Patents by Inventor Stephen M. Howell
Stephen M. Howell 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).
-
Patent number: 9017336Abstract: Arthroplasty jigs, arthroplasty jig blanks, and related methods and devices are disclosed. Some variations of the methods comprise forming an arthroplasty jig from a near-shape arthroplasty jig blank, where the near-shape arthroplasty jig blank has at least one feature specific to a target site to be matched by the arthroplasty jig. Certain of the methods comprise forming an arthroplasty jig having a first configuration from a near-shape arthroplasty jig blank having a second configuration approximating the first configuration. Some of the methods comprise forming a near-shape arthroplasty jig blank, where the near-shape arthroplasty jig blank is configured to be formed into an arthroplasty jig, and the near-shape arthroplasty jig blank has at least one feature specific to a target site to be matched by the arthroplasty jig.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2007Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell, Charlie W. Chi
-
Patent number: 9011534Abstract: Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: James A. Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek, Troy M. Walters
-
Patent number: 8968320Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 8647385Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2012Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: James Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek
-
Publication number: 20130345845Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 8545509Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 8480679Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated portion of the patient bone; identifying a degenerated portion associated with a generally degenerated portion of the patient bone; and using information from at least one image associated with the reference portion to modify at least one aspect associated with at least one image associated the generally degenerated portion. The method may further include employing the computerized bone model representative of the at least a portion of the patient bone in the pre-degenerated state in defining manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of a customized arthroplasty jig. Also disclosed herein is a customized arthroplasty jig manufactured according to the above-described method.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
-
Publication number: 20120310400Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 8308780Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2010Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
-
Publication number: 20120283832Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: James A. Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek
-
Patent number: 8221430Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 8221498Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2007Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: James Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek
-
Publication number: 20120016474Abstract: Methods for fixation of a soft tissue graft in a bone including: forming in the bone a tunnel defining an entrance opening and an exit opening at opposite ends of the tunnel, the tunnel including an anterior wall surface and a posterior wall surface opposite to the anterior wall surface; positioning the soft tissue graft within the tunnel such that the soft tissue graft extends through both the entrance opening and the exit opening of the tunnel; inserting a graft fixation apparatus into the tunnel and driving spikes of the graft fixation apparatus into the posterior wall surface to mount the graft fixation apparatus to the posterior wall surface of the tunnel such that the graft fixation apparatus is anterior to the posterior wall surface and is not recessed beneath the posterior wall surface; and securing the soft tissue graft inside the tunnel with the graft fixation apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: James A. Boucher, Stephen M. Howell, James Marcinek, Troy M. Walters
-
Publication number: 20100312341Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2010Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 7776077Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicince, LLCInventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
-
Patent number: 7695503Abstract: An apparatus and method for fixing a selected graft relative to a selected anatomical portion. An anchor may be provided that may be interconnected with a selected graft portion that is operable to pass through a selected bore and then moved into an operable position to engage a selected portion of the bore to substantially eliminate the possibility of the graft moving in an unselected direction through the bore.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2004Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Stephen M. Howell
-
Publication number: 20100049195Abstract: A method of manufacturing an arthroplasty jig is disclosed herein. The method may include the following: generate a bone model, wherein the bone model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of a bone of a patient joint to undergo an arthroplasty procedure; generate an implant model, wherein the implant model includes a three dimensional computer model of at least a portion of a joint surface of an arthroplasty implant to be used in the arthroplasty procedure; assess a characteristic associated with the patient joint; generate a modified joint surface of the implant model by modifying at least a portion of a joint surface of the implant model according to the characteristic; and shape match the modified joint surface of the implant model and a corresponding joint surface of the bone model.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2009Publication date: February 25, 2010Applicant: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
-
Publication number: 20090270868Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of generating a computerized bone model representative of at least a portion of a patient bone in a pre-degenerated state. The method includes: generating at least one image of the patient bone in a degenerated state; identifying a reference portion associated with a generally non-degenerated portion of the patient bone; identifying a degenerated portion associated with a generally degenerated portion of the patient bone; and using information from at least one image associated with the reference portion to modify at least one aspect associated with at least one image associated the generally degenerated portion. The method may further include employing the computerized bone model representative of the at least a portion of the patient bone in the pre-degenerated state in defining manufacturing instructions for the manufacture of a customized arthroplasty jig. Also disclosed herein is a customized arthroplasty jig manufactured according to the above-described method.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2008Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: OtisMed CorporationInventors: Ilwhan Park, Charlie W. Chi, Stephen M. Howell
-
Publication number: 20090157083Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: June 18, 2009Inventors: Ilwhan Park, Stephen M. Howell
-
Publication number: 20090149858Abstract: A tool and method for drilling a bone for receipt of a first and second bundle includes drilling a first tunnel in the bone. A locating instrument may be positioned into the first bone tunnel thereby defining a reference axis. A tool may be inserted through a portal defined in surrounding tissue. The tool may engage the locating instrument thereby identifying a relative orientation between the reference axis and the drill axis for preparation of a second bone tunnel. The second bone tunnel may be drilled along the drill axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: BIOMET SPORTS MEDICINE, INC.Inventors: Gregory Fanelli, Stephen M. Howell, Ryan A. Kaiser