US5197983A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ligament and tendon prosthesis
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1991-08-20
•
Granted: 1993-03-30
•
Expires: 2011-08-20
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides for an improved implantable prosthetic device and in particular to a prosthetic ligament or tendon. One process provides for a means by which tensile loads may be transferred from one-load bearing member of the prosthesis to another so that damage at different sites is isolated. Another process provides a means by which the prosthesis is more abrasion resistant.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew B. Berman
- 👤 William C. Bruchman
- 👤 Stanislaw L. Zukowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A prosthetic ligament comprising a plurality of load-bearing members of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene, said ligament having two fixation sites at opposite ends of the prosthetic ligament and further having at least one unification site having a length located along a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic ligament between said two fixation sites, wherein at least a portion of the length of the at least one unification site is located in a bone contacting region of the prosthetic ligament, said at least one unification site comprising gathered members helically-wrapped with a narrow film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene and an outermost wrap of a wide film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene surrounding said helically-wrapped, gathered members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A prosthetic ligament comprising a plurality of load-bearing members of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene, said ligament having two fixation sites at opposite ends of the prosthetic ligament and further having at least one unification site having a length located along a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic ligament between said two fixation sites, wherein at least a portion of the length of the at least one unification site is located in a bone contacting region of the prosthetic ligament, said at least one unification site comprising gathered members helically-wrapped with a narrow film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene and an outermost wrap of a wide film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene surrounding said helically-wrapped, gathered members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A prosthetic ligament as described in Claim 1 in which one of said at least one unification sites is a centrally located unification site between the two fixation sites and extends along said longitudinal axis of the prosthetic ligament.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A prosthetic ligament as described in Claim 2 in which said centrally located unification site extends for at least 5 cm along a longitudinal axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A prosthetic ligament as described in Claim 1 in which said helical wrap has a pitch that is biased to provide a greater number of layers at the ends of said wrap than in the center.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A prosthetic ligament as described in Claim 1 having at least two unification sites between said two fixation sites.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for manufacturing a ligament or tendon prosthesis comprising the step of providing a ligament or tendon having a plurality of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene members and two fixation sites at opposite ends thereof, gathering said members together at at least one unification site having a length located along a longitudinal axis of the prothesis between said two fixation sites, wherein at least a portion of the length of the at least one unification site is located in a bone contacting region between the opposite end of the prothesis, and wrapping the gathered members first with a narrow film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene in a helical configuration and subsequently wrapping said at least one unification site with a wide film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene so as to surround the helical wrapping.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for manufacturing a ligament or tendon prosthesis comprising the step of providing a ligament or tendon having a plurality of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene members and two fixation sites at opposite ends thereof, gathering said members together at at least one unification site having a length located along a longitudinal axis of the prothesis between said two fixation sites, wherein at least a portion of the length of the at least one unification site is located in a bone contacting region between the opposite end of the prothesis, and wrapping the gathered members first with a narrow film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene in a helical configuration and subsequently wrapping said at least one unification site with a wide film of expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene so as to surround the helical wrapping.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-03-29 | 1996-09-28 | 1997-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-29 | 2000-09-28 | 2001-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-09-28 | 2005-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |