Patents by Inventor Howard C. Tang

Howard C. Tang 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: 20200008928
    Abstract: Various bone anchor assemblies and methods are provided for anchoring tissue to bone. In one embodiment, an anchor assembly for anchoring a tendon to bone is provided and includes a substantially cylindrical sheath having bone-engaging surface features formed on an external surface thereof, and having an inner lumen formed therein and extending from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal. The substantially closed distal end includes at least one tendon anchoring feature extending distally therefrom and configured to facilitate anchoring of a tendon to bone. The anchor assembly further includes an expander having a generally elongate cylindrical configuration and being sized and shaped to be received within the inner lumen of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SÁRL
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, James J. Mahoney, JR., Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Paul P. Weitzel, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20190223860
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard C. Tang, David B. Spenciner, Gregory R. Whittaker, Gerome Miller
  • Patent number: 10292695
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SÀRL
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard C. Tang, David B. Spenciner, Gregory R. Whittaker, Gerome Miller
  • Publication number: 20180344376
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In particular, various delivery tools, including a variety of sheath inserter tools, are provided. The tools can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and to deliver a sheath into the bone hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Medos International Sarl
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang
  • Publication number: 20180296319
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: Medos International Sarl
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Gerome Miller, Jacob A. Marks, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Patent number: 10076374
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In particular, various delivery tools, including a variety of sheath inserter tools, are provided. The tools can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and to deliver a sheath into the bone hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SÁRL
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang
  • Patent number: 10034742
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SARL
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Gerome Miller, Jacob A. Marks, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20170303913
    Abstract: Surgical constructs and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a construct is formed from a suture filament and includes two terminal ends of filament and an intermediate portion disposed along at least a portion of a length extending between the terminal ends. The construct can have a first terminal end that is the first terminal end of the filament, and a second terminal end that includes a loop. The loop can be formed by disposing the second terminal end of the filament within a volume of a portion of the intermediate portion of the filament. In some disclosed methods, both terminal ends of the filament can be passed through tissue when performing soft tissue repairs. Various other embodiments of constructs and methods are provided, including constructs having two or more filaments associated with an anchor and methods of using such constructs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20170265988
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In general, various inserter tools are provided for simultaneously delivering an expandable sheath and an expander into bone. With both components of the implant mounted on the same tool, the sheath and a ligament can be advanced into a bone hole and the expander, which trails behind the sheath during delivery of the sheath, can be advanced into the sheath to expand the sheath and anchor the sheath and ligament within the bone hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Mehmet Z. Sengun, Benjamin Cleveland, David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, James J. Mahoney, JR., Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Patent number: 9737293
    Abstract: Surgical constructs and methods are provided for securing soft tissue to bone. One exemplary embodiment of a construct is formed from a suture filament and includes two terminal ends of filament and an intermediate portion disposed along at least a portion of a length extending between the terminal ends. The construct can have a first terminal end that is the first terminal end of the filament, and a second terminal end that includes a loop. The loop can be formed by disposing the second terminal end of the filament within a volume of a portion of the intermediate portion of the filament. In some disclosed methods, both terminal ends of the filament can be passed through tissue when performing soft tissue repairs. Various other embodiments of constructs and methods are provided, including constructs having two or more filaments associated with an anchor and methods of using such constructs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SÀRL
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Patent number: 9693856
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In general, various inserter tools are provided for simultaneously delivering an expandable sheath and an expander into bone. With both components of the implant mounted on the same tool, the sheath and a ligament can be advanced into a bone hole and the expander, which trails behind the sheath during delivery of the sheath, can be advanced into the sheath to expand the sheath and anchor the sheath and ligament within the bone hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Z. Sengun, Benjamin Cleveland, David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, James J. Mahoney, Jr., Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20170000479
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard C. Tang, David B. Spenciner, Gregory R. Whittaker, Gerome Miller
  • Patent number: 9532778
    Abstract: A surgical filament snare assembly including an anchor capable of being fixated in bone and having a filament engagement feature. A first filament has a noose on a first portion of at least a first limb and has a second portion connected to the filament engagement feature of the anchor. Preferably, at least one free filament limb, which in some embodiments is a length of the first filament and in other embodiments is a second filament, is capable of being passed through tissue to be repaired and has at least one end passable through the noose to enable incremental tensioning of the tissue after the anchor is fixated in bone. The noose strangulates the free filament limb when tension is applied to at least one of the free filament limb and the noose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SÀRL
    Inventors: Mehmet Ziya Sengun, Howard C. Tang, David B. Spenciner, Gregory R. Whittaker, Gerome Miller
  • Patent number: 9498208
    Abstract: Methods for passing multiple sutures through tissue are provided herein. In particular, the methods described herein allow multiple sutures to be passed through tissue without removing a suture passing instrument from a patient's body. In one embodiment, a method for passing a suture through tissue is provided that includes loading first and second suture limbs into a suture passing instrument, positioning the instrument within a patient's body, actuating the instrument to pass a portion of the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the second suture limb to reload the suture passing instrument without removing the instrument from the patient's body, actuating the instrument a second time to pass a portion of the second suture limb through the tissue, and pulling the second suture limb through the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: MEDOS INTERNATIONAL SARL
    Inventors: John R. Cournoyer, Howard C. Tang
  • Publication number: 20160310260
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In general, various inserter tools are provided for simultaneously delivering an expandable sheath and an expander into bone. With both components of the implant mounted on the same tool, the sheath and a ligament can be advanced into a bone hole and the expander, which trails behind the sheath during delivery of the sheath, can be advanced into the sheath to expand the sheath and anchor the sheath and ligament within the bone hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Mehmet Z. Sengun, Benjamin Cleveland, David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, James J. Mahoney, Jr., Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20160135804
    Abstract: Methods for passing multiple sutures through tissue are provided herein. In particular, the methods described herein allow multiple sutures to be passed through tissue without removing a suture passing instrument from a patient's body. In one embodiment, a method for passing a suture through tissue is provided that includes loading first and second suture limbs into a suture passing instrument, positioning the instrument within a patient's body, actuating the instrument to pass a portion of the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the first suture limb through the tissue, pulling the second suture limb to reload the suture passing instrument without removing the instrument from the patient's body, actuating the instrument a second time to pass a portion of the second suture limb through the tissue, and pulling the second suture limb through the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: John R. Cournoyer, Howard C. Tang
  • Publication number: 20160113644
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In particular, various delivery tools, including a variety of sheath inserter tools, are provided. The tools can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and to deliver a sheath into the bone hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang
  • Publication number: 20160113756
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Paul P. Weitzel, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20160113643
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for anchoring a ligament or tendon to bone. In one embodiment, a surgical implant is provided having a sheath and an expander that is received within the sheath. Various delivery tools, including a sheath inserter and a driver, are also provided. In use, the sheath inserter can be used to position a tendon within a prepared bone hole, and it can be used to deliver the sheath with a guidewire coupled thereto into the bone hole. The driver can be provided for delivering the expander into the sheath. A loader can optionally be used to load the driver and expander onto the guidewire coupled to the implanted sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Gregory R. Whittaker
  • Publication number: 20160113758
    Abstract: Various bone anchor assemblies and methods are provided for anchoring tissue to bone. In one embodiment, an anchor assembly for anchoring a tendon to bone is provided and includes a substantially cylindrical sheath having bone-engaging surface features formed on an external surface thereof, and having an inner lumen formed therein and extending from an open proximal end to a substantially closed distal. The substantially closed distal end includes at least one tendon anchoring feature extending distally therefrom and configured to facilitate anchoring of a tendon to bone. The anchor assembly further includes an expander having a generally elongate cylindrical configuration and being sized and shaped to be received within the inner lumen of the sheath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventors: David R. Diduch, Mark H. Getelman, James J. Mahoney, JR., Jacob A. Marks, Gerome Miller, Matthew J. Ravenscroft, Mehmet Z. Sengun, Howard C. Tang, Paul P. Weitzel, Gregory R. Whittaker