Jack L Lewis

Title: Jack L. Lewis and a Knee Ligament Reconstruction Invention.

Introduction

Jack L. Lewis is an inventor associated with Maple Plain, Minnesota, and the Regents of the University of Minnesota. His patent work addresses a practical challenge in knee reconstruction: accurately adjusting and securing a ligament graft under a prescribed load.

Latest Patents

Lewis is credited with 1 patent: “Ligament Graft Apparatus and Method.” The invention describes a knee reconstruction apparatus and method for controlling and adjusting the fixation point of a ligament graft, such as a replacement for the anterior cruciate ligament.

A fixture attached to the tibia includes an adjustable clamp that holds a graft anchored or held in the femur. With the joint under a prescribed load, the clamp can be moved to adjust the graft’s length or the lengths of individual segments in a composite graft. The apparatus can also measure the load carried by individual graft components before fixation, helping ensure that each segment carries its selected share of the load.

Career Highlights

Lewis’s patent focuses on making graft adjustment more precise and repeatable before fixation. By allowing length and load to be assessed while the joint is loaded, the approach is intended to support controlled ligament reconstruction.

Collaborations

The patent information associates Lewis with the Regents of the University of Minnesota. William D. Lew and Robert E. Hunter are identified as his coworkers.

Conclusion

Jack L. Lewis’s patented apparatus and method address graft length and load adjustment during knee reconstruction, with the goal of enabling more controlled and repeatable ligament fixation.