| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 623130130 | Including tension adjusting means | 16 |
| 20080228272 | DYNAMICALLY ADJUSTABLE SUTURE AND CHORDAE TENDINAE - Embodiments of a dynamically adjustable artificial chordae tendinae implant are described. In some embodiments the implant includes a body portion, including an adjustable portion. In some embodiments, the implant includes a plurality of adjustable portions. In some embodiments the adjustable element can include a shape memory material. The adjustable portion can be configured to transform from a first conformation to a second conformation in response to an activation energy. In some embodiments, the activation energy can be one of electromagnetic energy, acoustic energy, light energy, thermal energy, electrical energy, mechanical energy, or a combination of energies. The implant couples a heart valve leaflet to a papillary muscle. Activation of the shape memory material regulates tension between the muscle and valve leaflet improving coaptation of heart valve leaflets, and reducing or eliminating regurgitation. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080275552 | ADJUSTABLE ABSORBER DESIGNS FOR IMPLANTABLE DEVICE - A system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint. The system includes a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint and a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint. There is also an adjustable energy absorbing device attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, wherein adjusting the energy absorbing device changes the load manipulating characteristics of the energy absorbing device. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090222089 | LIGAMENT-TENSIONING DEVICE - Ligament-tensioning device for activation of the ligament and/or capsule system in the implantation of a joint implant, having a distal bearing plate for bearing against a distal skeletal part and having first and second proximal bearing plates, each of which partially overlaps the distal bearing plate in a first in-use position, for bearing against a proximal skeletal part, and having means for relative displacement of the proximal bearing plates to increase their spacing from the distal bearing plate. The displacement means have a scissor-type guide means that supports the respective proximal bearing plate in the ventral-dorsal as well as the medial-lateral parallel position with respect to the distal bearing plate. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090326655 | Implant for Fastening Ligaments or Tendons - An implant for fastening ligaments or tendons to a bone or bone replacement, generally referred to as a bone member. The implant has a housing, a device for fixing or attaching a ligament or tendon, and a device for being fastened to the bone member. The fixing device can be displaced relative to the fastening device. At least one motor is provided for displacing the fixing device relative to the fastening device. The motor is connected to a receiver for telemetrically triggering the motor. The implant allows the tension of the ligament or tendon and the position of the attachment of the ligament or the tendon to be post-operatively adjusted in an optimal fashion. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100049320 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TENDON OR LIGAMENT REPAIR - Apparatus and methods for repairing damaged tendons or ligaments. Various repair apparatus include an elongate tensile member and a pair of anchor assemblies connected for movement along the tensile member on either side of a repair site, such as a tear or laceration. The anchor assemblies or structures may take many forms, and may include barbed, helical, and crimp-type anchors. In the preferred embodiments, at least one anchor structure is movable along the elongate tensile member to assist with adjusting a tendon segment to an appropriate repair position and the anchor structure or structures are then lockable onto the elongate tensile member to assist with affixing the tendon at the repair position. Tendon and/or ligament-to-bone repair apparatus and methods employ similar concepts. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100298935 | Medical Device and Tension Member for Use in a Subject - The invention relates to fixation of tension members, e.g., artificial tendons, and to transmitting force from tissues to energy converters or to natural or prosthetic bones or other prostheses. In one embodiment, a medical device is provided for implantation in a subject. The medical device includes an anchor block having a knob extending from its surface, such knob configured to engage a looped tension member. In one embodiment, the tension member includes a looped portion configured to engage the knob, an intermediate portion, and a tissue engaging portion configured to engage tissue in a subject. The looped portion is connected to the tissue engaging portion via the intermediate portion. In another embodiment, a system is provided for providing a function to a subject and includes at least one looped tension member, an operational device, and at least one medical device configured to couple the looped tension member and the operational device. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110029079 | SURGICAL TENSIONING ASSEMBLY AND METHODS OF USE - A surgical tensioning assembly providing a means to apply a variable and selective force to tissues, such as replacement ligaments, during a ligament reconstruction surgery. The assembly provides a means to apply a selective, measurable and a generally balanced force on multiple tissues. One embodiment of the tensioning assembly includes a set of subassemblies, namely an engagement subassembly, a variable force subassembly and an equalizing subassembly. These subassemblies are operably connected to each other such that they are able to provide tension on tissues connected to the assembly. In one embodiment the tensioning assembly further includes a mounting subassembly that provides a means to connect the tensioning assembly to a person's body. Methods of use of the surgical tensioning assembly are also disclosed to include novel methods of cycling and conditioning tissue used in a knee ligament replacement surgery. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110118837 | GRAFT PULLEY AND METHODS OF USE - A placement assembly used for positioning and holding a ligament graft within a selected bone tunnel. The assembly includes a graft pulley, a surgical suture, and a graft pulley placement instrument. The graft pulley includes a pulley portion and a bone anchoring portion. The pulley portion is adapted to receive the surgical suture and for surgical suture to be drawn through it, to act as a pulley. The bone anchoring portion comprises at least one flexible wing that is adapted to selectively fix the graft pulley within a bone tunnel. At least one wing is adapted to flex during insertion into a bone tunnel and then resist flex and thereby resist movement back out of the tunnel and hence wedge itself within the tunnel. The graft instrument may be selectively attached to the graft pulley and includes a handle and elongate body, adapted to insert the graft pulley into the selected bone tunnel. Once the graft pulley is in place, the placement instrument may then be detached and withdrawn leaving the graft pulley firmly fixed within the bone tunnel and can then be used to position a ligament graft. | 05-19-2011 |
| 20120296427 | Method and Apparatus for Tibial Fixation of an ACL Graft - A tensioner system for use in tensioning graft strands in a knee reconstruction procedure can include a handle assembly, a tensioner assembly coupled relative to the handle assembly, and a drive shaft slidably received through and supported by the handle assembly. The tensioner assembly can include an arm support member rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and first and second arm members each rotatably coupled to lateral sides of the arm support member. Each arm member can include at least one graft attachment area adapted to be coupled to a graft strand. The arm support member can be configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tensioner system and perpendicular to an axis of rotation of each of the arm members. The drive shaft can include proximal and distal ends that extend beyond respective proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20130096677 | ACL IMPLANTS, INSTRUMENTS, AND METHODS - Systems for single tunnel, double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction include implant constructs and instruments. The implant constructs provide a combination of cortical fixation and bone tunnel aperture fixation. The implant constructs separate a graft into distinct bundles. The instruments are used to prepare shaped bone tunnels to receive the implant constructs and graft bundles. The instruments are also used to exercise and insert the ligament graft constructs. Methods for reconstructing the antero-medial and postero-lateral bundles of the anterior cruciate ligament may rely on a single femoral tunnel, single or double tibial tunnels, and one or more ligament grafts. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130190871 | Arthroscopic Method and Apparatus for Rotator Cuff Repair - An arthroscopic method for reattaching a rotator cuff tendon to a humeral head may comprise creating a trough in the top of the humeral head, creating a cavity in the lateral portion of the humeral head, creating one or more tunnels between the cavity and the trough, retrieving sutures affixed to a loose end of the tendon through the trough, at least one tunnel, and the cavity; and passing the sutures through a tensioning and securing device, which is then implanted in the cavity, and the sutures are variously pulled or released to pull, tension, or release the sutures until the tendon is secured in the trough. The trough is preferably created using a unique extendable, angled surgical burr. | 07-25-2013 |
| 20130245761 | Method And Apparatus For Tibial Fixation Of An ACL Graft - A tensioner system for use in tensioning graft strands in a knee reconstruction procedure can include a handle assembly, a tensioner assembly coupled relative to the handle assembly, and a drive shaft slidably received through and supported by the handle assembly. The tensioner assembly can include an arm support member rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and first and second arm members each rotatably coupled to lateral sides of the arm support member. Each arm member can include at least one graft attachment area adapted to be coupled to a graft strand. The arm support member can be configured to rotate about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tensioner system and perpendicular to an axis of rotation of each of the arm members. The drive shaft can include proximal and distal ends that extend beyond respective proximal and distal ends of the handle assembly. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130297020 | Prosthesis For Stimulating Natural Kinematics - A bearing component | 11-07-2013 |
| 20150025630 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING AND POSITIONING SHEET-LIKE MATERIALS - An implant delivery system for delivering a sheet-like implant is disclosed. The device includes an implant spreader assembly disposed proximate the distal end of a delivery shaft. The implant spreader assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The arms are coupled to the delivery shaft such that the first arm and second arm are moveable between a closed position and an open position. When the first and second arms are in the closed position, the arms extend generally in the longitudinal direction. When pivoting to the open position the distal end of each arm travels in a generally transverse direction to spread a sheet-like implant. | 01-22-2015 |
| 20150134060 | Cortical loop fixation system for ligament and bone reconstruction - A system is disclosed for repairing and reconstructing an injured intra-articular, extra-articular ligament or tendon to a bone. The system includes realigning the axis of a bone, and further includes fixing fragments of a bone together. Novel devices, instruments and methods are disclosed, including a cortical loop for engaging a bundle of soft-tissue and capturing the bundle against a bone surface, an anchor for stabilizing a fractured bone, a guide for directing an orthopedic blade, and a hinged external jig arranged to position and guide the blade. Methods are disclosed for connecting soft-tissue to a bone and for bone alignment. | 05-14-2015 |
| 20160081789 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING SOFT TISSUE TO A BONE - A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. The apparatus includes a member to pull the soft tissue implant into a femoral tunnel. The member includes a suture having first and second ends which are passed through first and second openings associated with the longitudinal passage to form a pair of loops. A collapsible tube is positioned about the suture. Application of tension onto the suture construction causes retraction of the soft tissue implant into the femoral tunnel and the collapse of the tube to form an anchor. | 03-24-2016 |
