Walt Disney was no Mickey Mouse inventor. He devised a serious animation camera which he patented. With the device, his company created "Snow White".
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8147546 | Method and apparatus for graft fixation A method and apparatus for surgically coupling a soft tissue replacement into a tunnel of a bone are disclosed. The method includes forming a loop of a soft tissue or soft tissue replacement. A pair of prosthetics are coupled to the loop of soft tissue to form an ar... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8142502 | Stable cartilage defect repair plug An apparatus and method of distributing a load to a cartilage defect repair plug is provided. A load is applied to a first articulation layer. The load is distributed to a second layer and the load is transferred in the normal direction to the first density of subch... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8137382 | Method and apparatus for coupling anatomical features 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 ... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8137354 | Localized cartilage defect therapy Methods of repairing cartilage defects are provided. The cartilage defect is identified and shaped to prepare the cartilage defect for a localized therapy. The cartilage defect is isolated with an isolation device. The localized therapy is then delivered to the cart... | 03/20/2012 |
| 8128658 | Method and apparatus for coupling soft tissue to bone A method and apparatus for coupling a soft tissue implant into a locking cavity formed within a bone is disclosed. A bone engaging fastener is coupled to bone. A second fastener is coupled to a suture construction. The second fastener is coupled to the first fastene... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8118836 | 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 ... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8088130 | 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 ... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8057524 | Soft tissue rivet and method of use A method and apparatus for reattaching soft tissue to a selected boney structure using a rivet. Generally, a rivet having first portion and a second portion is provided to fully secure a soft tissue in the boney structure. The first portion of the rivet retains the ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8057489 | Method and apparatus for passing a suture 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 a... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8034090 | Tissue fixation device 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 o... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8002778 | Crosspin and method for inserting the same during soft ligament repair A method for securing a soft tissue replacement in a bone tunnel includes forming a first and second tunnel in the bone. The second tunnel intersects the first tunnel and defines a first and second access passage. A first flexible member is passed through the tunnel... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7998204 | Composite collagen material and method of forming same A felt for repairing soft tissue defects comprising a membranous collagen substrate and a bioresorbable fiber felted onto the collagen substrate. Methods of preparing a felt and methods of repairing soft tissue damage with a felt are also provided. ... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7976565 | Expanding suture anchor having an actuator pin A method and apparatus for reattaching soft tissue to a pre-selected boney structure using an expanding suture anchor. Generally, an expanding suture anchor having an actuator pin is provided to fully secure a suture into the boney structure. The actuator pin is mol... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7967843 | Method for soft tissue attachment 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 positio... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7959650 | Adjustable knotless loops Methods of attaching a soft tissue to an adjacent bone at a defect site are provided. At least one adjustable loop of a flexible construct is passed through the soft tissue. The at least one adjustable loop is passed through a passage construct. A locking member is ... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7931657 | Apparatus and method for manipulating a flexible strand and soft tissue replacement during surgery An system and method for performing a surgery, such as an anterior-cruciate-ligament replacement surgery, where a flexible strand insertion rod can co-operate with a U-Guide apparatus to insert a flexible strand into a tunnel formed in a bone portion. A soft tissue ... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7914539 | Tissue fixation device 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 ta... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7909851 | Soft tissue repair device and associated methods A soft tissue repair device. The device includes an inserter having a distal portion, a first anchor carried externally onto the distal portion, a second anchor carried externally onto the distal portion, and a flexible strand coupling the first and second anchors a... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7905904 | Soft tissue repair device and associated methods A fibrous tissue repair device and associated method. The device includes an inserter having a solid distal portion defining an external surface, and a single anchor carried solely on the external surface of the distal portion of the inserter. The method includes pr... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7905903 | Method for tissue fixation A method for securing a strand to a fixation member for arthroscopic fixation, wherein the fixation member includes an aperture therethrough. The method includes passing a strand having first and second ends through a flexible sleeve, passing the sleeve through the ... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7896917 | Method and apparatus for graft fixation 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... | 03/01/2011 |
| 7879055 | Method and apparatus for sizing a material 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. ... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7857830 | Soft tissue repair and conduit device A soft tissue repair method. The method includes providing a flaccid tubular member having a longitudinal bore and first and second ends, the tubular member defining first and second portions integral with the tubular member. The method includes coupling the tubular... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7850711 | Method and apparatus for securing soft tissue to bone 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 me... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7837718 | Method and implant for securing ligament replacement into the knee A surgical method and implant for directing and securing a replacement ligament into the femur or tibia of the knee. A transverse tunnel may be formed in the femur approximately perpendicular to a femoral tunnel. A flexible strand passing through the transverse tunn... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7828820 | Method and apparatuses for securing suture 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 ... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7828751 | Method and apparatus for retaining a fixation pin to a cannula A medical device for placement in an anatomy and for use with a guide wire that generally includes a cannula member configured to be inserted into the anatomy. The cannula member has a wall that includes an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface. The inner wal... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7819898 | Method and apparatus for soft tissue fixation 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. ... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7794484 | Fixation device for delivery of biological material between soft tissue and bone A method for attaching soft tissue to bone. The method includes forming a bore in a bone, placing the soft tissue adjacent to the bone and above the bore, at least partially inserting a fixation device into the bore, and delivering biologic material through the soft... | 09/14/2010 |
| 7780701 | Suture anchor A resorbable suture anchor operable to hold a suture within a bone. The suture anchor has a cannulated tip that receives a driver during implantation of the anchor, the driver extending from the tip when the anchor is seated on the driver. The anchor further has at ... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7776041 | Method and apparatus for implanting a suture anchor An apparatus and method for delivering biologic material to a bone hole includes a delivery structure defining a proximal end and a distal end. The delivery structure includes a first longitudinal member defining a first cavity and extending between the distal and p... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7766964 | In situ graft preparation for knee ligament reconstruction Methods of ligament repair are provided. A ligament graft is arranged in a tensioning device and placed adjacent to a heating surface. The heating surface is activated to heat the graft. The graft is tensioned while on the substantially dry heating surface to provid... | 08/03/2010 |
| 7758643 | Stable cartilage defect repair plug A method of distributing a load to a cartilage defect repair plug is provided. A load is applied to a first articulation layer. The load is distributed to a second layer and the load is transferred in the normal direction to the first density of subchondral bone. Th... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7749250 | Soft tissue repair assembly and associated method 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 o... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7749226 | Method for forming a tunnel in a bone A method for forming a tunnel in a bone. The method includes forming a first tunnel in the bone, the tunnel having a longitudinal axis, inserting a first drill guide into the first tunnel, supporting a first tunnel-forming device along an axis defining a first offse... | 07/06/2010 |
| 7740794 | Methods of making a polymer and ceramic composite A method of forming a polymer/ceramic composite for use in various purposes. For example, the polymer/ceramic composite may be used in orthopedic procedures for replacing bone material, forming an implant, providing an anchor or other appropriate uses. The polymer/c... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7736364 | Method and apparatus for performing ACL reconstruction A method and apparatus for drilling a bone for receipt of a first and second bundle includes drilling a first tunnel in the bone. A locating member extending along a first axis from the tool may be positioned into the first tunnel. A cutting guide may be moved relat... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7722630 | Method and apparatus for passing a suture through tissue 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 j... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7713285 | Method and apparatus for suture anchors with a vertical eyelet A suture anchor for anchoring a suture in the selected portion of an anatomical portion for fixing a suture thereto. The suture anchor including an anatomical engaging portion and a suture engaging portion wherein both the anatomical engaging portion and a suture en... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7695503 | Method and apparatus for soft tissue attachment 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 positio... | 04/13/2010 |