Patents by Inventor Gabriel E. Rapalo

Gabriel E. Rapalo 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: 20260165756
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of a patella bone plate. In some examples, the patella bone plates may include a contoured body with a longitudinal axis, and with a radius of curvature, a plurality of contoured arms and extending superiorly from the contoured body, the plurality of contoured arms spaced apart from the longitudinal axis, the plurality of contoured arms, a plurality of holes, a hook, the hook having a radius of curvature configured to allow the hook to extend around an apex of the patella, a hole located on the hook, the hole defining a distal fixation screw path that is substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis. In various examples, the contoured body may have a single arm with a staggered hole arrangement. The plurality of holes may include variable angle holes, locking holes, fixation holes, slots, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2026
    Publication date: June 18, 2026
    Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific PTE. Limited
    Inventors: Charles R. Bennett, Gabriel E. Rapalo
  • Patent number: 12599417
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of a patella bone plate. In some examples, the patella bone plates may include a contoured body with a longitudinal axis, and with a radius of curvature, a plurality of contoured arms and extending superiorly from the contoured body, the plurality of contoured arms spaced apart from the longitudinal axis, the plurality of contoured arms, a plurality of holes, a hook, the hook having a radius of curvature configured to allow the hook to extend around an apex of the patella, a hole located on the hook, the hole defining a distal fixation screw path that is substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis. In various examples, the contoured body may have a single arm with a staggered hole arrangement. The plurality of holes may include variable angle holes, locking holes, fixation holes, slots, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2026
    Assignees: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC., SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG, SMITH & NEPHEW ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LIMITED
    Inventors: Charles R. Bennett, Gabriel E. Rapalo
  • Patent number: 12551257
    Abstract: A collinear reduction clamp including a compression rod, an arm, and an advancing mechanism for moving the compression rod relative to the arm. In some examples, the rod may include a cannulated bore to enable a bone screw to be inserted therein. The rod may also include a cap. The cap including a bone screw washer. In use, a bone screw can be inserted through the cannulated bore of the rod, the bone screw passing through the washer thereby coupling the washer to the bone screw thereby enabling both the bone screw and the washer to be inserted into the patient's bone directly at the compression site. In some examples, the cannulated bore may be used in combination with first and second tubes and a guidewire to enable a cannulated bone screw to be inserted therein. In some examples, the arm may be configured as a length adjusting arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignees: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC., SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG, SMITH & NEPHEW ASIA PACIFIC PTE. LIMITED
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Ramprasad Papannagari, Charles R. Bennett, Nicholas S. Ritchey
  • Publication number: 20250009400
    Abstract: Disclosed are examples of a patella bone plate. In some examples, the patella bone plates may include a contoured body with a longitudinal axis, and with a radius of curvature, a plurality of contoured arms and extending superiorly from the contoured body, the plurality of contoured arms spaced apart from the longitudinal axis, the plurality of contoured arms, a plurality of holes, a hook, the hook having a radius of curvature configured to allow the hook to extend around an apex of the patella, a hole located on the hook, the hole defining a distal fixation screw path that is substantially parallel to and offset from the longitudinal axis. In various examples, the contoured body may have a single arm with a staggered hole arrangement. The plurality of holes may include variable angle holes, locking holes, fixation holes, slots, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific PTE. Limited
    Inventors: Charles R. Bennett, Gabriel E. Rapalo
  • Publication number: 20240261004
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11974787
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20240090931
    Abstract: A collinear reduction clamp including a compression rod, an arm, and an advancing mechanism for moving the compression rod relative to the arm. In some examples, the rod may include a cannulated bore to enable a bone screw to be inserted therein. The rod may also include a cap. The cap including a bone screw washer. In use, a bone screw can be inserted through the cannulated bore of the rod, the bone screw passing through the washer thereby coupling the washer to the bone screw thereby enabling both the bone screw and the washer to be inserted into the patient's bone directly at the compression site. In some examples, the cannulated bore may be used in combination with first and second tubes and a guidewire to enable a cannulated bone screw to be inserted therein. In some examples, the arm may be configured as a length adjusting arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Ramprasad Papannagari, Charles R. Bennett, Nicholas S. Ritchey
  • Publication number: 20230089488
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett
  • Patent number: 11534213
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates that are structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20210220030
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates that are structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett
  • Patent number: 10993750
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates that are structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20180250043
    Abstract: Variable angle holes in bone plates that are structured to facilitate the formation of axial compression or tension of a bone, or which can assist in bone distraction. The variable angle hole can extend about a central axis and includes an inwardly extending wedge wall. The variable angle hole can be sized to receive insertion of a fixation element at a location at which a central longitudinal axis of the fixation element is axially offset from the central axis of the variable angle hole by an offset distance at least when the fixation element is initially driven into bone at least in a transverse direction. The wedge wall can be configured to be engaged by a portion of the fixation element in a manner that axially displaces at least one of the bone plate, the fixation element, and/or bone(s) in a direction that can generally reduce or increase the offset distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Gabriel E. Rapalo, Timothy J. Petteys, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Charles R. Bennett