DR. STEPHEN S BURKHART, M.D.
Medical Practice at Sonterra Blvd, San Antonio, TX

7959649, Jun 14, 2011

Dec 12, 2006

11/637383

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US

Arthrex, Inc. - Naples FL

A61B 17/04

606232, 606144

A suture anchor and kit for anchoring a suture member to human bone in an interference fit. A suture anchor includes a threaded portion and has a head at the proximal end thereof, the head being generally circular. A tip is located at a distal end of the shank. The shank is at least partially threaded and includes walls defining a reel portion. The shank also includes walls for engaging a suture, the walls for engaging the suture typically adjacent walls defining the reel portion. The head typically includes walls for engaging a drive tool. The kit includes a drive tool for rotating the suture anchor when a suture member is engaged with the walls for engaging the suture such that rotation of the anchor causes the suture material to wrap around the reel portion of the shank.

5951559, Sep 14, 1999

Jul 11, 1997

8/893489

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX

Arthrex, Inc. - Naples FL

A61B 1756

606 73

An arthroscopic method and apparatus for implanting a suture anchor into tissue using a cannulated drill guide having an indented tip. Ligament tissue at a shoulder repair site is penetrated with a cannulated drill guide and removable trochar obturator. The obturator is removed, and the indented tip is positioned to straddle the glenoid rim at the repair site. Suture material is appended to a suture anchor. The pre-threaded suture anchor is attached to a device driver and installed through the cannulated drill guide into the repair site, by turning into bone.

2012015, Jun 14, 2012

Feb 23, 2012

13/403402

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US
Peter J. Dreyfuss - Naples FL, US
John A. Sodeika - Naples FL, US

A61B 17/04

606232

A method and device for knotless fixation of tissue. A swivel anchor having a rotatable implant is used to capture suture for surgical tissue repair without requiring suture knots. The implant may be provided with a conical metal tip which is self-punching and avoids the need for pre-drilling a hole in bone. The implant includes a closed aperture to allow free sliding of a suture strand. The swivel anchor is secured in a hole in bone by advancing a fixation device, such as a cannulated interference screw, over the body of the implant.

7329272, Feb 12, 2008

Apr 3, 2003

10/405707

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US
Peter J. Dreyfuss - Naples FL, US
Neal S. ElAttrache - Los Angeles CA, US

Arthrex, Inc. - Naples FL

A61B 17/04

606232, 606148

A method for securing soft tissue to bone which does not require the surgeon to tie suture knots to secure the tissue to the bone. A pilot hole or socket is created in the bone at the location that the graft is to be secured. Suture is passed through the graft at desired points. A cannulated plug or screw is pre-loaded onto the distal end of a driver provided with an eyelet implant at its distal end. Suture attached to the graft is passed through the eyelet of the implant located at the distal end of the driver. The distal end of the driver together with the eyelet implant is inserted into the bottom of the hole, with the screw or plug disposed just outside the hole. Tension is applied to the suture to position the graft at the desired location relative to the bone hole. The screw or plug is then frilly advanced into the pilot hole by turning the interference screw or tapping the plug until the cannulated screw or plug securely engages and locks in the eyelet implant, so that the cannulated plug or screw with the engaged eyelet implant is flush with the bone. Once the screw or plug is fully inserted and the suture is impacted into the pilot hole, the driver is removed and any loose ends of the sutures protruding from the anchor site are then clipped short.

7981140, Jul 19, 2011

Feb 6, 2007

11/702621

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US

Arthrex, Inc. - Naples FL

A61B 17/04, A61B 17/84

606232, 606300

A chain of loops of braided high strength suture for soft tissue to bone fixation. The suture chain is advantageous for use in knotless fixation of soft tissue to bone, and can be used for knotless side-to-side suturing of U-shaped defects, such as rotator cuff tears. The soft tissue to bone fixation includes: (i) providing a first medial row constructed with a first plurality of fixation devices, at least one of the first plurality of fixation devices being an anchor; (ii) providing a second lateral row constructed with a second plurality of fixation devices, at least one of the second plurality of fixation devices being a knotless fixation device; (iii) providing a suture loop construct that includes at least two loops formed of and connected by suture; and (iv) fixating the suture loop construct so that it extends over the soft tissue and is secured in place by at least one of the fixation devices or anchors.

8202296, Jun 19, 2012

Jun 19, 2009

12/488325

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US

Arthrex, Inc. - Naples FL

A61B 17/04

606232

A method and device for knotless fixation of tissue. The method utilizes a push-in type anchor (for example, a self-punching anchor) and a suture chain that includes a plurality of loops. A first portion of the suture chain is secured to the tissue to be fixated. The suture chain is next secured to the push-in type anchor (for example, by passing the suture chain through an eyelet of the anchor). The anchor is then advanced along the suture chain to bring a tip of the anchor above a chosen loop or link of the suture chain. The tip of the anchor is pushed through the chosen loop so that the tip locks the chosen loop in place (for example, by capturing both sides of the link above a shoulder of the anchor). With the captured link, the anchor is advanced into a pilot hole or socket formed in the bone to fixate the tissue. The captured link provides a hard stop that does not slip, in addition to frictional interference between the anchor and the bone socket.

5217471, Jun 8, 1993

May 30, 1991

7/708514

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX

A61B 1700

606148

A method and apparatus for tightening of knots formed at a remote location in the body through the endoscopic surgical technique utilizing a knot pusher (10) having a cylindrical end face with diametrically opposed suture guide notches (16) formed on such end face (14). The knot pusher (10) defines an elongated groove (12) for reception of the elongated body portion (22) of a knot clamping instrument (20). The application of a pulling force (T) to the knot after it has been positioned adjacent the body parts results in the knot being tightened by forces which are generally radial to the axis of the knot pusher (10). The knot clamping instrument (20) is utilized to secure a previously formed knot while a second knot is formed in the ends of the suture and moved into position by the knot pusher (10).

2013029, Nov 7, 2013

Apr 29, 2013

13/872711

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US

Arthrex, Inc. - Naples FL

A61B 17/04

606232

A load sharing rip-stop construct and technique for soft tissue repair, particularly rotator cuff repair. A suture tape is inserted through the soft tissue (rotator cuff) at a first location. At least one suture anchor is inserted into bone, adjacent the soft tissue, the anchor being loaded with at least one length of an suture with two ends. The ends of the suture are passed through the soft tissue at a second location which is medial to the first location, and secured in bone at the second location with an anchor. The suture tape is then passed over the soft tissue and secured into the bone at a third location which is lateral to the first and second locations. The suture tape acts as a “rip-stop,” not only providing resistance to tissue cutout for the suture, but also enhancing load distribution.

2012029, Nov 22, 2012

Aug 2, 2012

13/564782

Stephen S. Burkhart - San Antonio TX, US
Sven Lichtenberg - Heidelberg, DE
John A. Sodeika - Naples FL, US
Donald K. Shuler - Naples FL, US
Ian K. Lo - Calgary, CA

A61B 17/17

606 80

Instrumentation for an open or arthroscopic Latarjet procedure that allows more control graft handling during the formation of the hole and proper positioning parallel to the articulating bone surface. The surgical instrumentation of the present invention includes an osteotome with a plurality of markings and a depth stop, a drill guide with jaws configured to securely engage an outer surface of the graft, and an offset guide to position the graft to the bone.