Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Cremens

Matthew J. Cremens 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).

  • Method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue
    Patent number: 6585750
    Abstract: A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more passages through which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Bonutti 2003 Trust-A
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Kevin Ruholl
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Patent number: 6569187
    Abstract: An improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Publication number: 20030032983
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between a suture retainer and the body tissue, the suture is gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. One or more bends may be formed in suture by the suture retainer to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the suture. The bends in the suture may be formed by wrapping the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends may be moved along the suture. One or more bends may be formed in the suture by bending a tubular member through which the suture extends. The tubular member may be maintained in a bent condition by a C-shaped holder member. Alternatively, the tubular member may be maintained in a bent condition by members which are latched together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Peter M. Bonutti
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Publication number: 20030032982
    Abstract: Improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Patent number: 6475230
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between a suture retainer and the body tissue, the suture is gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. One or more bends may be formed in suture by the suture retainer to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the suture. The bends in the suture may be formed by wrapping the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends may be moved along the suture. One or more bends may be formed in the suture by bending a tubular member through which the suture extends. The tubular member may be maintained in a bent condition by a C-shaped holder member. Alternatively, the tubular member may be maintained in a bent condition by members which are latched together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Patent number: 6468293
    Abstract: Improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue
    Publication number: 20020077662
    Abstract: A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more passages through which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Kevin Ruholl
  • Method of using ultrasonic vibration to secure body tissue
    Patent number: 6368343
    Abstract: A suture and a suture retainer are positioned relative to body tissue. Ultrasonic vibratory energy is utilized to heat the suture retainer and effect a bonding of portions of the suture retainer to each other and/or to the suture. Portions of the body tissue may be pressed into linear apposition with each other and held in place by cooperation between the suture and the suture retainer. The suture retainer may include one or more passages through which the suture extends. The suture retainer may include sections which have surface areas which are bonded together. If desired, the suture may be wrapped around one of the sections of the suture retainer. The suture retainer may be formed with a recess in which the suture is received. If desired, the suture retainer may be omitted and the sections of the suture bonded to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Kevin Ruholl
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Publication number: 20010021862
    Abstract: Improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Patent number: 6231592
    Abstract: Improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Patent number: 6159234
    Abstract: An improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Peter M. Bonutti
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu
  • Method and apparatus for securing a suture
    Patent number: 6010525
    Abstract: Improved method is provided to secure a suture relative to body tissue. A suture retainer is moved along first and second sections of a suture toward the body tissue. When a predetermined minimum force is being transmitted between the suture retainer and the body tissue, the first and second sections of the suture are gripped with the suture retainer by plastically deforming material of the suture retainer. The material of the suture retainer cold flows under the influence of force applied against the surface areas on the suture retainer. One or more bends are formed in each of the sections of the suture to increase the holding action between the suture retainer and the sections of the suture. The bends may be formed by wrapping a turn of the suture around a portion of the suture retainer. During movement of the suture retainer toward the body tissue, the bends are moved along the first and second sections of the suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Peter M. Bonutti
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Matthew J. Cremens, Ping Liu