Patents by Inventor Robert Metzger
Robert Metzger 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: 20140018948Abstract: A pre-operative planning and manufacturing method for orthopedic surgery includes obtaining pre-operative medical image data representing a joint portion of a patient. The method also includes constructing a three-dimensional digital model of the joint portion and manufacturing a patient-specific alignment guide for the joint portion from the three-dimensional digital model of the joint portion when the image data is sufficient to construct the three-dimensional digital model of the joint portion. The patient-specific alignment guide has a three-dimensional patient-specific surface pre-operatively configured to nest and closely conform to a corresponding surface of the joint portion of the patient in only one position relative to the joint portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventor: Robert METZGER
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Patent number: 8617250Abstract: A tibial prosthesis assembly can comprise a tibial tray and a tibial insert. The tibial tray can have an inferior bone engaging surface, a superior surface, and a first retaining feature. The tibial insert can have an inferior tray engaging surface, a superior bearing surface, and a second retaining feature. The first and second retaining features can cooperate to inhibit substantial lift-off of the tibial insert away from the superior surface of the tibial tray while permitting a predetermined amount of rotation of the tibial insert around the superior surface in an assembled position.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventor: Robert Metzger
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Publication number: 20130345819Abstract: A prosthetic joint assembly supports articulation of a joint. The joint assembly includes a first component configured to be fixed to an anatomical feature. The first component includes a first impact surface and a second component that engages the first component. The second component includes a second impact surface that impacts the first impact surface as the first component moves relative to the second component. Furthermore, at least one of the first impact surface and the second impact surface includes a dampening member that dampens energy resulting from impact of the first and second impact surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert METZGER, Brian A. UTHGENANNT
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Patent number: 8613715Abstract: A passive exercise therapy station moves a patient's limb or body part through a prescribed range of motion without stress to the patient's limb or associated joints. A frame is formed of a pair of arches joined in parallel to one another, with a pair of overhead horizontal rails. One or more main cables extend over guide pulleys on the frame and past an adjustable guide carriage that travels along the overhead rails. An actuator positions the guide carriage at a desired location on the overhead rails. An exercise cable descends from the guide carriage to the patient. The exercise cable may be a web attached to the main cable. The exercise therapy station may be wheeled between rooms for therapy of a given patient.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2012Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Wright Wellness Solutions, Inc.Inventors: David Wright, Paul Lindsay, Robert Metzger, Ramona Wright, Deborah Metzger
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Patent number: 8608748Abstract: A device for an orthopedic knee procedure. The device includes a drill guide having a body portion and first and second posts extending from the body portion, the first and second posts defining first and second internal through-bores, the first post having a first cross-sectional shape and the second post having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape of the first post.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert Metzger, Nathan Emick Belcher
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Patent number: 8608749Abstract: A method for preparing a joint surface of a patient for an implant, such as, for example, an acetabular implant for a hip joint. According to the method, a patient-specific guide is attached to a complementary joint surface of the patient. The patient-specific guide includes a guiding element oriented along a patient-specific alignment axis. The alignment axis is determined during a preoperative plan of the patient for implant alignment. A shaft of a guiding tool is removably coupled to the guiding element of the guide. A three-dimensional orientation device is removably attached to the shaft of the guiding tool. A position of a bubble of the orientation device is marked with a mark on an outer transparent surface of the orientation device while the guiding tool is oriented along the alignment axis. The marked orientation device can be used for aligning other instruments during the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Jason D. Meridew, Tony Siebeneck, Tyler D. Witt, Robert Metzger
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Patent number: 8603180Abstract: An acetabular device includes a patient-specific acetabular alignment guide including a bone engagement surface. The bone engagement surface has a first portion configured and shaped to be conforming and complementary to an acetabular rim surface and a second portion configured and shaped to be conforming and complementary to a periacetabular area of an acetabulum of a patient. The acetabular alignment guide includes a plurality of guiding formations extending through the second portion for guiding a plurality of alignment pins therethrough. The bone engagement surface and the plurality of guiding formations are prepared from a three-dimensional model of the acetabulum of the specific patient reconstructed pre-operatively from a scan of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: John R. White, Lance D. Perry, Aaron P. Smith, Jason D. Meridew, Bryan Morrison, W Jason Slone, Tyler D. Witt, Mark A. Bollinger, Robert Metzger
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Publication number: 20130317621Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component and a bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component. The assembly further includes a tibial tray. Furthermore, the assembly includes a ligament link operably coupled to the tibial tray or the femoral component via a coupling component. The ligament link extending through the other of the tibial tray or the femoral component to couple to the respective one of the femur or tibia. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt, Kevin T. Stone
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Patent number: 8591593Abstract: A tibial component for use with a resected tibia can include a medial tray portion adapted to engage a portion of the resected tibia and a lateral tray portion adapted to engage a portion of the resected tibia. A linkage can couple the medial tray portion to the lateral tray portion such that at least one of the medial tray portion and the lateral tray portion is pivotable relative to the other of the medial tray portion and the lateral tray portion to position the medial tray portion and the lateral tray portion at separate angles with respect to each other.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventor: Robert Metzger
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Patent number: 8591516Abstract: An orthopedic device includes a patient-specific alignment guide operable for preparing a bone of a patient for resection during joint arthroplasty. The alignment guide includes a patient-specific bone engagement surface complementary to a surface of the bone of the patient and imaged from a bone scan of the patient. The alignment guide includes a plurality of guiding bores, and a plurality of alignment pins received through corresponding guiding bores for attaching the alignment guide to the bone. The alignment pins are resorbable and can be cut off during a resection of the bone.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert Metzger, Joshua B. Catanzarite, Brian M. May
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Patent number: 8568487Abstract: A patient-specific acetabular resection guide includes a dome-shaped surface bounded by a periphery. The dome-shaped surface is a three-dimensional patient-specific surface designed to anatomically match and be received into an acetabulum of the patient, based on a three-dimensional image of a hip joint of the patient reconstructed from a medical scan of the hip joint. The resection guide includes a plurality of guiding formations defined on the resection guide and having patient-specific shapes and orientations for guiding corresponding osteotomies relative to the acetabulum for correcting hip dysplasia.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Tyler D. Witt, Jason D. Meridew, John R. White, Troy W. Hershberger, Robert Metzger
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Publication number: 20130282132Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes a first portion including at least one feature modified to be patient-specific and match the anatomy of a specific patient from a three-dimensional digital image of a patient's joint using computer modeling. The orthopedic implant includes a non-custom inner bone-engaging surface including a plurality of planar surfaces configured for engagement with non-custom bone cuts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: John R. WHITE, Robert METZGER, Keith R. BEREND
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Patent number: 8551100Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for performing a procedure relative to a selected portion of the anatomy, for example, preparing a portion of a joint, such as a knee, for implantation of a prosthesis. The manner of preparing the selected portion of the anatomy can be assisted with the various apparatuses disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2006Date of Patent: October 8, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventor: Robert Metzger
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Patent number: 8535387Abstract: A method for preparing a femoral neck for receiving a neck implant includes obtaining image data of a proximal femoral bone and femoral neck of a patient by a medical imaging method and constructing a three-dimensional image model of the proximal femoral bone and neck of the patient using the image data. The method further includes identifying a three-dimensional cortical boundary surface at an interface between cortical and cancellous bone of the patient using the image model. A patient-specific broach having a three-dimensional cutting surface closely matching and complementary to the cortical boundary surface of the patient using the image model is designed and manufactured.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2011Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Jason D. Meridew, John R. White, Robert Metzger
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Patent number: 8532807Abstract: A pre-operative planning and manufacturing method for orthopedic surgery includes obtaining pre-operative medical image data representing a joint portion of a patient. The method also includes constructing a three-dimensional digital model of the joint portion and manufacturing a patient-specific alignment guide for the joint portion from the three-dimensional digital model of the joint portion when the image data is sufficient to construct the three-dimensional digital model of the joint portion. The patient-specific alignment guide has a three-dimensional patient-specific surface pre-operatively configured to nest and closely conform to a corresponding surface of the joint portion of the patient in only one position relative to the joint portion. The method further includes determining, from the image data, a size of a non-custom implant to be implanted in the patient and manufacturing the non-custom implant when there is insufficient image data to construct the patient-specific alignment guide therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2011Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventor: Robert Metzger
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Patent number: 8518121Abstract: A prosthetic joint assembly supports articulation of a joint. The joint assembly includes a first component configured to be fixed to an anatomical feature. The first component includes a first impact surface and a second component that engages the first component. The second component includes a second impact surface that impacts the first impact surface as the first component moves relative to the second component. Furthermore, at least one of the first impact surface and the second impact surface includes a dampening member that dampens energy resulting from impact of the first and second impact surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt
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Patent number: 8518047Abstract: Various method and apparatuses may be used to perform a procedure, such as a resection of a portion of the anatomy for preparation of the implants of a prosthetic. Various resecting member, including saw blades having selected geometries and shapes, can be used to assist in the resection of an anatomy to provide for implantation of a prosthetic. In addition, a cutting block assembly may be used to guide the resecting member. The cutting block assembly may be moveably mounted relative to the portion to be resected.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert Metzger, Stephen Brown, Garrett A. Sheffer
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Patent number: 8500818Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint assembly includes a femoral component and a bearing that supports articulation of the femoral component. The assembly further includes a tibial tray. Furthermore, the assembly includes a ligament link operably coupled to the tibial tray or the femoral component via a coupling component. The ligament link extending through the other of the tibial tray or the femoral component to couple to the respective one of the femur or tibia. The ligament link extends between first and second ends and includes an outer wall defining an interior longitudinal passage portion. First and second apertures extend through the wall. The first end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a first adjustable loop, and the second end extends through the first and second apertures and the longitudinal passage portion to define a second adjustable loop.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLCInventors: Robert Metzger, Brian A. Uthgenannt, Kevin T. Stone
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Publication number: 20130184764Abstract: A surgical method for tibia osteotomy includes attaching a patient-specific alignment guide to a corresponding surface of a tibia of a patient for whom the alignment guide is customized during a pre-operative planning stage and making a partial bone cut in the tibia through a planar slot of the alignment guide. The planar slot is oriented at a patient-specific angle relative to an anatomic axis of the patient and the angle is customized during the pre-operative planning stage. The method includes opening the bone cut to form an opening wedge, and inserting a patient-specific implantable wedge into the opening wedge.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: BIOMET MANUFACTURING CORP.Inventors: Kevin T. Stone, Robert Metzger, Louis J. Keppler
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Patent number: 8486150Abstract: An orthopedic implant includes a first portion including at least one feature modified to be patient-specific and match the anatomy of a specific patient from a three-dimensional digital image of a patient's joint using computer modeling. The orthopedic implant includes a non-custom inner bone-engaging surface including a plurality of planar surfaces configured for engagement with non-custom bone cuts.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing Corp.Inventors: John R. White, Robert Metzger, Keith R. Berend