Patents by Inventor Steve Ek
Steve Ek 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: 7740657Abstract: A sheath for organizing soft tissue includes a first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a fixation device, and a second tube coupled to the first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a soft tissue graft. A method for implanting soft tissue in a bone tunnel includes coupling a soft tissue graft to a sheath assembly; and positioning the sheath assembly relative to the soft tissue graft based on a measured depth of a bone tunnel. A set of surgical devices for implanting soft tissue grafts in a bone tunnel includes a sheath assembly, a measurement device for measuring the depth of the bone tunnel, a securing element configured to secure the sheath assembly to the soft tissue graft at a position determined by the measured bone tunnel depth, and a tensioning device configured to organize a plurality of soft tissue grafts.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Inventors: Charles H. Brown, Jr., Bernard J. Bourque, Rebecca A. Blough, Michael C. Ferragamo, Raymond A. Bojarski, Paul Alexander Torrie, Ben K. Graf, Fraser Harvie, Steve Ek
-
Publication number: 20080027445Abstract: A sheath for organizing soft tissue includes a first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a fixation device, and a second tube coupled to the first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a soft tissue graft. A method for implanting soft tissue in a bone tunnel includes coupling a soft tissue graft to a sheath assembly; and positioning the sheath assembly relative to the soft tissue graft based on a measured depth of a bone tunnel. A set of surgical devices for implanting soft tissue grafts in a bone tunnel includes a sheath assembly, a measurement device for measuring the depth of the bone tunnel, a securing element configured to secure the sheath assembly to the soft tissue graft at a position determined by the measured bone tunnel depth, and a tensioning device configured to organize a plurality of soft tissue grafts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Charles BROWN, Bernard Bourque, Rebecca Blough, Michael Ferragamo, Raymond Bojarski, Paul Torrie, Ben Graf, Fraser Harvie, Steve Ek
-
Patent number: 7279008Abstract: A sheath for organizing soft tissue includes a first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a fixation device, and a second tube coupled to the first tube having a flexible body sized and shaped to receive a soft tissue graft. A method for implanting soft tissue in a bone tunnel includes coupling a soft tissue graft to a sheath assembly; and positioning the sheath assembly relative to the soft tissue graft based on a measured depth of a bone tunnel. A set of surgical devices for implanting soft tissue grafts in a bone tunnel includes a sheath assembly, a measurement device for measuring the depth of the bone tunnel, a securing element configured to secure the sheath assembly to the soft tissue graft at a position determined by the measured bone tunnel depth, and a tensioning device configured to organize a plurality of soft tissue grafts.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2003Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Charles H. Brown, Bernard J. Bourque, Rebecca A. Blough, Michael C. Ferragamo, Raymond A. Bojarski, Paul Alexander Torrie, Ben K. Graf, Fraser Harvie, Steve Ek
-
Publication number: 20060161049Abstract: A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2005Publication date: July 20, 2006Inventors: Richard Beane, Steve Ek, Allison Niemann, Maureen Carroll, Randall Hasslinger, Edward Stamm, Javier Verdura
-
Patent number: 7008377Abstract: A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2002Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Inventors: Richard Beane, Steve Ek, Allison C. Niemann, Maureen E. Carroll, Randall J. Hasslinger, Edward I. Stamm, Jr., Javier Verdura
-
Publication number: 20040087981Abstract: A tissue fastener comprises a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, the shaft having a region that is relatively flexible to render a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft movable with respect to the shaft. In one embodiment, the region comprises substantially an entire length of the shaft and is made from flexible material, such as a mesh, onto which the member and the head are molded. In another embodiment, the shaft comprises generally rigid material, and the region comprises a flexible joint between the shaft and the head. The flexible joint comprises a breakable (e.g., frangible) section of the shaft, and a flexible member (e.g., a plurality of filaments or a flexible tube) extends between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2003Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Rod Berube, Paul A. Torrie, Steve Ek, John Lipchitz
-
Publication number: 20040034357Abstract: Implantable devices that deliver a drug to a target location are disclosed. In general, the devices include a portion that engages tissue near the target location and a section with an internal cavity that houses the drug. The drug can be incorporated into a controlled release agent, such as drug-polymer microspheres, which steadily or intermittently release the drug. Alternatively, instead of defining an internal cavity, the section can be formed from a material that includes the controlled release agent. The devices can be used, e.g., to deliver down-regulatory cytokines to a site of inflammation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2003Publication date: February 19, 2004Applicants: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS, a Massachusetts corporation, SMITH & NEPHEW, INC., a Delaware corporationInventors: Richard M. Beane, Carol L. Miller-Graziano, Steve Ek, George Sikora, Allison Niemann, Demetrius Litwin
-
Patent number: 6623492Abstract: A tissue fastener comprises a shaft having a member disposed thereon for lodging the shaft within the tissue, the shaft having a region that is relatively flexible to render a tissue engaging head disposed at a proximal end of the shaft movable with respect to the shaft. In one embodiment, the region comprises substantially an entire length of the shaft and is made from flexible material, such as a mesh, onto which the member and the head are molded. In another embodiment, the shaft comprises generally rigid material, and the region comprises a flexible joint between the shaft and the head. The flexible joint comprises a breakable (e.g., frangible) section of the shaft, and a flexible member (e.g., a plurality of filaments or a flexible tube) extends between the shaft and the head past the breakable section.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2000Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Rod Berube, Paul A. Torrie, Steve Ek, John Lipchitz
-
Publication number: 20020183594Abstract: A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against he edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2002Publication date: December 5, 2002Applicant: University of Massachuetts, a Massachusetts corporationInventors: Richard Beane, Steve Ek, Allison C. Niemann, Maureen E. Carroll, Randall J. Hasslinger, Edward I. Stamm, Javier Verdura
-
Patent number: 6440063Abstract: A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2000Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: University of MassachusettsInventors: Richard Beane, Steve Ek, Allison C. Niemann, Maureen E. Carroll, Randall J. Hasslinger, Edward I. Stamm, Jr., Javier Verdura
-
Patent number: 6142936Abstract: A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 1999Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: University of MassachusettsInventors: Richard Beane, Steve Ek, Allison C. Niemann, Maureen E. Carroll, Randall J. Hasslinger, Edward I. Stamm, Jr., Javier Verdura
-
Patent number: 5906577Abstract: A device for retracting edges of an incision in a surface to form an opening including: a flexible, tubular skirt having an upper end, a lower end, and a channel therebetween; a ring connected to the lower end of the skirt for maintaining the lower end in an open configuration and defining an exit opening to the channel; and an inflatable collar connected to the skirt and surrounding the upper end. The ring is designed to fit through the incision and remain under the surface when it is oriented parallel to surface. The collar, when inflated, maintains the upper end in an open configuration and defines an entry opening to the channel. During use, the ring is inserted through the incision and the collar is inflated while remaining outside of the incision, thereby drawing the skirt against the edges of the incision and retracting the edges of the incision to form the opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignees: University of Massachusetts, Smith & Nephew, Inc.Inventors: Richard Beane, Steve Ek, Allison C. Niemann, Maureen E. Carroll, Randall J. Hasslinger, Edward I. Stamm, Jr., Javier Verdura