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).
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Patent number: 10028843Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 6, 2013Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Bernard J. Bourque, William R. Davis, Alfred R. Berube, Jr.
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Patent number: 9808298Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: John Stroncek, Alfred R. Berube, Jr., Kirsten H. Aarsvold
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Patent number: 9579188Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Steve Mark Bowman, Alfred R. Berube, Bernard Joseph Bourque, Wei Yang, Mark Edwin Housman, John Stroncek
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Publication number: 20170020589Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Steven Mark Bowman, Alfred R. Berube, Bernard Joseph Bourque, Wei Yang, Mark Edwin Housman, John Stroncek
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Patent number: 9364276Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Smith & Nephew, IncInventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Patent number: 9333020Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20150112354Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2013Publication date: April 23, 2015Inventors: Bernard J. Bourque, William R. Davis, Alfred R. Berube, JR.
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Patent number: 8956395Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20140303676Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Inventors: John D. Stroncek, Alfred R. Berube, JR., Kirsten H. Aarsvold
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Publication number: 20140236183Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20140236231Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: August 21, 2014Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20140171983Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20140172095Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Inventors: Ben K. Graf, Alfred R. Berube, Gary M. McCarthy
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Publication number: 20140081339Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Inventors: Steve Mark Bowman, Alfred R. Berube, JR., Bernard Joseph Bourque, Wei Yang, Mark Edwin Housman, John Stroncek