Patents by Inventor Alfred R. Berube

Alfred R. Berube 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).

  • Patent number: 10028843
    Abstract: A bone graft compaction pliers with removable inserts defines a bone graft harvesting and deployment system applicable to a wide variety of bone graft sized for use with bone anchors such as those employed in ACL repair. Cannulated bone anchors for encouraging bone regrowth employ an anchor with a axial cannulated bore and a plurality of fenestrations surrounding the bore to facilitate bone regrowth. A variety of sizes of single use inserts corresponding to a bone graft shape, or diameter, engage a single compaction pliers for forming various sized bone grafts from a single tool. A transparent transfer tube and corresponding base receives the formed bone graft for length adjustment, and engages protrusions on the recipient bone anchor for aligning the transfer tube to the anchor for disposing the bone graft into the cannulated bore of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard J. Bourque, William R. Davis, Alfred R. Berube, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9808298
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an interference screw for creating an interference fit between a bone tunnel and tissue. The screw includes a threaded body having a proximal end, distal end, and thread extending around the threaded body between the proximal and distal ends. A supporting spline extends along a cannulation through the threaded body. The supporting spline is engagable with a delivery device. The screw further includes at least one opening defined by a surface between threads of the threaded body. A ratio of open surface area to closed surface area defines the opening and is selected such that, when torsionally loaded, the screw does not exhibit plastic deformation when inserted into an undersized bone tunnel. The screw further includes a tapered tip extending from the distal end of the threaded body. The tapered tip has a thread extending at least partway around the tapered tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: John Stroncek, Alfred R. Berube, Jr., Kirsten H. Aarsvold
  • Patent number: 9579188
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an interference screw having a body with a proximal end, distal end, and longitudinal axis extending between thereinbetween. The screw further includes threads for fixing the screw into bone. The screw further includes a through bore defined by the body. The through bore extends between the proximal and distal ends along the longitudinal axis, and has a surface. The screw further includes a controlling member formed by the through bore surface. To install the screw into bone, a surgeon turns the screw with a driver that engages with the controlling member. The driver only engages the controlling member when it is in a driving orientation with respect to the controlling member. Advantageously, with this “one-way” engagement the surgeon can control and confirm the orientation of the driver without seeing the driver and/or screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Mark Bowman, Alfred R. Berube, Bernard Joseph Bourque, Wei Yang, Mark Edwin Housman, John Stroncek
  • Publication number: 20170020589
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an interference screw having a body with a proximal end, distal end, and longitudinal axis extending between thereinbetween. The screw further includes threads for fixing the screw into bone. The screw further includes a through bore defined by the body. The through bore extends between the proximal and distal ends along the longitudinal axis, and has a surface. The screw further includes a controlling member formed by the through bore surface. To install the screw into bone, a surgeon turns the screw with a driver that engages with the controlling member. The driver only engages the controlling member when it is in a driving orientation with respect to the controlling member. Advantageously, with this “one-way” engagement the surgeon can control and confirm the orientation of the driver without seeing the driver and/or screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Mark Bowman, Alfred R. Berube, Bernard Joseph Bourque, Wei Yang, Mark Edwin Housman, John Stroncek
  • Patent number: 9364276
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 9333020
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20150112354
    Abstract: A bone graft compaction pliers with removable inserts defines a bone graft harvesting and deployment system applicable to a wide variety of bone graft sized for use with bone anchors such as those employed in ACL repair. Cannulated bone anchors for encouraging bone regrowth employ an anchor with a axial cannulated bore and a plurality of fenestrations surrounding the bore to facilitate bone regrowth. A variety of sizes of single use inserts corresponding to a bone graft shape, or diameter, engage a single compaction pliers for forming various sized bone grafts from a single tool. A transparent transfer tube and corresponding base receives the formed bone graft for length adjustment, and engages protrusions on the recipient bone anchor for aligning the transfer tube to the anchor for disposing the bone graft into the cannulated bore of the anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Bernard J. Bourque, William R. Davis, Alfred R. Berube, JR.
  • Patent number: 8956395
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140303676
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an interference screw for creating an interference fit between a bone tunnel and tissue. The screw includes a threaded body having a proximal end, distal end, and thread extending around the threaded body between the proximal and distal ends. A supporting spline extends along a cannulation through the threaded body. The supporting spline is engagable with a delivery device. The screw further includes at least one opening defined by a surface between threads of the threaded body. A ratio of open surface area to closed surface area defines the opening and is selected such that, when torsionally loaded, the screw does not exhibit plastic deformation when inserted into an undersized bone tunnel. The screw further includes a tapered tip extending from the distal end of the threaded body. The tapered tip has a thread extending at least partway around the tapered tip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: John D. Stroncek, Alfred R. Berube, JR., Kirsten H. Aarsvold
  • Publication number: 20140236183
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140236231
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140171983
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140172095
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a soft tissue graft anchor. The anchor includes a plurality of prongs, each prong including a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the prongs are coupled at their distal ends to form an inner cavity having an opening, at least one of the prongs including a fin, the fin extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the prong and including a pointed end. A tissue graft anchor assembly, a method for tissue repair, and instrumentation for use therewith are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
  • Publication number: 20140081339
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an interference screw having a body with a proximal end, distal end, and longitudinal axis extending between thereinbetween. The screw further includes threads for fixing the screw into bone. The screw further includes a through bore defined by the body. The through bore extends between the proximal and distal ends along the longitudinal axis, and has a surface. The screw further includes a controlling member formed by the through bore surface. To install the screw into bone, a surgeon turns the screw with a driver that engages with the controlling member. The driver only engages the controlling member when it is in a driving orientation with respect to the controlling member. Advantageously, with this “one-way” engagement the surgeon can control and confirm the orientation of the driver without seeing the driver and/or screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Steve Mark Bowman, Alfred R. Berube, JR., Bernard Joseph Bourque, Wei Yang, Mark Edwin Housman, John Stroncek