Patents by Inventor George J. Sikora
George J. Sikora 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).
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Publication number: 20170303934Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: George J. SIKORA, Steven EK, Steven TALLARIDA
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Publication number: 20170181740Abstract: A surgical device includes a first fastener having a planar profile, a second fastener having a concave surface, and a suture that can be manipulated to change a distance between the first and second fasteners. The second fastener has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of a top surface of a clavicle bone in a direction perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle bone. A method of treating an acromioclavicular joint injury includes forming axially aligned passages through a patient's clavicle and coracoid process, passing a fastener having a concave surface through the passages, positioning the concave surface of the fastener against a top surface of the patient's clavicle with a long axis of the fastener extending perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle, positioning a fastener having a planar profile below the patient's coracoid process, and adjusting a suture that couples the fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: George J. Sikora, James J. Sullivan, Pascal Boileau, Stephen Anthony Santangelo
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Patent number: 9636102Abstract: A surgical device includes a first fastener having a planar profile, a second fastener having a concave surface, and a suture that can be manipulated to change a distance between the first and second fasteners. The second fastener has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of a top surface of a clavicle bone in a direction perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle bone. A method of treating an acromioclavicular joint injury includes forming axially aligned passages through a patient's clavicle and coracoid process, passing a fastener having a concave surface through the passages, positioning the concave surface of the fastener against a top surface of the patient's clavicle with a long axis of the fastener extending perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle, positioning a fastener having a planar profile below the patient's coracoid process, and adjusting a suture that couples the fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: George J. Sikora, James J. Sullivan, Pascal Boileau, Stephen Anthony Santangelo
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Patent number: 9572587Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration). Some of the present apparatuses and methods are configured to create microfractures with smaller transverse dimensions (e.g., diameters) and greater depths than previously known. Some of the present apparatuses and methods comprise a penetrator removal tab coupled to the penetrator and configured to retract the penetrator relative to the cannula.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: ARTHROSURFACE, INC.Inventors: George J. Sikora, Steven Ek, Steven Tallarida
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Patent number: 9510840Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration). Some of the embodiments are configured to create microfractures with greater depth-to-width (or depth-to-diameter) ratios than previously known.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: ARTHROSURFACE, INC.Inventors: George J. Sikora, Steven Ek, Steven Tallarida
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Publication number: 20160192947Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and examplary methods for microfracture (e.g. forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2014Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: George J. SIKORA, Steven EK
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Publication number: 20160022280Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: George J. SIKORA, Steven EK, Steven TALLARIDA
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Publication number: 20160022279Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: George J. SIKORA, Steven EK, Steven TALLARIDA
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Patent number: 9211126Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: ARTHROSURFACE, INC.Inventors: George J. Sikora, Steven Ek, Steven Tallarida
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Publication number: 20150039031Abstract: A surgical device includes a first fastener having a planar profile, a second fastener having a concave surface, and a suture that can be manipulated to change a distance between the first and second fasteners. The second fastener has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of a top surface of a clavicle bone in a direction perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle bone. A method of treating an acromioclavicular joint injury includes forming axially aligned passages through a patient's clavicle and coracoid process, passing a fastener having a concave surface through the passages, positioning the concave surface of the fastener against a top surface of the patient's clavicle with a long axis of the fastener extending perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle, positioning a fastener having a planar profile below the patient's coracoid process, and adjusting a suture that couples the fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: George J. Sikora, James J. Sullivan, Pascal Boileau, Stephen Anthony Santangelo
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Patent number: 8926661Abstract: A surgical device includes a first fastener having a planar profile, a second fastener having a concave surface, and a suture that can be manipulated to change a distance between the first and second fasteners. The second fastener has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of a top surface of a clavicle bone in a direction perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle bone. A method of treating an acromioclavicular joint injury includes forming axially aligned passages through a patient's clavicle and coracoid process, passing a fastener having a concave surface through the passages, positioning the concave surface of the fastener against a top surface of the patient's clavicle with a long axis of the fastener extending perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle, positioning a fastener having a planar profile below the patient's coracoid process, and adjusting a suture that couples the fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: George J. Sikora, James J. Sullivan, Pascal Boileau, Stephen Anthony Santangelo
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Publication number: 20130317506Abstract: Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for microfracture (e.g., forming a plurality of microfractures in a bone to encourage cartilage regeneration).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Arthrosurface, Inc.Inventors: George J. Sikora, Steven Ek, Steven Tallariba
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Publication number: 20120310279Abstract: A surgical device includes a first fastener having a planar profile, a second fastener having a concave surface, and a suture that can be manipulated to change a distance between the first and second fasteners. The second fastener has a curvature that substantially matches the curvature of a top surface of a clavicle bone in a direction perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle bone. A method of treating an acromioclavicular joint injury includes forming axially aligned passages through a patient's clavicle and coracoid process, passing a fastener having a concave surface through the passages, positioning the concave surface of the fastener against a top surface of the patient's clavicle with a long axis of the fastener extending perpendicular to a long axis of the clavicle, positioning a fastener having a planar profile below the patient's coracoid process, and adjusting a suture that couples the fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.Inventors: George J. Sikora, James J. Sullivan, Pascal Boileau, Stephen Anthony Santangelo
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Patent number: 7947053Abstract: A suturing device includes a body member having proximal and distal ends and a longitudinal axis and comprising a slide and trigger slide; a tip assembly attached to the distal end and comprising: a hollow sheath having a window at its distal end; a pushrod in the hollow sheath and in mechanical communication with the slide and moveable along the axis; and a heating element sheath containing a heating element and adjacent to the hollow sheath, the heating element in mechanical and electrical communication with the trigger slide and moveable within the heating element sheath along the axis and over the window; and circuitry in electrical communication between the trigger slide and the heating element. The trigger slide activates the circuitry to heat the heating element and moves the heating element along the axis and over the window to contact a suture and thereby create a bloom of suture material.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Inventors: Raymond G. McKay, George J. Sikora
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Publication number: 20080086152Abstract: The present invention is directed to a suturing device comprising: a body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis positioned between the proximal and distal ends, the body member comprising a slide and a trigger slide; a tip assembly attached to the distal end of the body member and comprising: a hollow sheath having a distal end and a window positioned at the distal end; a pushrod housed in the hollow sheath, the pushrod being in mechanical communication with the slide and moveable along the longitudinal axis; and a heating element sheath containing a heating element, the heating element sheath positioned adjacent to the hollow sheath, the heating element in mechanical and electrical communication with the trigger slide, the heating element moveable within the heating element sheath and along the longitudinal axis and over the window; circuitry in electrical communication between the trigger slide and the heating element, wherein the trigger slide activates the circuitry to heat tType: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2007Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventors: Raymond G. McKay, George J. Sikora
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Patent number: 5727428Abstract: A link, and assembly and instrument using same, for transmitting actuating forces from an actuating member to a work member. The link includes a link body having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the link body is movably interconnected with the work member by a distal interconnection element such as an arcuate groove-and-flange assembly, and is interconnected at its proximal end to an actuating member by a proximal pivotal interconnection element. The proximal element transmits a first actuating force from the actuating member to the work member. A shoulder, disposed on the link body preferably between the distal and proximal elements for interconnecting, engages the actuating member when a second, greater actuating force is applied to the actuating member in a direction opposite to that of the first actuating force. The greater force is thereby transmitted fully to the work member. The link assembly preferably includes a spacer member to assist positioning of the actuating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1996Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. LeMaire, III, Francis J. DiFrancesco, Paul DiCarlo, Peter D. Naugler, George J. Sikora
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Patent number: 5695522Abstract: A link, and assembly and instrument using same, for transmitting actuating forces from an actuating member to a work member. The link includes a link body having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the link body is movably interconnected with the work member by a distal interconnection element such as an arcuate groove-and-flange assembly, and is interconnected at its proximal end to an actuating member by a proximal pivotal interconnection element. The proximal element transmits a first actuating force from the actuating member to the work member. A shoulder, disposed on the link body preferably between the distal and proximal elements for interconnecting, engages the actuating member when a second, greater actuating force is applied to the actuating member in a direction opposite to that of the first actuating force. The greater force is thereby transmitted fully to the work member. The link assembly preferably includes a spacer member to assist positioning of the actuating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 1996Date of Patent: December 9, 1997Assignee: Acufex Microsurgical, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. LeMaire, III, Francis J. DiFrancesco, Paul DiCarlo, Peter D. Naugler, George J. Sikora
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Patent number: 5590570Abstract: A link, and assembly and instrument using same, for transmitting actuating forces from an actuating member to a work member. The link includes a link body having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the link body is movably interconnected with the work member by a distal interconnection element such as an arcuate groove-and-flange assembly, and is interconnected at its proximal end to an actuating member by a proximal pivotal interconnection element. The proximal element transmits a first actuating force from the actuating member to the work member. A shoulder, disposed on the link body preferably between the distal and proximal elements for interconnecting, engages the actuating member when a second, greater actuating force is applied to the actuating member in a direction opposite to that of the first actuating force. The greater force is thereby transmitted fully to the work member. The link assembly preferably includes a spacer member to assist positioning of the actuating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 1994Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Acufex Microsurgical, Inc.Inventors: Norman J. LeMaire, III, Francis J. DiFrancesco, Paul DiCarlo, Peter D. Naugler, George J. Sikora
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Patent number: 5366477Abstract: A link, and assembly and instrument using same, for transmitting actuating forces from an actuating member to a work member. The link includes a link body having a distal end and a proximal end. The distal end of the link body is movably interconnected with the work member by a distal interconnection element such as an arcuate groove-and-flange assembly, and is interconnected at its proximal end to an actuating member by a proximal pivotal interconnection element. The proximal element transmits a first actuating force from the actuating member to the work member. A shoulder, disposed on the link body preferably between the distal and proximal elements for interconnecting, engages the actuating member when a second, greater actuating force is applied to the actuating member in a direction opposite to that of the first actuating force. The greater force is thereby transmitted fully to the work member. The link assembly preferably includes a spacer member to assist positioning of the actuating member.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 1991Date of Patent: November 22, 1994Assignee: American Cyanamid CompanyInventors: Norman J. LeMarie, III, Francis J. DiFrancesco, Paul DiCarlo, Peter D. Naugler, George J. Sikora