Patents by Inventor Benjamin Willard

Benjamin Willard 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: 11969185
    Abstract: A system and method for cutting soft tissue with a retractable surgical cutting device. The device includes a handle, an actuator positioned thereon, and a sheath attached thereto, where the sheath surrounds a shaft with a blade attached to the distal end thereof. The device also includes a drive and locking mechanism connected to the actuator and to the shaft within the internal space of the handle, wherein the drive and locking mechanism is configured to move the shaft in the first direction and lock the shaft in the shaft first position in response to movement of the actuator in one of the first direction or the second direction, and wherein the drive mechanism is configured to move the shaft in the second direction and lock the shaft in the shaft second position in response to movement of the actuator in the other one of the first direction or the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Willard
  • Publication number: 20240024185
    Abstract: A surgical boot system and sleeve accessory for hip distraction. The surgical boot system includes an L-shaped rigid shell having a proximal portion and a distal portion. A soft liner is attached to the rigid shell and extends along at least one of the proximal portion and the distal portion. The surgical boot system also includes at least one strap assembly (which can be a plurality of strap assemblies) extending around the rigid shell. A load transmission hoop is connected to and extends around the distal portion of the rigid shell and an attachment point is connected to the load transmission hoop. The rigid shell is pivotable about the attachment point. Specifically, the attachment point is configured to interface with a hip distractor apparatus in a way that allows for multiple degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Willard
  • Patent number: 11806286
    Abstract: A surgical boot system and sleeve accessory for hip distraction. The surgical boot system includes an L-shaped rigid shell having a proximal portion and a distal portion. A soft liner is attached to the rigid shell and extends along at least one of the proximal portion and the distal portion. The surgical boot system also includes at least one strap assembly (which can be a plurality of strap assemblies) extending around the rigid shell. A load transmission hoop is connected to and extends around the distal portion of the rigid shell and an attachment point is connected to the load transmission hoop. The rigid shell is pivotable about the attachment point. Specifically, the attachment point is configured to interface with a hip distractor apparatus in a way that allows for multiple degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Willard
  • Publication number: 20230210513
    Abstract: A deployment device for an all suture anchor having a braided anchor and a suture filament extending through the braided anchor. A fork extends longitudinally through the body of the device and is moveable between an extended position and a withdrawn position to position and then release the braided anchor. A ratchet wheel drives a spool coupled to the ratchet wheel by a frangible link to wind up the suture filament to deploy the braided anchor. When sufficient tension is achieved to fully deploy the braided anchor, the frangible link will break, thereby releasing the suture filament to leave the deployed braided anchor in place with the suture filament extending from the pilot hole. All operations are accomplished by one lever that selectively withdraws the fork, rotates the ratchet wheel, and then allows release of the filament with the use of just a single hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Willard
  • Publication number: 20210369302
    Abstract: A portal saver assembly with a dermal fixation device that is removably attached to a length-adjustable portal saver. The portal saver assembly includes a tubular body having a rigid proximal end with threads and a proximal adjustment body having an outer ridge and an inner bore with threads. The threads on the rigid proximal end of the tubular body are configured to mate with the threads on the inner bore of the proximal adjustment body. The portal saver assembly also includes a dermal fixation device with a central bore and a locking mechanism around the central bore. The outer ridge of the proximal adjustment body is removably attached to within the central bore by the locking mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Conmed Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Willard, Eric Subkjaer
  • Publication number: 20210338264
    Abstract: A system and method for cutting soft tissue with a retractable surgical cutting device. The device includes a handle, an actuator positioned thereon, and a sheath attached thereto, where the sheath surrounds a shaft with a blade attached to the distal end thereof. The device also includes a drive and locking mechanism connected to the actuator and to the shaft within the internal space of the handle, wherein the drive and locking mechanism is configured to move the shaft in the first direction and lock the shaft in the shaft first position in response to movement of the actuator in one of the first direction or the second direction, and wherein the drive mechanism is configured to move the shaft in the second direction and lock the shaft in the shaft second position in response to movement of the actuator in the other one of the first direction or the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Willard
  • Publication number: 20210169522
    Abstract: A portal saver device for installing a flexible cannulated tube at a surgical site. A portal saver device includes an obturator. The obturator has an obturator body having a cannulated outer obturator tube extending therethrough. The outer obturator tube has a distal tip with a dilating assembly movable between a collapsed, first configuration and an expanded, second configuration. A shaft expander has a cannulated inner obturator tube, which is movable between a first position and a second position within the outer obturator tube. In the first position, the inner obturator tube is retracted from the distal tip of the outer obturator tube and the dilating assembly is in the first configuration. In the second position, the inner obturator tube is advanced within the distal tip of the outer obturator tube and the dilating assembly is in the second configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Applicant: Conmed Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Willard, Eric Stubkjaer, Thomas Kehoe, Kevin Quintero
  • Publication number: 20190343704
    Abstract: A surgical boot system and sleeve accessory for hip distraction. The surgical boot system includes an L-shaped rigid shell having a proximal portion and a distal portion. A soft liner is attached to the rigid shell and extends along at least one of the proximal portion and the distal portion. The surgical boot system also includes at least one strap assembly (which can be a plurality of strap assemblies) extending around the rigid shell. A load transmission hoop is connected to and extends around the distal portion of the rigid shell and an attachment point is connected to the load transmission hoop. The rigid shell is pivotable about the attachment point. Specifically, the attachment point is configured to interface with a hip distractor apparatus in a way that allows for multiple degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Conmed Corporation
    Inventor: Benjamin Willard