Patents by Inventor Robert F. LaPrade

Robert F. LaPrade 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).

  • Angled suture passer and method of use thereof
    Patent number: 11452521
    Abstract: A suture passer which is sized and shaped to be inserted through the femoral notch during a meniscal repair. The suture passer includes upper and lower jaws that may be straight or that may have an angled offset in relation to the common axis of the suture passer in order to gain an indirect access to meniscal tissue in a constricted space. The jaws of the suture passer may be angled, either to the left or to the right, up to 45 degrees from the central axis of the shaft. The suture passer is also able to grasp meniscal tissue prior to suture passing. A nitinol needle housed within one of the jaws can then be deployed to pass a preloaded suture through the tissue to be captured on the opposite side of the tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. LaPrade, David R. Diduch, David Kent Gregoire, Jeffrey Wyman, George William White, Carmel Ilka Bijoux, Jennifer Ng
  • LIGAMENT REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20220117720
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a ligament repair system and method. The ligament repair system may include one or more of a femoral aimer assembly, a tibial aimer assembly, a femoral fixation assembly, and a tibial fixation assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Ng, Siraaj Dhru, Robert F. LaPrade
  • ANGLED SUTURE PASSER AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
    Publication number: 20180280018
    Abstract: A suture passer which is sized and shaped to be inserted through the femoral notch during a meniscal repair. The suture passer includes upper and lower jaws that may be straight or that may have an angled offset in relation to the common axis of the suture passer in order to gain an indirect access to meniscal tissue in a constricted space. The jaws of the suture passer may be angled, either to the left or to the right, up to 45 degrees from the central axis of the shaft. The suture passer is also able to grasp meniscal tissue prior to suture passing. A nitinol needle housed within one of the jaws can then be deployed to pass a preloaded suture through the tissue to be captured on the opposite side of the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert F. LaPrade, David R. Diduch, David Kent Gregoire, Jeffrey Wyman, George William White, Carmel Ilka Bijoux, Jennifer Ng