intervertebral implant a predetermined amount. The gaps between the legs which the dilator member spreads may have grooves to arrest the dilator member in a predetermined location.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: Max Aebi, Inga Knothe, Alfred Benoit
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Patent number: 6143031Abstract: An intervertebral implant for fusion of vertebral bodies is disclosed. The implant includes a flattened shaped hollow element in the form of a hollow cylinder, hollow truncated cone, hollow truncated pyramid, or hollow truncated wedge, with an outer surface having a flattened upper bone-contact face, flattened lower bone contact face, and two lateral faces. The upper and lower bone-contact faces can be elastically compressed towards the interior space of the hollow element in such a way that the maxi mum distance between the upper and lower contact faces can be reduced by 0.5 to 5.0 mm. The compressibility of the implant allows the insertion of the implant without the need for distracting the vertebras. After the implant is implanted, the engagement of an engagement lip with an interlock means prevents the compression of the implant.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1998Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: Inga Knothe, Alfred Benoit
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Patent number: 5888228Abstract: The intervertebral implant comprises a frame-type cage (1) which is open at its top and base faces (11 and 12 respectively) with two lateral faces (13, 14), a front wall (15) and a rear wall (16). A rotating element (2) is mounted in the cage (1) so as to be capable of rotation. The outer surface of the rotating element (2) is provided with a helical structure (21). The helical structure (21) protrudes beyond the cover and base faces (11, 12) outside the confines of the cage (1). The front wall (15) has an aperture (17) for the introduction of a drive tool with which the rotating element (2) in the cage (1) can be made to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 1998Date of Patent: March 30, 1999Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: Inga Knothe, Alfred Benoit