Patents by Inventor Duke Fox

Duke Fox 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: 10736747
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a bone for receiving a prosthesis comprises a template that can secure to the bone, a revision alignment member for coupling to the template, an offset alignment bushing receivable by the template such that an intramedullary member seated in the first bone can extend through a passage defined by the offset alignment bushing, a first bone cutting bushing receivable by the template after removal of the offset alignment bushing and positioned to cut the bone, a second bone cutting bushing receivable by the template after removal of the offset alignment bushing and removal of the bone cutting bushing, said second bone cutting bushing having a rotational orientation corresponding to a rotational orientation of the offset alignment bushing such that the second bone cutting bushing is a guide for cutting the bone in preparation of the bone to receive the prosthesis with an offset adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. May, Duke A. Fox
  • Patent number: 10646237
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses including an orthopedic assembly are disclosed. The orthopedic assembly can include a femoral component and a guide. The femoral component can be configured to engage a resected distal surface of a femur. The femoral component can have a box cutout configured to provide access to a distal centrally located region of the femur. The box cutout can be disposed between a medial condyle, a lateral condyle and an anterior portion of the femoral component. The guide can be configured to selectively connect to the femoral component at one or more locations and can be spaced from the femur. The guide can have an opening therethrough configured to provide access to the box cutout and the distal centrally located region of the femur. One or more surfaces of the guide can define the opening, each of the one or more surfaces can be configured to act as a guide surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander P. Wolfe, Duke A. Fox, Nicholas William Hutchison
  • Patent number: 10349955
    Abstract: A set of instruments for preparing a femur and tibia for receipt of a partial knee prosthesis can include a femoral drill guide that is selectively connected to an intramedullary (IM) rod. At least one sizing spoon can communicate with the femoral drill guide. The femoral drill guide can have terminal cutting surfaces. A tibial cut guide can be selectively connected to the femoral drill guide. A dial member can be disposed on one of the femoral or tibial cut guides that when rotated moves at least one of the spoons in a superior/inferior direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Duke A. Fox
  • Patent number: 10285714
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses including a system that can be used in a knee replacement procedure are disclosed. According to one example, the system can include a tibial cut guide and an alignment guide. The tibial cut guide can have a first guide portion coupled to and adjustable relative to a second guide portion. The first guide portion can be configured to define a sagittal cut slot and the second guide portion can be configured to define a proximal cut slot. The alignment guide can be configured for extramedullary mounting to the patient and can be configured to couple with the second guide portion of the tibial cut guide. The alignment guide can have a first mechanism and a second mechanism of differing construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas G Branscome, Duke A. Fox
  • Patent number: 10238399
    Abstract: A method of positioning a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The method includes inserting a mounting member into an intramedullary canal of the femur and coupling a bridge member to the mounting member. The method also includes placing a cutting guide member over a medal anterior portion of the distal femur. The cutting guide member has a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. The bridge member has a bridge channel. A wall of the bridge channel is inserted into the first channel of the cutting guide member. A mounting mechanism generates resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member. The resistance is overcome by positioning the cutting guide member relative to the femur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Duke A. Fox, Robert Metzger, Scott Twomey
  • Patent number: 9931218
    Abstract: A method of implanting a prosthesis based on bone density of a bone is provided. A first bone density of the bone may be determined at a first portion of the bone. A second bone density of the bone may be determined at a second portion of the bone. A first desired amount of bone removal may be determined at the first portion of the bone based on the first bone density. A second desired amount of bone removal may be determined at the second portion of the bone based on the second bone density. The desired amounts of bone may be removed from the first and second portions of the bone. A prosthesis may be selected and implanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. May, Duke A. Fox, Joshua B. Catanzarite
  • Publication number: 20180070960
    Abstract: Systems and apparatuses including a system that can be used in a knee replacement procedure are disclosed. According to one example, the system can include a tibial cut guide and an alignment guide. The tibial cut guide can have a first guide portion coupled to and adjustable relative to a second guide portion. The first guide portion can be configured to define a sagittal cut slot and the second guide portion can be configured to define a proximal cut slot. The alignment guide can be configured for extramedullary mounting to the patient and can be configured to couple with the second guide portion of the tibial cut guide. The alignment guide can have a first mechanism and a second mechanism of differing construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas G. Branscome, Duke A. Fox
  • Publication number: 20180036014
    Abstract: A method of positioning a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The method includes inserting a mounting member into an intramedullary canal of the femur and coupling a bridge member to the mounting member. The method also includes placing a cutting guide member over a medal anterior portion of the distal femur. The cutting guide member has a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. The bridge member has a bridge channel. A wall of the bridge channel is inserted into the first channel of the cutting guide member. A mounting mechanism generates resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member. The resistance is overcome by positioning the cutting guide member relative to the femur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Duke A. Fox, Robert Metzger, Scott Twomey
  • Publication number: 20170348110
    Abstract: A method for preparing a first bone for receiving a prosthesis. The method includes coupling a revision alignment member to a template; positioning an offset alignment bushing relative to the revision alignment member; positioning the offset alignment bushing at the first bone such that an intramedullary member seated in the first bone extends through a passage defined by the offset alignment bushing; replacing the offset alignment bushing with a first bone cutting bushing; cutting the first bone using the first bone cutting bushing as a guide; replacing the first bone cutting bushing with an offset second bone cutting bushing; providing the second bone cutting bushing with a rotational orientation corresponding to a rotational orientation of the offset alignment bushing; and cutting the first bone using the offset second bone cutting bushing as a guide to prepare the bone to receive an offset prosthesis adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Inventors: Brian M. May, Duke A. Fox
  • Patent number: 9826982
    Abstract: A method of positioning a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The method includes inserting a mounting member into an intramedullary canal of the femur and coupling a bridge member to the mounting member. The method also includes placing a cutting guide member over a medial anterior portion of the distal femur. The cutting guide member has a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. The bridge member has a bridge channel. A wall of the bridge channel is inserted into the first channel of the cutting guide member. A mounting mechanism generates resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member. The resistance is overcome by positioning the cutting guide member relative to the femur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Duke A. Fox, Robert Metzger, Scott Twomey
  • Patent number: 9827106
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a joint implant for a joint of a specific patient includes obtaining a three-dimensional image of a bone of the joint of the specific patient from medical imaging scans of the bone of the patient and determining on the three-dimensional image a resection plane for contacting a corresponding planar surface of the joint implant for the specific patient. The method includes determining a three-dimensional image of a porous structure of a bone layer along the resection plane from the medical imaging scans of the patient. The joint implant is manufactured with a layer of a patient-specific porous construct attached to the planar surface of the joint implant. The layer of the patient-specific porous construct substantially replicates the porous structure of the bone layer of the specific patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Erin L. Hensley, Duke A. Fox, Gautam Gupta
  • Patent number: 9763793
    Abstract: A method for preparing a first bone for receiving a prosthesis. The method includes coupling a revision alignment member to a template; positioning an offset alignment bushing relative to the revision alignment member; positioning the offset alignment bushing at the first bone such that an intramedullary member seated in the first bone extends through a passage defined by the offset alignment bushing; replacing the offset alignment bushing with a first bone cutting bushing; cutting the first bone using the first bone cutting bushing as a guide; replacing the first bone cutting bushing with an offset second bone cutting bushing; providing the second bone cutting bushing with a rotational orientation corresponding to a rotational orientation of the offset alignment bushing; and cutting the first bone using the offset second bone cutting bushing as a guide to prepare the bone to receive an offset prosthesis adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Brian M. May, Duke A. Fox
  • Publication number: 20170164959
    Abstract: Methods, systems and apparatuses including an orthopedic assembly are disclosed. The orthopedic assembly can include a femoral component and a guide. The femoral component can be configured to engage a resected distal surface of a femur. The femoral component can have a box cutout configured to provide access to a distal centrally located region of the femur. The box cutout can be disposed between a medial condyle, a lateral condyle and an anterior portion of the femoral component. The guide can be configured to selectively connect to the femoral component at one or more locations and can be spaced from the femur. The guide can have an opening therethrough configured to provide access to the box cutout and the distal centrally located region of the femur. One or more surfaces of the guide can define the opening, each of the one or more surfaces can be configured to act as a guide surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander P. Wolfe, Duke A. Fox, Nicholas William Hutchison
  • Publication number: 20160374699
    Abstract: A set of instruments for preparing a femur and tibia for receipt of a partial knee prosthesis can include a femoral drill guide that is selectively connected to an intramedullary (IM) rod. At least one sizing spoon can communicate with the femoral drill guide. The femoral drill guide can have terminal cutting surfaces. A tibial cut guide can be selectively connected to the femoral drill guide. A dial member can be disposed on one of the femoral or tibial cut guides that when rotated moves at least one of the spoons in a superior/inferior direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventor: Duke A. Fox
  • Patent number: 9510956
    Abstract: An instrument for engaging a bearing configured to facilitate articulation of a femoral component and a tibial component. The instrument includes a first bearing engaging portion configured to engage a first end of the bearing, and a second bearing engaging portion configured to engage a second end of the bearing that is opposite to the first end. A coupling member of the instrument interconnects the first and the second bearing engaging portions. The coupling member is operable to move the second bearing engaging portion relative to the first bearing engaging portion to secure the bearing therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Duke A. Fox
  • Patent number: 9463032
    Abstract: A method for preparing a femur and a tibia for receipt of a partial knee prosthesis. The method includes the following: positioning a femoral engagement member of a femoral drill guide proximate to the femur; positioning a tibial engagement member of the femoral drill guide proximate to the tibia; moving an adjuster associated with the femoral drill guide to translate at least one of the femoral engagement member or the tibial engagement member against the femur or tibia respectively to widen a joint space defined between the femur and the tibia; drilling holes in the femur using the femoral drill guide as a reference; coupling a tibial cut guide to the femoral drill guide; making a first cut in the tibia by referencing the femoral drill guide; and making a second cut in the tibia by referencing the tibial cut guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Duke A. Fox
  • Publication number: 20160067048
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a joint implant for a joint of a specific patient includes obtaining a three-dimensional image of a bone of the joint of the specific patient from medical imaging scans of the bone of the patient and determining on the three-dimensional image a resection plane for contacting a corresponding planar surface of the joint implant for the specific patient. The method includes determining a three-dimensional image of a porous structure of a bone layer along the resection plane from the medical imaging scans of the patient. The joint implant is manufactured with a layer of a patient-specific porous construct attached to the planar surface of the joint implant. The layer of the patient-specific porous construct substantially replicates the porous structure of the bone layer of the specific patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Erin L. Hensley, Duke A. Fox, Gautam Gupta
  • Patent number: 9259331
    Abstract: A joint spacer for an orthopedic procedure including a first plate, a second plate, a coupling device, and a spacer insert receiving portion. The first plate includes a first bone facing surface and a first inner surface. The second plate includes a second bone facing surface and a second inner surface facing the first inner surface. The coupling device couples the first plate and the second plate together. The spacer insert receiving portion of at least one of the first inner surface or the second inner surface is configured to receive at least one spacer insert between the first plate and the second plate to space the first plate and the second plate apart a distance corresponding to an optimal interval between bones of a joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventors: Duke Fox, Preston Lee Howard
  • Patent number: 9237950
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a joint implant for a joint of a specific patient includes obtaining a three-dimensional image of a bone of the joint of the specific patient from medical imaging scans of the bone of the patient and determining on the three-dimensional image a resection plane for contacting a corresponding planar surface of the joint implant for the specific patient. The method includes determining a three-dimensional image of a porous structure of a bone layer along the resection plane from the medical imaging scans of the patient. The joint implant is manufactured with a layer of a patient-specific porous construct attached to the planar surface of the joint implant. The layer of the patient-specific porous construct substantially replicates the porous structure of the bone layer of the specific patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: BIOMET MANUFACTURING, LLC
    Inventors: Erin L. Hensley, Duke A. Fox, Gautam Gupta
  • Publication number: 20150359545
    Abstract: A method of positioning a femoral cutting guide on a distal end of a femur establishes at least a first reference plane to perform a distal femoral planar cut. The method includes inserting a mounting member into an intramedullary canal of the femur and coupling a bridge member to the mounting member. The method also includes placing a cutting guide member over a medial anterior portion of the distal femur. The cutting guide member has a first channel that establishes the first reference plane. The bridge member has a bridge channel. A wall of the bridge channel is inserted into the first channel of the cutting guide member. A mounting mechanism generates resistance between the bridge member and the cutting guide member. The resistance is overcome by positioning the cutting guide member relative to the femur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Duke A. Fox, Robert Metzger, Scott Twomey