Patents Examined by Marcia Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8328874
    Abstract: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a unicompartmental tibial insert configured to move relative to the tibial tray. The tibial insert includes a platform having an upper bearing surface and a stem extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the unicompartmental insert. The tibial tray includes a corresponding recess, such as a cavity and/or a channel, configured to receive the stem therein such that the stem and the recess cooperate to constrain the movement of the unicompartmental tibial insert relative to the tibial tray. The stem of the unicompartmental tibial insert is configured to extend below the bottom surface of the tibial tray when received in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: DePuy Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jordan S. Lee
  • Patent number: 8323353
    Abstract: A compression stabilized prosthetic socket for a patient having an amputated limb and a remaining portion includes a first socket portion for contacting a patient's remaining portion of a limb, and a second socket portion for attachment of a prosthetic device. The first socket portion has compression portions having a radius for compressing portions of the patient's remaining portion of a limb, and relief portions receiving any portions of the patient's remaining limb which bulge upon the compression applied by the compression portions. The relief portions may be formed as openings or as enlarged radius portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventors: Randall D. Alley, T. Walley Williams, III
  • Patent number: 8323355
    Abstract: Anchoring system for a cable-activated prosthetic or orthotic device includes a fastener comprising a base and a clasp-engaging member, wherein the fastener further comprises an adhesive to secure the base directly to skin of a wearer; and a clasp comprising a first end configured to engage and rotate about the clasp-engaging member and a second end configured to engage the activation cable of a prosthetic or orthotic device. Also included is a prosthetic or orthotic system that includes the anchoring system in combination with a prosthetic or orthotic device comprising an activation cable and a terminal device, wherein the activation cable comprises a first end operatively coupled to the terminal device and a second end engaged with the second end of the clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Shriners Hospitals For Children
    Inventor: Debra Ann Latour
  • Patent number: 8317877
    Abstract: A stable shock absorbing prosthetic foot that transfers energy between heel strike and toe-off. A toe plate is separated from one or more other plates by a bumper assembly located at each of the toe end and heel end of the foot. Certain embodiments of the shock absorbing foot of the present invention are designed for use with a prosthetic ankle. A torsion adapter may also be used to attach a prosthetic foot of the present invention to the remainder of a prosthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Ohio Willow Wood Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Doddroe, Charles R. Flora, Lonnie L. Nolt, James M. Colvin
  • Patent number: 8317876
    Abstract: The invention relates to an artificial foot with a connecting part for a lower leg part, a forefoot part which is pivotably connected to the connecting part by means of an upper coupling element and a lower coupling element in such a way that an angular position of the connecting part controls an angular position of the forefoot part, one of the coupling elements extending into a heel area of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH
    Inventor: Lüder Mosler
  • Patent number: 8317874
    Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopaedic aid, in particular to a prosthesis (58) or orthosis comprising an orthopaedic fluid damper (10) with a displacement chamber (14) formed in a housing (12), with a piston (16) mounted in the displacement chamber (14), with a fluid reservoir for a fluid (20), with a return flow conduit (22) connecting the displacement chamber (14) to the fluid reservoir, with a valve (24) that can adopt an open position and a closed position, in which it at least partially closes the return flow conduit (22), and with a joint (72) that has a first branch (60) and a second branch (66), wherein the first branch (60) is connected to the housing (12) and the second branch (66) is connected to the piston (16). A device (84) is also provided for detecting a joint force (FB) acting on the joint, which device (84) is designed to bring the valve (24) to the closed position when the joint force (FB) exceeds a predefined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Pusch, Jens Noerthemann, Thomas Kettwig
  • Patent number: 8313531
    Abstract: An interlocking reversed hip prosthesis including an acetabular cup being implanted in the acetabular cavity having an acetabular articular ball, firmly attached to the central portion of the cup via Morse taper. The femoral component having a hemispherical cup attached to the neck of the implant via Morse taper in a modular fashion thereby allowing use of several length necks. After implantation of the acetabular cup and the femoral cup, the two members are assembled together for relative movement. The acetabular cup secured by several screws or resorbable fixation studs. During range of motion, the edge of the femoral cup becomes inserted into space located between the acetabular cup and the acetabular ball and becomes restrained thus reducing the likelihood of dislocation during extreme range of motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hip Innovation Technology LLC
    Inventor: Zafer Termanini
  • Patent number: 8298294
    Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic foot device with a connection part for the lower leg, a swivel joint (5) acting as an ankle joint (7) by means of which a foot part (10) is rotatably connected in the direction of dorsiflexion and the direction of plantar flexion to the connection part, with a damping arrangement (17) influencing the rotational movement about the swivel joint (5), with a sensor arrangement for detecting action states of the orthopedic foot part, and with a control unit connected to the sensor arrangement which controls the damping arrangement (17). The object is achieved by the fact that the sensor arrangement has an ankle-angle sensor which measures the angle between the connection part and the foot part (10), an absolute-angle sensor (20) relating to the plumb line and a moments sensor (21) for determining the torque on the ankle joint (7) or a force effecting a torque on the ankle joint (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Kaltenborn, Felix Ruess, Sven Zarling, Bernhard Bischof, Thomas Kraus
  • Patent number: 8292965
    Abstract: An artificial knee joint is described that includes a femoral component with a specially shaped bearing surface and a tibial component, whose surface interacts with the femoral surfaces. The interaction provides for the required motion and stability characteristics. The interaction between the femoral and tibial surfaces is such that as the knee is flexed to maximum, the femoral component moves posteriorly on the tibial surface, by an amount similar to that in the anatomic knee. The opposite motion, roll forward of the femur from a fully flexed to a more extended position, is accomplished by varying the outward radii of the lateral and medial femoral bearing surfaces, together with a ramp on the postero-lateral and postero-medial regions of the tibial surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: Peter Stanley Walker
  • Patent number: 8252061
    Abstract: A femoral stem including a stem member having a distal part of the stem member which is inserted in a medullary cavity of a femur and fixed therein and a proximal part of the stem member which has a neck for fixing an artificial head and is positioned at a proximal end of the distal part. The distal part and the proximal part are integrated or separable. Also, a plate fixing portion is detachably attached at a top of the proximal part, and a greater trochanter plate is provided for depressing the greater trochanter. The greater trochanter is fixed to the plate fixing portion at a certain angle or is fixed to the plate fixing portion so as to adjust an angle of the trochanter plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignees: Japan Medical Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Mikami, Sumihiko Maeno
  • Patent number: 8246695
    Abstract: An artificial foot has a connecting part for a lower leg part, and a base foot part rotatably connected to the connecting part via an ankle joint. The base foot part extends rearwards of the ankle joint in a heel section and forwards of the ankle joint in a midfoot section. A forefoot part is rotatably connected to the midfoot section. In order to allow an automatic adaptation of the foot to varying heel heights while ensuring a good stability, an articulated connection transmits the angular position of the connecting part in relation to the base foot part in a proportional manner to the angular position of the forefoot part in relation to the base foot part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Otto Bock HealthCare GmbH
    Inventor: Lueder Mosler
  • Patent number: 8231688
    Abstract: A semi-actuated above knee prosthetic system, which is mostly passive in nature and includes a shank link coupled to an artificial foot, a knee mechanism connected to the shank link and a thigh link attached to an above-knee remaining lower limb of an amputee, is operable in either an actuated mode or an un-actuated mode controlled by a signal processor linked to various prosthetic mounted sensors which may include combinations of knee angle, stance, thigh angle and shank angle sensors. Power is delivered through an electric motor connected to a battery source and employed to drive a hydraulic pump which is part of an overall hydraulic power unit including the torque generator. A signal processor selects a swing state from at least forward, combination forward and descent, combination forward and ascent, reverse, combination reverse and descent, and combination reverse and ascent swing states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Berkeley Bionics, The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Dylan Miller Fairbanks, Adam Brian Zoss, Minerva Vasudevan Pillai, Miclas Schwartz, Nathan Harding, Matthew Rosa, Bram Gilbert Antoon Lambrecht, Sebastian Kruse, Homayoon Kazerooni
  • Patent number: 8221506
    Abstract: The prosthetic foot (1) consists of three or four laminas, a lower lamina (1a) defining the under-heel and the foot front, a rear lamina (1b) defining the heel and functioning as the Achilles tendon and as the soleus muscle, two upper laminas (1c and 1d) defining the front part of the foot and performing the function of the front tibial muscle, and a connector (2) in proximity to the ankle to serve as a coupling for a tube (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Roadrunnerfoot Engineering S.R.L.
    Inventor: Daniele Bonacini
  • Patent number: 8206459
    Abstract: A prosthetic assembly for a residual limb that includes a sleeve for attachment to a distal portion of the residual limb, where the attachment member has a diametrically oriented magnetic field, and a prosthesis with a socket for receiving the sleeve, where the prosthesis socket has a distal end with an attachment member having a corresponding diametrically oriented magnetic field. The diametrically oriented magnetic fields of the sleeve and prosthetic attachment members may be oriented on the prosthesis and the residual limb to achieve a predetermined rotational orientation between the prosthesis and the residual limb and will facilitate removal of the prosthesis with a twisting action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    Inventors: Blair Lock, Todd Kuiken, Robert Lipschutz
  • Patent number: 8182546
    Abstract: A secure anchoring strap over a prosthetic socket for securing a sleeve. The anchoring strap generally comprises a first strap attached at one end to one side of a closed loop buckle. The first strap laden with hook-attachments comprises a woven inner outer material fabric or loop material. A second strap Is attached at one end to another side of the closed loop buckle, the second strap comprising a laden with hook-attachments and a woven Inner outer material fabric or loop material. A user simply wraps the attachment strap around a margin of their sleeve overlying their prosthetic socket, and passes the free end of the first strap back through the closed loop buckle. They pull the opposing free ends of the straps taught, and secure the inner hook-material of the respective straps to the opposing woven fabric beneath, thereby securing the strap tightly in a flush configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: H. Lee Mantelmacher
  • Patent number: 8182540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a skull endosseous implant adapted to be implanted in the subject's skull to provide an access channel. A variety of sensor means may be installed in the access channel for monitoring the intracranial status of the subject. The present invention further provides a kit containing the skull endosseous implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: National Cheng Kung University
    Inventors: Chou-Ching Lin, Ming-Shaung Ju, Chia-Chu Chiang
  • Patent number: 8167953
    Abstract: Thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint implants include a trapezium implant defining an articulating surface and a cooperating first metacarpal implant with a base portion of the first metacarpal defining an articulating surface. The first metacarpal base articulating-surface is configured to articulate against the trapezium implant articulating surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Piper Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark J. Warburton
  • Patent number: 8152847
    Abstract: Methods of using cartilage implant devices are provided. The methods include locating articular cartilage having a lesion, and utilizing an implant having dimensions compatible with the lesion. The method further includes forming a cavity in the articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and cancellous bond, and engaging the implant with the cavity so that the lower face of the articular end of the implant abuts against the subchondral bone, and the stem of the implant abuts against the cancellous bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: MoiRai Orthopaedics, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Strzepa, Stephen D. Cook
  • Patent number: 8147558
    Abstract: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray, a tibial insert, and a platform separate from the tibial tray and the tibial insert. The platform is configured to be coupled to the tibial insert and the tibial tray. The tibial insert is movable relative to the platform and the platform is movable relative to the tibial tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: DePuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan S. Lee, Daniel D. Auger
  • Patent number: 8142510
    Abstract: A mobile tibial assembly includes a tibial tray and a tibial insert. The tibial tray includes a track that is defined in an upper surface, and the track has a bottom wall that is flat in the medial-lateral direction and convex in the anterior-posterior direction. The tibial insert includes a bottom bearing surface configured to contact the upper surface of the tibial tray and a stem including a circular neck connected to the bottom bearing surface. The bottom bearing surface has a surface area that is less than the cross-sectional area of the circular neck. The convex upper surface of the tibial tray contacts the concave bottom bearing surface of the tibial insert and the tibial insert is freely rotatable about a central axis defined by the stem as the tibial insert is moved along the track relative to the tibial tray in the generally anterior-posterior direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: DePuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan S. Lee, James M. Rhodes