Patents by Inventor Francis Vijay

Francis Vijay 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: 11751863
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Publication number: 20200085423
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Patent number: 10492775
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Patent number: 9855028
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Publication number: 20170231620
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Patent number: 9357993
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor may be secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a suture return member or path within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. One of the components of the locking structure may include a deformable or flexible section, member, or surface. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth A. Foerster, Francis Vijay, Jean Woloszko
  • Publication number: 20140207189
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor may be secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a suture return member or path within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. One of the components of the locking structure may include a deformable or flexible section, member, or surface. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth A. Foerster, Francis Vijay, Jean Woloszko
  • Patent number: 8657854
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor may be secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a suture return member or path within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. One of the components of the locking structure may include a deformable or flexible section, member, or surface. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth A. Foerster, Francis Vijay, Jean Woloszko
  • Publication number: 20130267998
    Abstract: A multi-suture knotless anchor and related method for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described. The suture anchor includes a body, a sleeve, and an outer deformable bone locking structure. The bone locking structure has a first low profile configuration for insertion into the bone, and a second larger profile configuration for engaging the bone when actuated. The bone anchor and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: ARTHROCARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francis Vijay, George W. White
  • Patent number: 8317829
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described herein. Such devices and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Francis Vijay, Norman Gordon
  • Publication number: 20120158052
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described herein. Such devices and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Francis Vijay, Norman Gordon
  • Patent number: 8133258
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described herein Such devices and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Francis Vijay, Norman Gordon
  • Publication number: 20100191283
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone, which permit a suture attachment that lies entirely beneath the cortical bone surface. The suturing material between the soft tissue and the bone anchor may be secured without the need for tying a knot. The suture attachment to the bone anchor involves the looping of a length of suture around a suture return member or path within the bone anchor, tightening the suture and attached soft tissue, and compressing the suture against the bone anchor. The bone anchor may be a tubular body having a lumen with a locking plug that compresses the suture therein. One of the components of the locking structure may include a deformable or flexible section, member, or surface. The locking plug may include a shaft and an enlarged head that interferes with the tubular body to provide a positive stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2006
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: ARTHROCARE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seth A. Foerster, Francis Vijay, Jean Woloszko
  • Patent number: 7682374
    Abstract: A knotless suture lock and bone anchor wherein a suture, looped through a tissue, is threaded through a plurality of body holes in the anchor to cinch the suture and tissue to the anchor without tying a suture knot on the tissue, and wherein the anchor is adapted for embedding in a bone. The tissue is secured to the anchor by suturing the tissue without a suture knot, fastening the standing leg portion of the suture on a suture leg-anchoring structure, and threading the working leg portion of the suture through the body holes. Pulling on the working leg portion of the suture tightens the suture on the body structure and cinches the loop without a suture knot on the tissue. The bone-embedding structure comprises a plurality of barbs adapted to resist pullout of the anchor from the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Norman Gordon, Francis Vijay, Minh Tran
  • Patent number: 7615061
    Abstract: A suture-loading system, method and apparatus for loading a suture onto a bone anchor, the system comprising: a bone anchor comprising a suture leg-anchoring structure and a plurality of body holes on the anchor; a suture comprising a standing end portion and a working end portion; a standing end trackway to guide the standing end portion of the suture through the suture leg-anchoring structure; and a working end trackway to guide the working end portion of the suture through the body holes in the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: George W. White, Francis Vijay
  • Publication number: 20080051836
    Abstract: An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described herein Such devices and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Francis Vijay, Norman Gordon
  • Publication number: 20070203508
    Abstract: A suture-loading system, method and apparatus for loading a suture onto a bone anchor, the system comprising: a bone anchor comprising a suture leg-anchoring structure and a plurality of body holes on the anchor; a suture comprising a standing end portion and a working end portion; a standing end trackway to guide the standing end portion of the suture through the suture leg-anchoring structure; and a working end trackway to guide the working end portion of the suture through the body holes in the anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Applicant: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: George White, Francis Vijay
  • Publication number: 20060293710
    Abstract: A knotless suture lock and bone anchor wherein a suture, looped through a tissue, is threaded through a plurality of body holes in the anchor to cinch the suture and tissue to the anchor without tying a suture knot on the tissue, and wherein the anchor is adapted for embedding in a bone. The tissue is secured to the anchor by suturing the tissue without a suture knot, fastening the standing leg portion of the suture on a suture leg-anchoring structure, and threading the working leg portion of the suture through the body holes. Pulling on the working leg portion of the suture tightens the suture on the body structure and cinches the loop without a suture knot on the tissue. The bone-embedding structure comprises a plurality of barbs adapted to resist pullout of the anchor from the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Norman Gordon, Francis Vijay, Minh Tran
  • Publication number: 20050277986
    Abstract: A suture-locking apparatus comprising a body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axial lumen in between the proximal and distal ends, wherein the proximal end adapted for passing a portion of a suture into the lumen; and a plug member movable from a first position to a second position in the lumen, the plug member comprising a radial protrusion adapted for compressing the suture against the body member on moving to the second position. In a further embodiment the invention is a method of anchoring soft tissue in a body cavity with a suture using the present apparatus and without tying a knot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Applicant: ArthroCare Corporation
    Inventors: Seth Foerster, Francis Vijay
  • Patent number: 6537495
    Abstract: A vacuum-assisted venous drainage reservoir for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery with both hard and soft shell reservoirs. The system utilizes a wall vacuum or other source of negative pressure to create a negative pressure via a regulator within a sealed hard shell reservoir, or within a sealed housing surrounding a soft shell reservoir. The addition of a negative pressure in the venous return line enables the use of smaller cannulas suitable for minimally invasive surgery. The reservoir need not be positioned well below the patient as in conventional gravity venous drainage configurations, thus adding flexibility to the operating room layout and enabling a reduction in the extracorporeal blood prime volume needed. In one embodiment, a flexible membrane in the hard shell reservoir expands to contact the blood surface and reduce blood/air interactions. In another embodiment, a moisture trap is provided between the source of vacuum and hard shell reservoir to reduce environmental contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC
    Inventors: Ronald Cambron, Francis Vijay, Richard Knight, Ken Litzie