Patents by Inventor Stuart L. Axelson

Stuart L. Axelson 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: 6458135
    Abstract: A femoral guide is shown in the form of a femoral sizing guide for determining the size of a femoral knee prosthesis to be implanted at an implant site at a distal femur and includes a femoral sizing block connected to a foot component for selective pivotal movement about a pivotal axis extending in a generally axial direction and essentially intersecting the transepicondylar axis of the distal femur to enable a guide arrangement on the femoral sizing block to be located for facilitating subsequent placement of a femoral cutting guide on a distal femur in position to rotationally locate an anterior cut in a plane anterior of and essentially parallel to the transepicondylar axis of the distal femur. The femoral sizing block is connected to the foot component for selective linear movement to compensate for size variations outside standard femoral knee prosthesis sizes. Visible indications are provided of the location of a subsequently implanted femoral knee prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: Steven F. Harwin, Stuart L. Axelson, David J. Neal
  • Publication number: 20020133163
    Abstract: Tools for resecting tibia and femur include anchoring devices, a three-way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring devices, two embodiments of a resection guide attachable to the alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, a plane probe for examining the resected plane, and apparatus for EM alignment of the resection guide in the event of a computer failure. The methods of the invention include operating a computer aided navigation apparatus in the conventional manner including attaching one or more trackers to the bone to be resected; choosing a location for the anchoring device with or without guidance from the computer and installing the anchoring device; attaching the three-way alignment guide to the anchoring device; attaching a resection guide to the alignment guide; attaching one or two trackers to the resection guide; locating the resection guide with the aid of the alignment guide and the computer; fixing the resection guide to the bone with pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson, Jose Luis Moctezuma, Gearoid Walsh
  • Publication number: 20020133161
    Abstract: Tools for resecting tibia and femur include anchoring devices, a three-way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring devices, two embodiments of a resection guide attachable to the alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, a plane probe for examining the resected plane, and apparatus for EM alignment of the resection guide in the event of a computer failure. The methods of the invention include operating a computer aided navigation apparatus in the conventional manner including attaching one or more trackers to the bone to be resected; choosing a location for the anchoring device with or without guidance from the computer and installing the anchoring device; attaching the three-way alignment guide to the anchoring device; attaching a resection guide to the alignment guide; attaching one or two trackers to the resection guide; locating the resection guide with the aid of the alignment guide and the computer; fixing the resection guide to the bone with pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson, Jose Luis Moctezuma, Kenneth A. Krackow, Matthew P. Poggie
  • Publication number: 20020133162
    Abstract: Tools for resecting tibia and femur include anchoring devices, a three-way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring devices, two embodiments of a resection guide attachable to the alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, a plane probe for examining the resected plane, and apparatus for EM alignment of the resection guide in the event of a computer failure. The methods of the invention include operating a computer aided navigation apparatus in the conventional manner including attaching one or more trackers to the bone to be resected; choosing a location for the anchoring device with or without guidance from the computer and installing the anchoring device; attaching the three-way alignment guide to the anchoring device; attaching a resection guide to the alignment guide; attaching one or two trackers to the resection guide; locating the resection guide with the aid of the alignment guide and the computer; fixing the resection guide to the bone with pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson, Jose Luis Moctezuma, Gearoid Walsh
  • Publication number: 20020133160
    Abstract: Tools for resecting tibia and femur include anchoring devices, a three-way alignment guide attachable to the anchoring devices, two embodiments of a resection guide attachable to the alignment guide and equipped with couplings for trackers, a plane probe for examining the resected plane, and apparatus for EM alignment of the resection guide in the event of a computer failure. The methods of the invention include operating a computer aided navigation apparatus in the conventional manner including attaching one or more trackers to the bone to be resected; choosing a location for the anchoring device with or without guidance from the computer and installing the anchoring device; attaching the three-way alignment guide to the anchoring device; attaching a resection guide to the alignment guide; attaching one or two trackers to the resection guide; locating the resection guide with the aid of the alignment guide and the computer; fixing the resection guide to the bone with pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson, Jose Luis Moctezuma, Kenneth A. Krackow, Mattthew P. Poggie, Gearoid Walsh
  • Patent number: 6258095
    Abstract: IM revision tools include reamers with depth markings or stops, an impactor-extractor with a coupling for attaching to tools which are inserted into and removed from the IM canal, a resection guide tower to which a cutting block is attached and which includes a notch which serves as both a witness mark and a holder for a femoral or tibial collar, a reversible clean-up cutting block with a quick-connect clamp attachable to the guide tower for resecting the distal femur and separate left and right clean-up cutting blocks for resecting the proximal tibia, a selection of spacer blocks for measuring the space between the tibia and femur to determine the size of the components to be installed, a multiple cut cutting guide for preparing the femur, a set of 5 and 10 mm trial wedges, a trial stem valgus adapter, femoral sizing indicators which include indications of anterior/posterior offset, a stabilizer box cutting template which is attachable to the multiple cut cutting guide, and anterior/posterior offset adapters
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Stryker Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Lombardo, Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., James V. Bono, Kenneth Krackow
  • Publication number: 20010001121
    Abstract: IM revision tools include reamers with depth markings or stops, an impactor-extractor with a coupling for attaching to tools which are inserted into and removed from the IM canal, a resection guide tower to which a cutting block is attached and which includes a notch which serves as both a witness mark and a holder for a femoral or tibial collar, a reversible clean-up cutting block with a quick-connect clamp attachable to the guide tower for resecting the distal femur and separate left and right clean-up cutting blocks for resecting the proximal tibia, a selection of spacer blocks for measuring the space between the tibia and femur to determine the size of the components to be installed, a multiple cut cutting guide for preparing the femur, a set of 5 and 10 mm trial wedges, a trial stem valgus adapter, femoral sizing indicators which include indications of anterior/posterior offset, a stabilizer box cutting template which is attachable to the multiple cut cutting guide, and anterior/posterior offset adapters
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 10, 2001
    Inventors: Alan Lombardo, Stuart L. Axelson, James V. Bono, Kenneth Krackow
  • Patent number: 6228091
    Abstract: IM tibia revision tools include a trial stem extender having multiple notches which serve both as depth witness marks and holders for a stop clip, a collection of different sized tibial templates, each template adapted to receive an angular offset positioning guide, a collection of offset bushings, each bushing each bushing having a different offset distance and each being adapted to cooperate with the trial stem extender and the angular offset positioning guide, a neutral bushing for locating the position of the implant boss relative to the tibia and for reaming the tibia to accept the boss of the implant, a fin punch guide and fin punch for preparing the tibia to receive the keel of the tibial component, and a tool for translating the angular offset measurement to the tibial component. Tibial components according to the invention have three parts: the baseplate portion, the offset portion, and the stem portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Stryker Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Lombardo, Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., James V. Bono, Kenneth A. Krackow
  • Patent number: 6090114
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tibial alignment which allows the independent establishment of two separate geometric planes to be used as a reference for the cutting of the tibial plateau during total knee arthroplasty. Two separate frame assemblies with extending rods are coupled to the tibia with a fixed relative angle between them, thereby allowing alignment with the mechanical axis of the bone. A cutting block is mounted on one of the assembly frames and is positioned against the tibia. Stabilizing pins are then placed in the cutting block, allowing the proper tibial plateau resection plane to be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Stryker Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
    Inventors: Shigeo Matsuno, Carlos Esteban Collazo, Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., Michael Eric Gertner
  • Patent number: 6063091
    Abstract: IM tibia revision tools include a trial stem extender having multiple notches which serve both as depth witness marks and holders for a stop clip, a collection of different sized tibial templates, each template adapted to receive an angular offset positioning guide, a collection of offset bushings, each bushing each bushing having a different offset distance and each being adapted to cooperate with the trial stem extender and the angular offset positioning guide, a neutral bushing for locating the position of the implant boss relative to the tibia and for reaming the tibia to accept the boss of the implant, a fin punch guide and fin punch for preparing the tibia to receive the keel of the tibial component, and a tool for translating the angular offset measurement to the tibial component. Tibial components according to the invention have three parts: the baseplate portion, the offset portion, and the stem portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Stryker Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Lombardo, Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., James V. Bono, Kenneth A. Krackow
  • Patent number: 5916219
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for tibial alignment which allows the independent establishment of two separate geometric planes to be used as a reference for the cutting of the tibial plateau during total knee arthroplasty. Two separate frame assemblies with telescoping rods are attached to the tibia with a fixed relative angle between them, thereby allowing alignment with the mechanical axis of the bone. A cutting block is mounted on one of the assembly frames and is positioned against the tibia. Stabilizing pins are then placed in the cutting block, allowing the proper tibial plateau resection plane to be created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Inventors: Shigeo Matsuno, Carlos Esteban Collazo, Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., Michael Eric Gertner
  • Patent number: 5860980
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in total knee arthroplasty includes a tibia engaging plate which is coupled to an upstanding rack member, a drill bushing bracket coupled to the rack member by a lockable pinion member, and a femoral positioning jig which is rotatably coupled to the drill bushing bracket. The drill bushing bracket has a pair of spaced apart drill bushings which are dimensionally located to correspond in position to medial and lateral condyles of the femur. The centers of the drill bushings lie in a plane which is parallel to the plane in which the tibia engaging plate lies. The femoral positioning jig is provided with a pair of posterior skids, one for the lateral posterior condyle and one for the medial posterior condyle, a pair of holes for attaching the jig to the resected distal femur with spikes, and a pair of holes for receiving the two drill bushings. Two different femoral positioning jigs are provided, one for the right knee and one for the left knee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventors: Stuart L. Axelson, Jr., James V. Bono, David J. Wartel
  • Patent number: 5782925
    Abstract: A knee implant rotational alignment apparatus comprising a non-implantable femoral trial component having substantially the same configuration as a femoral implant, a cooperating tibial articulating trial component having two parallel guide rails protruding from the upper surface thereof, which rails engage with grooves in the lower surface of the femoral trial component, which engagement prevents rotation of the femoral trial component relative to the tibial articulating trial component in a transverse plane but allows flexion and extension rotation of both components, a tibial trial baseplate having an outer periphery substantially identical to the outer periphery of a tibial implant baseplate of corresponding size, which baseplate accommodates a spring clip activator the rotation of which facilitates selection of the rotational alignment of the prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Howmedica Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos E. Collazo, Stuart L. Axelson, Donald G. Eckhoff
  • Patent number: 5658292
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a planar surface on the distal femur prior to implantation of a femoral knee prosthesis has a femoral plate with an opening therein for exposing both condyles of the femur. A guide with a central aperture is used to align the femoral plate on the distal femur. The guide is releasably secured to the femoral plate and an intramedullary guide rod is placed through the aperture therein and into the intramedullary canal of the femur. After alignment with the intramedullary canal, the femoral plate is pinned to the femur and the rod and guide are removed. A milling guide having two bores, one adjacent each condyle, is then placed on the femoral plate and an end mill is used to mill a planar surface on at least one of the condyles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart L. Axelson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5417695
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a planar surface on the distal femur prior to implantation of a femoral knee prosthesis has a femoral plate with an opening therein for exposing both condyles of the femur. A guide with a central aperture is used to align the femoral plate on the distal femur. The guide is releasably secured to the femoral plate and an intramedullary guide rod is placed through the aperture therein and into the intramedullary canal of the femur. After alignment with the intramedullary canal, the femoral plate is pinned to the femur and the rod and guide are removed. A milling guide having two bores, one adjacent each condyle, is then placed on the femoral plate and an end mill is used to mill a planar surface on at least one of the condyles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Pfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Stuart L. Axelson, Jr.