Patents by Inventor Stephen S. Burkhart

Stephen S. Burkhart 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: 10813742
    Abstract: Methods for reconstructing a joint include fixating at least one suture inside a joint space, retrieving the at least one suture from inside the joint space, passing the at least one suture through a graft at a location external to the joint space, shuttling the graft into the joint space, and fixating the graft to bone using the at least one suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ARTHREX, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Adams, Alan Hirahara, Thomas Dooney, Jr., Stephen S. Burkhart
  • Patent number: 10786234
    Abstract: An inserter device that has a driver, a removable inserter tip (or plurality of inserter tips) and a cannulation device slidable over the inserter tip is provided, wherein the removable inserter tip is provided as an interchangeable component of the device, one configuration of the interchangeable inserter tip being of a substantially hexagonal cross-sectional shape (suitable for accommodating a screw-in fixation device (screw), and another configuration of the interchangeable inserter tip being of a substantially circular cross-sectional shape (suitable for accommodating a push-in anchor). A suture anchor assembly has the inserter device that is used with a plug-in anchor, a screw-in anchor, or interchangeably with a plug-in or screw-in anchor, is also disclosed. A method for assembling the suture anchor assembly as well as a method of using the surgical assembly for tissue repair are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen S. Burkhart
  • Patent number: 10716556
    Abstract: An illustrative example suture securing assembly includes an inserter, a rigid member and a second member. The inserter includes a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal end and the proximal end. The inserter includes a handle near the proximal end and a rotatable portion near the handle. The rigid member includes an eyelet oriented to thread suture across the longitudinal axis. The rigid member is situated near the distal end of the inserter. The rigid member is configured to be placed in bone. The second member is situated near the distal end of the inserter and is configured to be rotated by the rotatable portion of the inserter to rotationally advance the second member in a distal direction toward the eyelet into a suture securing position where the second member holds suture in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: ARTHTREX, INC.
    Inventors: Neal S. ElAttrache, Stephen S. Burkhart, Peter J. Dreyfuss
  • Patent number: 10709436
    Abstract: A method for securing soft tissue to bone which does not require the surgeon to tie suture knots to secure the tissue to the bone. Suture is passed through the graft at desired points. A cannulated plug or screw is pre-loaded onto the distal end of a driver provided with an eyelet implant at its distal end. Suture attached to the graft is passed through the eyelet of the implant located at the distal end of the driver. The distal end of the driver together with the eyelet implant is inserted into the bone. Tension is applied to the suture to position the graft at the desired location relative to the bone. The screw or plug is advanced into the pilot hole by turning the interference screw or tapping the plug until the cannulated screw or plug securely engages and locks in the eyelet implant, so that the cannulated plug or screw with the engaged eyelet implant is flush with the bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Neal S. ElAttrache, Peter J. Dreyfuss
  • Publication number: 20200205799
    Abstract: Suture constructs and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs. The suture construct is a soft, suture-based anchor which is self-cinching and has a specific, accordian-type configuration (i.e., with the ability to fold from a first, extended position to a second, folded or compressed position). The suture-based anchor may be formed essentially of a flexible material such as a high strength surgical suture, suture chain, or suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Paul C. Brady
  • Publication number: 20200197156
    Abstract: A method of tissue repair using a surgical assembly that includes the steps of assembling an implant and a driver, capturing tissue with the implant, installing the implant with the captured tissue in a socket or tunnel, advancing a tapered section of a set screw in the implant, thereby expanding the implant and fixing the implant with the captured tissue in the socket or tunnel, and releasing the driver from engagement with the set screw as the distal end of the set screw reaches the implant's closed end. A surgical assembly that includes an expandable implant having a hole with an entrance at a rear end of the implant and a closed end; a set screw, an implant insertion section, a driver engagement section, and a tapered section, where the implant insertion section is received in the hole of the implant, and a driver that is engaged with the set screw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: William C. Benavitz, Donald K. Shuler, Stephen S. Burkhart, Maxwell C. Park, Peter J. Millett, Tal S. David
  • Publication number: 20200178954
    Abstract: Knotless surgical constructs and methods of tissue repairs. A surgical construct can offer both repair and shuttling capabilities to allow for a single pass to load multiple sutures at once. A surgical construct is in the form of a flat suture tape provided with reinforced perforations and/or shuttling loops that can pass or shuttle multiple repair sutures while making a single pass through or around soft tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventor: Stephen S. BURKHART
  • Publication number: 20200178950
    Abstract: Suture constructs and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs. The suture construct is a soft, suture-based anchor which is self-cinching and has a specific, accordion-type configuration (i.e., with the ability to fold from a first, extended position to a second, folded or compressed position). The suture-based anchor may be formed essentially of a flexible material such as a high strength surgical suture, suture chain, or suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen S. BURKHART, Peter J. DREYFUSS, Paul C. BRADY
  • Publication number: 20200170635
    Abstract: A suture anchor includes an anchor body having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end. The anchor body includes a central bore located at the proximal end and a passage extending between the central bore and the distal end. The central bore has a first dimension substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and the passage has a second dimension substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis less than the first dimension. The suture anchor includes a flexible strand extending through the passage, and a first knot formed in the flexible strand at the distal end has a third dimension greater than the second dimension to prevent the first knot from passing through the passage. A closed loop is positionable at least partially within the central bore and formed entirely by the flexible strand without forming any additional knots on the flexible strand extending proximally from the first knot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Peter J. Dreyfuss, Stephen S. Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20200170783
    Abstract: Methods for reconstructing a joint include fixating at least one suture inside a joint space, retrieving the at least one suture from inside the joint space, passing the at least one suture through a graft at a location external to the joint space, shuttling the graft into the joint space, and fixating the graft to bone using the at least one suture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Adams, Alan Hirahara, Thomas Dooney, JR., Stephen S. Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20200170634
    Abstract: Surgical devices and methods of tissue repair using tensionable knotless fixation devices. A flexible material (for example, suture or suture tape) may be attached to the fixation device. A flexible material may be threaded through an eyelet of a tip provided as part of a swivel anchor assembly to provide added stability to the fixation devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Derek C. Sullivan, William C. Benavitz, Thomas Dooney, JR., Lee D. Kaplan, James P. Bradley
  • Publication number: 20200163663
    Abstract: Surgical devices and methods of soft tissue repair using pre-looped tensionable and non-pre-looped tensionable knotless fixation devices. A flexible material (for example, suture or suture tape) may be attached to the fixation device. A flexible material may be threaded through an eyelet of a tip provided as part of a swivel anchor assembly to provide added stability to the fixation devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Derek C. Sullivan, William C. Benavitz, Thomas Dooney, JR., Lee D. Kaplan, James P. Bradley
  • Publication number: 20200146673
    Abstract: A suture anchor for knotless fixation of tissue. A swivel suture anchor has an anchor tip for receiving a suture strand, for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. Tension on the repair constructs is adjustable. The swivel anchor is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over the body of the anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, R. Donald Grafton, Peter J. Dreyfuss
  • Patent number: 10631845
    Abstract: Surgical devices and methods of soft tissue repair using pre-looped tensionable and non-pre-looped tensionable knotless fixation devices. A flexible material (for example, suture or suture tape) may be attached to the fixation device. A flexible material may be threaded through an eyelet of a tip provided as part of a swivel anchor assembly to provide added stability to the fixation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Derek C. Sullivan, William C. Benavitz, Thomas Dooney, Jr., Lee D. Kaplan, James P. Bradley
  • Patent number: 10624734
    Abstract: A method of tissue repair using a surgical assembly that includes the steps of assembling an implant and a driver, capturing tissue with the implant, installing the implant with the captured tissue in a socket or tunnel, advancing a tapered section of a set screw in the implant, thereby expanding the implant and fixing the implant with the captured tissue in the socket or tunnel, and releasing the driver from engagement with the set screw as the distal end of the set screw reaches the implant's closed end. A surgical assembly that includes an expandable implant having a hole with an entrance at a rear end of the implant and a closed end; a set screw, an implant insertion section, a driver engagement section, and a tapered section, where the implant insertion section is received in the hole of the implant, and a driver that is engaged with the set screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Benavitz, Donald K. Shuler, Stephen S. Burkhart, Maxwell C. Park, Peter J. Millett, Tal S. David
  • Patent number: 10595845
    Abstract: Suture constructs and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs. The suture construct is a soft, suture-based anchor which is self-cinching and has a specific, accordion-type configuration (i.e., with the ability to fold from a first, extended position to a second, folded or compressed position). The suture-based anchor may be formed essentially of a flexible material such as a high strength surgical suture, suture chain, or suture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Peter J. Dreyfuss, Paul C. Brady
  • Patent number: 10595847
    Abstract: A suture anchor includes a threaded anchor body having a first central bore in communication with a second central bore. The suture anchor includes an internal eyelet formed of a loop disposed at least partially inside the first central bore. The ends extending from the loop are tied together to form at least one knot which is housed in the second central bore provided at the distal end of the anchor body. The knot increases the pullout strength of the suture even in soft bone, provides increased suture fixation, and eliminates the anchor “pull back”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Dreyfuss, Stephen S. Burkhart
  • Publication number: 20200022694
    Abstract: Surgical constructs and methods for soft tissue to bone repairs, without knot tying. The soft tissue repair constructs include a fixation device, a flexible strand, and a shuttle/pull device attached to the flexible strand and provided within the body of the fixation device. A splice is formed by pulling on the shuttle/pull device to allow desired tensioning of soft tissue to be fixated or repaired relative to the bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, Thomas Dooney, JR., Derek C. Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10537318
    Abstract: A suture anchor for knotless fixation of tissue. A swivel suture anchor has an anchor tip for receiving a suture strand, for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. Tension on the repair constructs is adjustable. The swivel anchor is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over the body of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen S. Burkhart, R. Donald Grafton, Peter J. Dreyfuss
  • Publication number: 20190380693
    Abstract: Knotless surgical constructs and methods of tissue repairs. A surgical construct can offer both repair and shuttling capabilities to allow for a single pass to load multiple sutures at once. A surgical construct is in the form of a flat suture tape provided with reinforced perforations and/or shuttling loops that can pass or shuttle multiple repair sutures while making a single pass through or around soft tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventor: Stephen S. Burkhart