Patents by Inventor Christopher P. Dougherty

Christopher P. Dougherty 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: 9226817
    Abstract: Described herein is a simplified placement system and method for a tissue graft anchor by which a surgeon may introduce one or more sutures into a hole in a boney tissue, apply tension to the sutures to advance a soft tissue graft to a desired location, and then advance the anchor into the bone while maintaining suture tension and without introducing spin to the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: TENJIN LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Gary R. Heisler, Robert A. Van Wyk
  • Publication number: 20150245868
    Abstract: In the context of endoscopic electrosurgery, there is a need for a sufficiently robust, rigid, and preferably aspirating electrosurgical device that may be repeatedly flexed in the field to allow access to a wide array of remote tissues using a single device and, more preferably, during a single minimally invasive procedure. The present invention addresses this significant need by providing the distal portion of the elongate tubular member of an electrosurgical device with a bend region having a non-uniform flexural strength along its length, such that one may bend the tubular member at said bend region not only to an initial small radius bend, but subsequently rebend the distal portion to other angles as needed, with all bends occurring in the same distal region. The flexural strength in the bend region may be reduced by, for example, notching the tube in the bend region, annealing the tube in the bend region, or reducing the wall thickness in the bend region, or any combination of these means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler
  • Publication number: 20150182233
    Abstract: In the context of bone surgery and in particular arthroscopic surgery, there is frequently a need for the application of “percussive force” to the distal end component(s) of a surgical device, i.e., repetitive percutient or striking force analogous to that of a hammer driving a nail. Disclosed herein are mechanisms and methods for automating and/or controlling the application of such a percussive force so as to avoid the present need in the art for a “third hand”. The present invention addresses the significant and long felt need by providing a powered percussive driver device that may be controlled directly by the primary surgeon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: Tenjin LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Van Wyk, Gary R. Heisler, Christopher P. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 8435272
    Abstract: A device for reducing migration of a pin of an intramedullary fixation device, especially to reduce migration of a clavicle pin introduced in the medullary canal of the clavicle to fix a fractured clavicle bone. A clavicle nail with a curved tip is inserted within the medullary canal of the clavicle. The back end of the nail that extends out of the clavicle is provided with indentations or grooves. The back end of the nail is received in a hollow cavity of a cap, which locks onto the indentations or grooves of the nail. A screw is placed through an eyelet of the cap and turned into the clavicle to secure the cap to the clavicle. As a result, the nail is fixed within the medullary canal and undesirable migration of the pin within the medullary canal is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Kevin J. Gallen, Donald K. Shuler
  • Patent number: 8333802
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of performing anterior cruciate ligament replacement. Specifically, a graft tissue is harvested from a patient and single tunnels are prepared in each of the tibia and the femur of the patient. The graft is secured in the femoral tunnel and separated into an anterior cruciate medial bundle and a anterior cruciate posterior lateral bundle. The bundles are inserted through the tibial tunnel. During insertion the posterior lateral bundle is positioned in a posterior lateral position in the tibial tunnel while the anterior cruciate medial bundle is positioned in an anterior cruciate medial position in the tibial tunnel. The anterior cruciate medial bundle is then tensioned while the patient's knee is in approximately 90 degrees of flexion, and the posterior lateral bundle is tensioned while the patient's knee is approximately in full extension. Each of the bundles is then secured in the tibial tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Inventor: Christopher P. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20100262197
    Abstract: A device for reducing migration of a pin of an intramedullary fixation device, especially to reduce migration of a clavicle pin introduced in the medullary canal of the clavicle to fix a fractured clavicle bone. A clavicle nail with a curved tip is inserted within the medullary canal of the clavicle. The back end of the nail that extends out of the clavicle is provided with indentations or grooves. The back end of the nail is received in a hollow cavity of a cap, which locks onto the indentations or grooves of the nail. A screw is placed through an eyelet of the cap and turned into the clavicle to secure the cap to the clavicle. As a result, the nail is fixed within the medullary canal and undesirable migration of the pin within the medullary canal is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Christopher P. Dougherty, Kevin J. Gallen, Donald K. Shuler
  • Publication number: 20100049319
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of performing anterior cruciate ligament replacement. Specifically, a graft tissue is harvested from a patient and single tunnels are prepared in each of the tibia and the femur of the patient. The graft is secured in the femoral tunnel and separated into an anterior cruciate medial bundle and a anterior cruciate posterior lateral bundle. The bundles are inserted through the tibial tunnel. During insertion the posterior lateral bundle is positioned in a posterior lateral position in the tibial tunnel while the anterior cruciate medial bundle is positioned in an anterior cruciate medial position in the tibial tunnel. The anterior cruciate medial bundle is then tensioned while the patient's knee is in approximately 90 degrees of flexion, and the posterior lateral bundle is tensioned while the patient's knee is approximately in full extension. Each of the bundles is then secured in the tibial tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher P. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20100049258
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of performing posterior cruciate ligament replacement. Specifically, a graft tissue is harvested from a patient and single tunnels are prepared in each of the tibia and the femur of the patient. The graft is secured in the femoral tunnel and separated into a posterior cruciate medial bundle and a posterior lateral bundle. The bundles are inserted through the tibial tunnel. During insertion the posterior lateral bundle is positioned in a posterior lateral position in the tibial tunnel while the posterior cruciate medial bundle is positioned in a posterior cruciate medial position in the tibial tunnel. The posterior cruciate medial bundle is then tensioned while the patient's knee is in approximately 90 degrees of flexion, and the posterior lateral bundle is tensioned while the patient's knee is approximately in full extension. Each of the bundles is then secured in the tibial tunnel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher P. Dougherty