Patents by Inventor Troy M Walters
Troy M Walters 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).
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Patent number: 8603125Abstract: A method and apparatus for sizing a member. The apparatus may include a first member and a second member movable relative to one another to impinge the member. The apparatus may be used in a small area to achieve a selected sizing of the member.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, John J. Veca
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Patent number: 8506596Abstract: Various suture anchors and surgical methods are provided. A two-part suture anchor is provided having a continuously threaded anchor body defining an axial bore and a pin. The pin includes a tip and a plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axial bore is disposed in anchor body. Methods of attaching soft tissue to bone are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2010Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Gregory J. Denham, Nathanael K. Connor
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Patent number: 8444659Abstract: An apparatus and method for passing a suture through tissue includes a first jaw member having a retaining structure to support a portion of the suture proximate a first surface of the tissue. A second jaw member is associated with the first jaw member. The second jaw member is selectively configurable in a first configuration to perform a first stitch or in a second configuration to perform a second stitch.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2010Date of Patent: May 21, 2013Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters
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Patent number: 8409253Abstract: A soft tissue repair assembly. The assembly includes a flexible member having first and second ends, and a strand passing through the flexible member. The strand has first and second strand ends extending through the flexible member, such that pulling at least one of the first and second strand ends changes the flexible member from a first shape suitable for insertion through soft tissue to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the soft tissue repair assembly relative to soft tissue.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Andrew Holst
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Patent number: 8382835Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for performing a surgery, such as an orthopedic surgery. The apparatus can include a guide portion and an alignment portion. The guide portion can assist in positioning the alignment portion to assist in aligning an implant. The implant can be aligned and positioned to hold a graft relative to a bone portion.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Jason D. Meridew, Troy M. Walters, Ryan A. Kaiser
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Patent number: 8361114Abstract: A method of preparing a suture in a suture anchor having a bone engaging section and a suture engaging section is provided. The suture is passed through a first suture passage section from a proximal end of the suture engaging section in a direction that diverges from a bone engaging axis and out of the suture engaging section through a first suture portal. The suture is passed from the first suture portal through the second suture portal. The suture is then passed from the second suture portal in a direction that converges toward the bone engaging axis through the third closed suture passage.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Brandon Miller, Ryan A. Kaiser
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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
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Patent number: 8057489Abstract: A suture pushing device includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle, and a suturing head at the distal end of the shaft. The suturing head includes a first jaw and a second jaw. The first jaw and/or the second jaw have a tissue cutting edge adapted to cut an opening in a tissue. A blunt suture pushing member advances from within the shaft, through the suturing head, and through the cut opening in the tissue to place a suture.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Ryan A. Kaiser
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Patent number: 8034090Abstract: A method for securing a graft to a bone includes forming a tunnel in the bone, positioning the graft in the tunnel, and securing the graft in the tunnel with an anchor. The method also includes attaching a distal end of an elongated anchor sleeve to a proximal end of the anchor and inserting a pre-compressed harvested bone material having a cruciate cross-section through the anchor sleeve into to a bore defined in the anchor. The bore has a mating cruciate cross-section. The method also includes removing the anchor sleeve after inserting the bone material into the anchor.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 11, 2011Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, H. Gene Hawkins, Zachary M. Hoffman, Gregory J. Denham, Troy M. Walters, Ryan A. Kaiser, Jason D. Meridew
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Patent number: 7967843Abstract: 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. In addition, a spacer member may be used to expand a selected portion of the graft to reduce localized stress and may increase ingrowth into a selected bony portion.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Ryan A. Kaiser, Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters
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Publication number: 20110153018Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a surgery, especially an ACL replacement surgery, where a flexible strand insertion rod co-operates with a U-Guide apparatus to insert a flexible strand into a tunnel formed in a bone portion and to guide a pair of drill points to form a pair of tunnels transversely to the tunnel of the insertion rod. The drill points are guided through the insertion rod and the flexible strand is held over the drill points as the transverse tunnels are formed. The insertion rod is then removed from the tunnels formed in the bone and the flexible strand is held looped over the second drill point. Subsequently, a soft tissue replacement is affixed to one end of the flexible strand and pulled over up to the first drill point with the other end of the flexible strand. The first drill point is then used to pull a cross pin through the transverse tunnel to hold the looped end of the soft tissue replacement in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2011Publication date: June 23, 2011Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Troy M. Walters, Kevin T. Stone, Jason D. Meridew
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Publication number: 20110100173Abstract: A method and apparatus for sizing a member. The apparatus may include a first member and a second member movable relative to one another to impinge the member. The apparatus may be used in a small area to achieve a selected sizing of the member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2011Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, John J. Veca
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Patent number: 7914539Abstract: A fixation device for securing tissue to a bone. The fixation device includes an anchor having a hollow body defining a longitudinal passage, and a plug configured to be received in at least a portion of the passage. The body comprises a cylindrical portion and a tapered tip portion. The cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of thin-walled window covers such that after implantation the window covers are resorbed first relative to other portions of the cylindrical portion for defining a plurality of apertures on the cylindrical portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T Stone, H. Gene Hawkins, Zachary M Hoffman, Gregory J Denham, Troy M Walters, Ryan A Kaiser, Jason D Meridew
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Publication number: 20110054526Abstract: Various suture anchors and surgical methods are provided. A two-part suture anchor is provided having a continuously threaded anchor body defining an axial bore and a pin. The pin includes a tip and a plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axial bore is disposed in anchor body. Methods of attaching soft tissue to bone are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Gregory J. Denham, Nathanael K. Conner
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Patent number: 7896917Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing a surgery, especially an ACL replacement surgery, where a flexible strand insertion rod co-operates with a U-Guide apparatus to insert a flexible strand into a tunnel formed in a bone portion and to guide a pair of drill points to form a pair of tunnels transversely to the tunnel of the insertion rod. The drill points are guided through the insertion rod and the flexible strand is held over the drill points as the transverse tunnels are formed. The insertion rod is then removed from the tunnels formed in the bone and the flexible strand is held looped over the second drill point. Subsequently, a soft tissue replacement is affixed to one end of the flexible strand and pulled over up to the first drill point with the other end of the flexible strand. The first drill point is then used to pull a cross pin through the transverse tunnel to hold the looped end of the soft tissue replacement in place.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2005Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Troy M Walters, Kevin T Stone, Jason D Meridew
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Patent number: 7879055Abstract: A method and apparatus for sizing a member. The apparatus may include a first member and a second member movable relative to one another to impinge the member. The apparatus may be used in a small area to achieve a selected sizing of the member.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2004Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, John J. Veca
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Patent number: 7850711Abstract: A system and method to assist in securing a soft tissue replacement in a bone tunnel includes an expandable member having an opening and an expandable portion. A delivery structure includes a connection portion selectively coupled to the opening of the expandable member. The delivery structure is adapted to inject a flowable medium into the expandable member thereby expanding the expandable portion and urging the soft tissue replacement into a bone surface defining the bone tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T Stone, Jason D Meridew, Troy M Walters, Ryan A Kaiser, Zachary M Hoffman
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Patent number: 7828820Abstract: Various suture anchors and surgical methods are provided. A two-part suture anchor is provided having a continuously threaded anchor body defining an axial bore and a pin. The pin includes a tip and a plate defining at least two suture receiving openings aligned in a single plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axial bore is disposed in anchor body. Methods of attaching soft tissue to bone are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2006Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Gregory J. Denham, Nathanael K. Conner
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Patent number: 7819898Abstract: A positioning member may be released to move an anchor member to a holding position. The positioning member being operable to be held in a selected orientation until the anchor member is in a selected position.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: October 26, 2010Assignee: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T Stone, Ryan A Kaiser, Troy M Walters
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Publication number: 20100268275Abstract: A soft tissue repair assembly. The assembly includes a flexible member having first and second ends, and a strand passing through the flexible member. The strand has first and second strand ends extending through the flexible member, such that pulling at least one of the first and second strand ends changes the flexible member from a first shape suitable for insertion through soft tissue to a second shape suitable for securely lodging the soft tissue repair assembly relative to soft tissue.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Applicant: Biomet Sports Medicine, LLCInventors: Kevin T. Stone, Troy M. Walters, Andrew Holst