Patents by Inventor Terry L. Whipple

Terry L. Whipple 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: 11096731
    Abstract: A reduction and fixation tool has two principle component parts—an intra-articular spoon with a blade, and a handle that docks with the spoon. The spoon has a proximal hub onto which the handle docks. In one example of the tool as it would be used with a fractured scaphoid, the spoon has a distal blade, curved and narrow to slip beneath the undersurface of the scaphoid and to lift the distal fragment of the bone back into proper alignment (fracture reduction). The handle, docked to the spoon, serves as a lever to easily accomplish the reduction, and as a guide for the central insertion of a guide wire into the scaphoid across the fracture site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: Jaiyoung Ryu, Terry L. Whipple
  • Publication number: 20190105090
    Abstract: A reduction and fixation tool has two principle component parts—an intra-articular spoon with a blade, and a handle that docks with the spoon. The spoon has a proximal hub onto which the handle docks. In one example of the tool as it would be used with a fractured scaphoid, the spoon has a distal blade, curved and narrow to slip beneath the undersurface of the scaphoid and to lift the distal fragment of the bone back into proper alignment (fracture reduction). The handle, docked to the spoon, serves as a lever to easily accomplish the reduction, and as a guide for the central insertion of a guide wire into the scaphoid across the fracture site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Jaiyoung Ryu, Terry L. Whipple
  • Patent number: 5702469
    Abstract: A trapezium-metacarpal thumb joint prosthesis having a metacarpal component for insertion into a metacarpal bone of a human thumb and a trapezium component for insertion into a trapezium bone of a human thumb. The metacarpal component has a forward end of generally truncated hemispherical shape with a convex surface and a rear end having a base and a stem. The trapezium component has a forward end of a generally cylindrical shape with a concave surface with a radially built up shoulder and a rear end having a base and a stem. The concave surface is adapted for non-captive rotational abutment with the convex surface. Also, a related method for implantation of the prosthesis into the metacarpal and trapezium bones of a human thumb, wherein the two components are respectively inserted into a pre-cut void in each of the respective bones from a direction above the radial side of the thumb substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of each respective bone of the thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Kinetikos Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry L. Whipple, Glynnis E. Stone
  • Patent number: 5366468
    Abstract: A surgical router for cutting anatomical tissue includes an outer tubular member and an inner member rotatably disposed in said outer member and having a pair of router blades disposed distally of a distal end of the outer member and equally spaced about a longitudinal axis of the inner member and a pair of flutes disposed between the router blades. The flutes have bottoms and sides transverse to the flute bottoms, with the flute bottoms angularly intersecting a passage in the inner member to form aspiration ports within and integral with the flutes. The router blades have leading walls, trailing walls and clearance walls with a width between the trailing walls that is tapered in a distal direction. The leading walls correspond to the flute sides and are curved about the inner member axis in the direction of rotation of the inner member in the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Linvatec Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Fucci, Terry L. Whipple
  • Patent number: 5312412
    Abstract: An improved device for inserting rigid shafts into opposed segments of a fractured bone including a axially movable shaft having an arm extending outwardly therefrom which is adapted to engage a fractured bone at a first surface location. A tubular guide through which the rigid shaft is inserted is provided which is operatively aligned with the bone engagement arm and includes jaws opposing the bone engagement arm for engaging the fractured bone at a second surface location. The tubular guide is secured to one end of an elongate guide support and the axially movable shaft is adjustably positioned parallel thereto in an aperture extending through the elongate guide support. A securement mechanism is operatively associated with the guide support for securing the axially movable shaft at a desired distance from the jaws of the tubular guide to fixedly engage the fractured bone therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Inventor: Terry L. Whipple
  • Patent number: 4867157
    Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument comprising an outer tube having a peripheral wall and a longitudinal axis. The outer tube has a plurality of openings arranged generally longitudinally along the outer tube. Each of the openings has first and second cutting edges defining portions of the periphery of such openings. An inner cutting member is rotatable within the outer tube. The inner cutting member has at least one cutting edge cooperable with the first and second cutting edges of the openings of the outer tube for cutting material from within the patient with a shearing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Erin McGurk-Burleson, Elmer Koehler, Victor Packham, James A. Thimsen, Terry L. Whipple, Richard B. Caspari
  • Patent number: 4844064
    Abstract: A surgical cutting instrument comprising:an outer tube sized for insertion through an opening in a patient, the outer tube having a distal end wall, a peripheral wall and a longitudinal axis, the outer tube having a first and second opening, the first opening being located at least primarily in the distal end wall and the second opening being located at least primarily in the peripheral wall, each of the openings having first and second cutting edges defining portions of the periphery of such openings; andan inner cutting member rotatable within the outer tube, the inner cutting member having at least one cutting edge cooperable with the first and second cutting edges of the openings of the outer tube for cutting material from within the patient with a shearing action that progresses along the first and second cutting edges as the inner cutting member rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Thimsen, Terry L. Whipple, Richard B. Caspari
  • Patent number: 4662371
    Abstract: Cutting-suctioning instrument having an elongated support and first and second, opposed distal jaws, at least one of which is pivotable about a transverse axis and adapted to be closed by an actuator, and a suction throat defined between proximal portions of the two jaws. Preferably, a sliding inner tube, which defines the suction passage, serves as actuator to move the pivotable jaw. As a cutter for meniscal cartilage, a hollow tube defining a tissue-fragment transport, suction passage is arranged to communicate through the open throat with the region between the jaws to receive cut tissue while suction is associated with the proximal end of the instrument for enabling tissue to be drawn from between the jaws, through the throat and thence through the transport passage while the instrument remains in situ for repeated cutting. Preferred embodiments of the instrument are especially useful in arthroscopic surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Inventors: Terry L. Whipple, Douglas D. Sjostrom
  • Patent number: 4649919
    Abstract: A hand held surgical instrument for use in removing body tissue from a human body. It is particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery of joints such as of the knee or shoulder, but may also be used to remove tissue from the stomach, abdomen, jaw or other portions of the body. An auger-like helical cutter is motor driven at speeds in excess of 1,000 rpm within a stationary outer cylindrical sheath member. The helical cutter is ground to provide a generally concave distal end which gives it a generally fish-tailed appearance and the ability to cut endwise, i.e., to effect an axial boring cut. In addition, the cylindrical sheath member is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed tab members at its distal end. Each of the tabs has at least one longitudinally extending edge thereof ground to provide a cutting edge which co-acts with the auger-like cutter blade to sever body tissue insertable between the tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Precision Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Thimsen, Terry L. Whipple, Richard B. Caspari
  • Patent number: 4616637
    Abstract: A shoulder traction applying apparatus which clamps to an operating table. The forearm of a patient is gripped by a tapering sleeve-like member and a cord therefrom is entrained over a pair of pulleys at opposite ends of a boom member. The remote end of the cord is selectively weighted to apply tension to the cord and achieve a desired traction. The boom is secured to the top member of a pair of separable members of which the lower member is clamped to the operating table. The top member is rotatable by a hand crank which turns a worm gear that meshes with a spur gear fixedly secured to the top member. The lower member may be raised or lowered by cranking a pinion of a rack and pinion assembly wherein the rack is mounted on the lower member. Hand controlled spring pressure locks the lower member in the position selected by the rack and pinion assembly. A caster-mounted stand stores the top and lower members when the apparatus is not in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Precision Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Caspari, Terry L. Whipple, James A. Thimsen
  • Patent number: 4549540
    Abstract: A thigh restraining apparatus especially useful in connection with arthroscopic knee surgery wherein the surgeon may perform the operation while viewing the knee on a television screen. A bar member extends across the operating table supported by horizontally extending rail members customarily provided on operating tables. A specially designed sphygmomanometer constitutes a tourniquet member and applies a known pressure to the thigh of the patient. A strap member envelops the thigh of the patient and is reeled out or in by a screw feed as required to accommodate the patient's thigh. One end of the strap is secured and an intermediate portion is removably attached to the sphygmomanometer. If necessary, both knees may be operated upon sequentially without disturbing a required sterile field by positioning a pair of strap feeding devices on opposite sides of the bar member and securing each strap to an adjacent sphygmomanometer applied to each of the patient's thighs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: Precision Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Caspari, Terry L. Whipple, James A. Thimsen
  • Patent number: 4522206
    Abstract: Cutting-suctioning instrument having an elongated support and first and second, opposed distal jaws, at least one of which is pivotable about a transverse axis and adapted to be closed by an actuator, and a suction throat defined between proximal portions of the two jaws. Preferably, a sliding inner tube, which defines the suction passage, serves as actuator to move the pivotable jaw. As a cutter for meniscal cartilage, a hollow tube defining a tissue-fragment transport, suction passage is arranged to communicate through the open throat with the region between the jaws to receive cut tissue while suction is associated with the proximal end of the instrument for enabling tissue to be drawn from between the jaws, through the throat and then through the transport passage while the instrument remains in situ for repeated cutting. Preferred embodiments of the instrument are especially useful in arthroscopic surgery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: Dyonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry L. Whipple, Douglas D. Sjostrom
  • Patent number: 4457302
    Abstract: A leg immobilizing apparatus especially useful in connection with arthroscopic knee surgery wherein the surgeon views the knee on a television screen. A flat bar member is extended across an operating table and is secured to horizontally extending rail members customarily provided on operating tables. Depending clamps from the bar member are releasably secured to the rail members. The patient's leg which is to be operated upon is cradled by a pair of plates carried by the bar member and angularly disposed thereto. A specially designed sphygmomanometer constitutes a tourniquet member and applies a known pressure to the thigh of the patient. The design permits the tourniquet member to be secured to the leg cradling apparatus. A strap resembling an automobile safety belt is anchored to the leg cradling apparatus and provides a supplementary leg holder. The patient is customarily electrically grounded and the apparatus is provided with an electrically insulating coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Precision Surgical Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Caspari, Terry L. Whipple, James A. Thimsen