Patents by Inventor Chris Hrabe

Chris Hrabe has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Surgical access system and method of using the same
    Patent number: 8641609
    Abstract: A method of thermally treating tissue during a surgical procedure where a surgical access device, including a body member having walls with at least one conduit therein, is inserted into the patient. A chilled fluid is circulated through the at least one conduit such that the tissue that is located proximate the body member is cooled. Alternatively, the body member may be constructed from a highly thermally conductive material such that heat energy is transmitted through the body from the tissue located proximate the body member and into a heat sink. The surgical device may include a first or second blade portions constructed from an inner and an outer shell having walls. Ribs located on the inner shell sealingly coupled to the inner wall of the outer shell to create the at least one conduit within the walls of the blade portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh D. Hestad, Robert G. Hudgins, John Dawson, Chris Hrabe, Thomas O. Viker
  • SURGICAL ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20090105546
    Abstract: A method of thermally treating tissue during a surgical procedure where a surgical access device, including a body member having walls with at least one conduit therein, is inserted into the patient. A chilled fluid is circulated through the at least one conduit such that the tissue that is located proximate the body member is cooled. Alternatively, the body member may be constructed from a highly thermally conductive material such that heat energy is transmitted through the body from the tissue located proximate the body member and into a heat sink. The surgical device may include a first or second blade portions constructed from an inner and an outer shell having walls. Ribs located on the inner shell sealingly coupled to the inner wall of the outer shell to create the at least one conduit within the walls of the blade portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: ZIMMER SPINE, INC.
    Inventors: Hugh D. Hestad, Robert G. Hudgins, John Dawson, Chris Hrabe, Thomas O. Viker