Patents by Inventor Brian A. Uthgenannt

Brian A. Uthgenannt 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: 20150335448
    Abstract: A method of sizing and balancing a knee including: placing an integrated orthopedic instrument in contact with a resected distal femoral surface of a femur of a knee in flexion such that medial and lateral posterior feet of a tensor frame of the instrument are in contact with posterior condyles of the femur and such that medial and lateral posterior feet of a sizer body of the instrument are positioned on a spacer placed on a resected proximal surface of the patient's tibia; securing first and second wings extending from a central portion of the tensor frame on the resected distal femoral surface; rotating the sizer body relative to the tensor frame via a rotation mechanism that connects the sizer body and the tensor frame to balance the ligaments; and sizing the patient's femur by moving a stylus coupled to the sizer body on an anterior surface of the femur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Jerry J. LORIO, Brian A. UTHGENANNT
  • Patent number: 9173661
    Abstract: A patient-specific guiding system for guiding an instrument relative to a portion of an anatomical feature of a patient. The patient-specific guiding system includes a patient-specific guide. The guide includes a first portion having a first patient-specific inner surface that conforms to a first surface of the anatomical feature and an outer surface opposite the first patient-specific inner surface. The first portion also includes a guide surface for use in guiding the instrument relative to the anatomical feature. The guide also includes a second portion having a second patient-specific inner surface that conforms to a second surface of the anatomical feature and an outer surface opposite the second patient-specific inner surface. The second portion is removably connected to the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Ryan J. Schoenefeld, Nathan E. Belcher, Brian A. Uthgenannt
  • Publication number: 20150305755
    Abstract: An orthopedic device includes a drill guide configured to be mounted on a patient-specific alignment guide for intraoperatively confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to a bone. The patient-specific alignment guide includes first and second referencing holes. The drill guide includes a main body with a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first and second coupling members are configured to be received within the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The first and second coupling members each include corresponding first and second drill openings configured to align with the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The drill openings each guide a drilling tool toward the bone to drill corresponding holes in the bone. The main body also includes an alignment confirmation feature configured for confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to the bone before drilling holes in the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: Jon C. Serbousek, Todd O. Davis, Joshua B. Catanzarite, Brian Uthgenannt
  • Patent number: 9084618
    Abstract: An orthopedic device includes a drill guide configured to be mounted on a patient-specific alignment guide for intraoperatively confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to a bone. The patient-specific alignment guide includes first and second referencing holes. The drill guide includes a main body with a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first and second coupling members are configured to be received within the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The first and second coupling members each include corresponding first and second drill openings configured to align with the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The drill openings each guide a drilling tool toward the bone to drill corresponding holes in the bone. The main body also includes an alignment confirmation feature configured for confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to the bone before drilling holes in the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Jon C. Serbousek, Todd O. Davis, Joshua B. Catanzarite, Brian A. Uthgenannt
  • Patent number: 9060786
    Abstract: A cut block positioning jig including a first alignment member, a second alignment member, and both first and second guide members. The first alignment member is movable towards and away from a patient's bone to which the positioning jig is mounted to arrange the jig at a predetermined position relative to the bone based on x-rays of the patient. The second alignment member is movable towards and away from the bone to arrange the jig at the predetermined position relative to the bone. The first and second guide members are configured to direct cut block support members to the bone to couple a cut block to the bone to provide the bone with patient-specific cuts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Uthgenannt, Robert Metzger
  • Patent number: 9050197
    Abstract: An orthopedic instrument for knee arthroplasty includes an anterior-posterior sizer assembly, a tensor assembly and a rotation mechanism. The sizer assembly includes a stylus, a sizer body including medial and lateral posterior feet extending substantially perpendicularly from the sizer body, and a sizer slider that can slide relative to the sizer body along a medial-lateral direction relative to a patient's knee. The tensor assembly includes a tensor frame having a central portion, medial and lateral wings extending at an angle from the central portion, and medial and lateral posterior feet extending substantially perpendicularly to the central portion. The rotation mechanism includes a portion coupled to the tensor frame of the tensor assembly and a portion coupled to the sizer body. The rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the medial and lateral posterior feet of the sizer body relative to the tensor frame toward a lateral side of the patient's knee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Jerry J. Lorio, Brian A. Uthgenannt
  • Patent number: 9011548
    Abstract: A prosthetic joint assembly supports articulation of a joint. The joint assembly includes a first component configured to be fixed to an anatomical feature. The first component includes a first impact surface and a second component that engages the first component. The second component includes a second impact surface that impacts the first impact surface as the first component moves relative to the second component. Furthermore, at least one of the first impact surface and the second impact surface includes a dampening member that dampens energy resulting from impact of the first and second impact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt
  • Publication number: 20150088141
    Abstract: A method for preparing a femur and a tibia to receive implants. The method includes mapping location of a femoral guide to a coordinate system using a femoral position sensor mounted to at least one of the femoral guide or another femoral surgical device during preparation of the femur to receive a femoral implant. The method further includes mapping location of a tibial guide to the coordinate system using a tibial position sensor mounted to at least one of the tibial guide or another tibial surgical device during preparation of the tibia to receive a tibial implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Uthgenannt
  • Publication number: 20150057757
    Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthetic knee joint assembly. The method includes: coupling a femoral component to a femur, and coupling a tibial component to a tibia; coupling a ligament link to one of the femur or the tibia; coupling the ligament link to a coupling component of one of the femoral component or the tibial component; arranging the ligament link in a first position relative to the tibial component when the prosthetic knee joint assembly is implanted in a left knee; and arranging the ligament link in a second position relative to the tibial component when the prosthetic knee joint assembly is implanted in a right knee, the second position is different from the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Robert METZGER, Brian A. UTHGENANNT, Kevin T. STONE
  • Publication number: 20150051602
    Abstract: A cut block positioning jig including a first alignment member, a second alignment member, and both first and second guide members. The first alignment member is movable towards and away from a patient's bone to which the positioning jig is mounted to arrange the jig at a predetermined position relative to the bone based on x-rays of the patient. The second alignment member is movable towards and away from the bone to arrange the jig at the predetermined position relative to the bone. The first and second guide members are configured to direct cut block support members to the bone to couple a cut block to the bone to provide the bone with patient-specific cuts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian Uthgenannt, Robert Metzger
  • Patent number: 8900314
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component that engages a femur and at least one bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component thereon. Also, the assembly includes a tibial tray that engages a tibia and that supports the bearing. A ligament link coupling component is included on the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link coupling component is operable to couple to a ligament link to couple the ligament link to the femoral component or the tibial tray. Moreover, the assembly includes an opening included on the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link is received in the opening to bypass the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray to operably couple to the respective one of the femur or the tibia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt, Kevin T. Stone
  • Publication number: 20140025081
    Abstract: An orthopedic instrument for knee arthroplasty includes an anterior-posterior sizer assembly, a tensor assembly and a rotation mechanism. The sizer assembly includes a stylus, a sizer body including medial and lateral posterior feet extending substantially perpendicularly from the sizer body, and a sizer slider that can slide relative to the sizer body along a medial-lateral direction relative to a patient's knee. The tensor assembly includes a tensor frame having a central portion, medial and lateral wings extending at an angle from the central portion, and medial and lateral posterior feet extending substantially perpendicularly to the central portion. The rotation mechanism includes a portion coupled to the tensor frame of the tensor assembly and a portion coupled to the sizer body. The rotation mechanism is configured to rotate the medial and lateral posterior feet of the sizer body relative to the tensor frame toward a lateral side of the patient's knee.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: BIOMET MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Lorio, Brian A. Uthgenannt
  • Publication number: 20130345819
    Abstract: A prosthetic joint assembly supports articulation of a joint. The joint assembly includes a first component configured to be fixed to an anatomical feature. The first component includes a first impact surface and a second component that engages the first component. The second component includes a second impact surface that impacts the first impact surface as the first component moves relative to the second component. Furthermore, at least one of the first impact surface and the second impact surface includes a dampening member that dampens energy resulting from impact of the first and second impact surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert METZGER, Brian A. UTHGENANNT
  • Publication number: 20130317621
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component and a bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component. The assembly further includes a tibial tray. Furthermore, the assembly includes a ligament link operably coupled to the tibial tray or the femoral component via a coupling component. The ligament link extending through the other of the tibial tray or the femoral component to couple to the respective one of the femur or tibia. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 8518121
    Abstract: A prosthetic joint assembly supports articulation of a joint. The joint assembly includes a first component configured to be fixed to an anatomical feature. The first component includes a first impact surface and a second component that engages the first component. The second component includes a second impact surface that impacts the first impact surface as the first component moves relative to the second component. Furthermore, at least one of the first impact surface and the second impact surface includes a dampening member that dampens energy resulting from impact of the first and second impact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt
  • Patent number: 8500818
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component and a bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component. The assembly further includes a tibial tray. Furthermore, the assembly includes a ligament link operably coupled to the tibial tray or the femoral component via a coupling component. The ligament link extending through the other of the tibial tray or the femoral component to couple to the respective one of the femur or tibia. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt, Kevin T. Stone
  • Patent number: 8407067
    Abstract: An orthopedic device includes a femoral implant having a non-custom internal bone engagement surface. The femoral implant includes at least nine parameters adjusted preoperatively to correspond to a specific patient. The parameters can include patient-specific lengths, such as, for example, medial and lateral condyle widths and notch height, and patient-specific medial and lateral angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Brian A. Uthgenannt, Robert Metzger, Nathan E. Belcher, Joshua B. Catanzarite
  • Patent number: 8343227
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component that engages a femur and at least one bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component thereon. Also, the assembly includes a tibial tray that engages a tibia and that supports the bearing. A ligament link coupling component is included on the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link coupling component is operable to couple to a ligament link to couple the ligament link to the femoral component or the tibial tray. Moreover, the assembly includes an opening included on the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray. The ligament link is received in the opening to bypass the other of the femoral component or the tibial tray to operably couple to the respective one of the femur or the tibia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt, Kevin T. Stone
  • Publication number: 20120316564
    Abstract: An orthopedic device includes a drill guide configured to be mounted on a patient-specific alignment guide for intraoperatively confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to a bone. The patient-specific alignment guide includes first and second referencing holes. The drill guide includes a main body with a first coupling member and a second coupling member. The first and second coupling members are configured to be received within the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The first and second coupling members each include corresponding first and second drill openings configured to align with the first and second referencing holes, respectively. The drill openings each guide a drilling tool toward the bone to drill corresponding holes in the bone. The main body also includes an alignment confirmation feature configured for confirming alignment of the patient-specific alignment guide relative to the bone before drilling holes in the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Jon C. SERBOUSEK, Todd O. DAVIS, Joshua B. CATANZARITE, Brian A. UTHGENANNT
  • Publication number: 20120303004
    Abstract: A method for preparing surgical kits for use during a surgery includes preparing a pre-operative surgical plan for a patient and selecting a set of surgical instruments based on the pre-operative surgical plan. The set of surgical instruments includes at least a general instrument, a first size-specific instrument, a patient-specific instrument, and a surgeon-specific instrument. The general instrument is selected from a predetermined group of off-the-shelf instruments. The first size-specific instrument has a first size selected from predetermined sizes. The patient-specific instrument includes a three-dimensional contoured engagement surface configured to nest into a portion of a native anatomy in a single location. The surgeon-specific instrument is selected based on a surgeon preference and is a different instrument than the selected general instrument, first size-specific instrument, and patient-specific instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: BIOMET MANUFACTURING CORP.
    Inventors: Brian A. Uthgenannt, Christopher W. Friend, Bradley T. Durcholz, Joshua B. Catanzarite, Robert Metzger, Kai Robert Worrell