Patents by Inventor Michael D. Bissette
Michael D. Bissette 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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Patent number: 11000382Abstract: A method of evaluating a human knee joint, includes: cutting away a proximal portion of the tibia; inserting the gap tensioner between the tibia and the femur; extending the gap tensioner urging the tibia and the femur apart and applying tension to the medial and lateral collateral ligaments; associating at least two tracking markers with the knee joint; providing an electronic receiving device operable to determine a position and orientation of each of the tracking markers relative to the electronic receiving device; moving the knee joint through at least a portion of its range of motion; while moving the knee joint, using the electronic receiving device to collect position data from the tracking markers; processing the collected position data to produce a geometric model of at least a portion of the knee joint; and computing one or more tool paths passing through the knee joint.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Franz Austen Kellar, Harold L. Crowder
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Patent number: 10925656Abstract: A clamp for anchoring tensile members includes: a collet having a peripheral wall defining a central bore for accepting tensile members therethrough and an exterior surface, wherein the collet is configured to be swaged around the tensile members, and includes an array of longitudinal grooves defining webs configured to collapse inward in response to external compressive force; a sleeve having a peripheral wall defining interior and exterior surfaces, the sleeve positioned axially adjacent to the collet, so as to be movable parallel to a mutual central axis of the sleeve and the collet, between first and second positions; and wherein the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position will cause the interior surface of the sleeve to bear against the exterior surface of the collet, causing the collet to swage radially inwards around the tensile members.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder
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Publication number: 20210022787Abstract: A clamp for anchoring tensile members includes: a collet having a peripheral wall defining a central bore for accepting tensile members therethrough and an exterior surface, wherein the collet is configured to be swaged around the tensile members, and includes an array of longitudinal grooves defining webs configured to collapse inward in response to external compressive force; a sleeve having a peripheral wall defining interior and exterior surfaces, the sleeve positioned axially adjacent to the collet, so as to be movable parallel to a mutual central axis of the sleeve and the collet, between first and second positions; and wherein the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position will cause the interior surface of the sleeve to bear against the exterior surface of the collet, causing the collet to swage radially inwards around the tensile members.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder
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Patent number: 10772617Abstract: A knee gap tensioning apparatus includes: a gap tensioner including: a baseplate; a top plate; a linkage interconnecting the baseplate and the top plate and operable to move the gap tensioner between retracted and extended positions; and wherein the top plate is pivotally connected to the linkage so as to be able to freely pivot about a pivot axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Franz Austen Kellar
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Patent number: 10743858Abstract: An anchor for tensile member(s) includes: a housing having a hollow interior; a collet in the hollow interior of the housing, the collet having a peripheral wall defining a central bore and an exterior surface. The collet is configured to be swaged around the tensile member(s). The collet includes longitudinal grooves in an outer surface of the peripheral wall, each defining a web configured to collapse inward in response to external compressive force. A sleeve has a peripheral wall defining interior and exterior surfaces and is disposed in the housing axially adjacent to the collet. At least one of the collet and the sleeve is tapered and the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that sleeve movement from a first position to a second position will cause the sleeve to bear against the collet, swaging the collet radially inwards around and against the tensile member(s).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder
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Patent number: 10729417Abstract: A method for imparting tension across a human knee joint which includes a femur bone, a tibia bone, a patella bone, a patellar tendon, and ligaments, wherein the ligaments and patellar tendon are under anatomical tension to connect the femur and tibia together, creating a load-bearing articulating joint. The method includes: providing a tensioning device, including: a baseplate; a top plate; and a linkage interconnecting the baseplate and the top plate and operable to move the tensioning device between retracted and extended positions, wherein the top plate is pivotally connected to the linkage so as to be able to freely pivot about a pivot axis; positioning the tensioning device between the femur and the tibia; applying an actuating force to the linkage to move the tensioning device towards the extended position, so as to impart a controlled separating force driving the femur and tibia apart to extend the ligaments.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Franz Austen Kellar
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Publication number: 20200155134Abstract: A knee gap tensioning apparatus includes: a gap tensioner including: a baseplate; a top plate; a linkage interconnecting the baseplate and the top plate and operable to move the gap tensioner between retracted and extended positions; and wherein the top plate is pivotally connected to the linkage so as to be able to freely pivot about a pivot axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Franz Austen Kellar
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Publication number: 20200155135Abstract: A method for imparting tension across a human knee joint which includes a femur bone, a tibia bone, a patella bone, a patellar tendon, and ligaments, wherein the ligaments and patellar tendon are under anatomical tension to connect the femur and tibia together, creating a load-bearing articulating joint. The method includes: providing a tensioning device, including: a baseplate; a top plate; and a linkage interconnecting the baseplate and the top plate and operable to move the tensioning device between retracted and extended positions, wherein the top plate is pivotally connected to the linkage so as to be able to freely pivot about a pivot axis; positioning the tensioning device between the femur and the tibia; applying an actuating force to the linkage to move the tensioning device towards the extended position, so as to impart a controlled separating force driving the femur and tibia apart to extend the ligaments.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2019Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Franz Austen Kellar
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Patent number: 10561411Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring one or more tensile members to bone includes: an anchor, including: a housing having a hollow interior, and including a body portion and an extension portion interconnected by a breakaway structure configured to retain structural integrity under a first predetermined tensile load and to separate under a second predetermined tensile load which is greater than the first predetermined tensile load; a collet disposed in the hollow interior, the collet having a peripheral wall defining a central bore for accepting one or more tensile members therethrough; a sleeve having a peripheral wall and being disposed in the hollow interior of the housing, so as to be movable parallel to the central axis; and wherein the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that axial movement of the sleeve will cause the collet to swage radially inwards around and against the one or more tensile members.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder
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Patent number: 10555729Abstract: A method for anchoring one or more tensile members to bone includes: providing an anchor, including: a housing including a body portion and an extension portion interconnected by a breakaway structure which is configured to retain structural integrity under a first predetermined tensile load and to separate under a second predetermined tensile load which is greater than the first predetermined tensile load; a collet disposed in the hollow interior; and a sleeve movable parallel to the central axis between first and second positions; passing one or more tensile members through a central bore of the collet; seating the housing into a bore formed in the bone; and driving the sleeve from the first position towards the second position under the first predetermined tensile load, so as to swage the collet around the one or more tensile members.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder
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Patent number: 10478171Abstract: An apparatus for anchoring a tensile member to bone includes a housing with first and second ends and a hollow interior space. A collet is disposed in the interior space, the collet defining a central bore for accepting a tensile member therethrough, and an exterior surface. A sleeve has opposed interior and exterior surfaces and is disposed in the interior space axially adjacent to the collet, and is movable axially between first and second positions. At least one of the exterior surface of the collet and the interior surface of the sleeve is tapered and the sleeve and the collet are arranged such that movement of the sleeve from the first position to the second position will cause the interior surface of the sleeve to bear against the exterior surface of the collet, causing the collet to swage radially inwards around and against the tensile member, without moving axially.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: LITTLE ENGINE, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder, Mark S. Wabalas
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Patent number: 10405849Abstract: A method for anchoring a tensile member to a bone includes: providing an anchor, including: a housing having first and second ends, and a hollow interior; a collet in the hollow interior, and having a central bore and an exterior surface; a sleeve having interior and exterior surfaces, the sleeve disposed in the hollow interior axially adjacent the collet, and axially movable between first and second positions. At least one of the collet exterior surface and the sleeve interior surface is tapered such that sleeve movement from the first position towards the second position causes the sleeve to bear against the collet exterior surface, causing the collet to swage inwards around and against the tensile member without moving axially; passing the tensile member through the central bore; seating the housing into a bore formed in the bone; and driving the sleeve from the first position towards the second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2018Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: J. Dean Cole, Franz W. Kellar, Michael D. Bissette, Harold L. Crowder, Mark S. Wabalas
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Patent number: 9770279Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a medical implant from bone includes: a housing; a coupler carried by the housing and configured to be mechanically connected to a medical implant; and a forcing mechanism carried by the housing and operable to apply a cyclic excitation force with a specified amplitude, frequency, and vector to the coupler. Methods are described for using the apparatus to remove and/or implant medical implants.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Little Engine, LLCInventors: Franz W. Kellar, Harold L. Crowder, Michael D. Bissette, Nathan W. Kellar, Mark S. Wabalas
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Publication number: 20160338751Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a medical implant from bone includes: a housing; a coupler carried by the housing and configured to be mechanically connected to a medical implant; and a forcing mechanism carried by the housing and operable to apply a cyclic excitation force with a specified amplitude, frequency, and vector to the coupler. Methods are described for using the apparatus to remove and/or implant medical implants.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Franz W. Kellar, Harold L. Crowder, Michael D. Bissette, Nathan W. Kellar, Mark S. Wabalas