Patents by Inventor Deborah S. German

Deborah S. German 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).

  • Patent number: 7291174
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee system has a tibial component and a modular sleeve. The tibial component has a tibial tray, a stem and keels extending between the distal surface of the tray and the stem. The modular sleeve has an oval proximal surface with spaced reliefs. The reliefs and keels are sized, shaped and positioned to allow the modular sleeve to be mounted on the tibial component with the stem of the tibial component received in the interior channel of the sleeve and the keels of the tibial component received in the spaced reliefs of the modular sleeve, and to allow for some relative rotation between the tibial component and the sleeve. The system gives the surgeon the freedom to implant the tibial component alone, with the keels providing stability, or, in the case of bone deficiency, to implant the tibial component and sleeve as an assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Depuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah S. German, Todd D. Durniak, Danny W. Rumple, Christel M. Klebba
  • Patent number: 7175665
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee system has a tibial component and a universal augment. A single augment can be used to support the tibial tray on either the medial or lateral side. The augment has reverse image sides and a through-bore with no threads. The tibial tray has a complementary threaded bore. The through-bore of the augment has a plane of symmetry perpendicular to its central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Depuy Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah S. German, Jeffrey L. Koenneman
  • Patent number: 6942670
    Abstract: A tibial trial assembly for evaluating the stability and kinematics of a tibial implant, particularly a mobile bearing implant, prior to committing to the final preparation of the proximal tibia is described. The tibial trail assembly includes a tray trial adapted to be secured onto a resected proximal end of a patient's tibia. An evaluation bullet is either adapted to removably fit into a configured recess in the trial tray, or is integral therewith. A trunnion on the evaluation bullet accepts a recess in a corresponding articular tibial insert trial. The tibial insert trial is thus received on the trunnion. Preferably, the evaluation bullet is removable from the trial tray such that the remaining assembly is used to locate and guide (orient) the instrument(s) that prepare the tibia for the final implant. Typically, this includes broaching, drilling, or punching through the opening in the trial tray/plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Heldreth, Deborah S. German
  • Publication number: 20040049284
    Abstract: A prosthetic knee system has a tibial component and a universal augment. A single augment can be used to support the tibial tray on either the medial or lateral side. The augment has reverse image sides and a through-bore with no threads. The tibial tray has a complementary threaded bore. The through-bore of the augment has a plane of symmetry perpendicular to its central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Deborah S. German, Jeffrey L. Koenneman
  • Publication number: 20020082607
    Abstract: A tibial trial assembly for evaluating the stability and kinematics of a tibial implant, particularly a mobile bearing implant, prior to committing to the final preparation of the proximal tibia is described. The tibial trail assembly includes a trial tray adapted to be secured onto a resected proximal end of a patient's tibia. An evaluation bullet is adapted to removably fit into a configured recess in the trial tray. Alternatively, it is possible that the evaluation bullet is made integral with the trial tray. A trunnion on the evaluation bullet accepts a recess in a corresponding articular tibial insert trial. The tibial insert trial is thus received on the trunnion. In this manner, a surgeon may evaluate the stability and kinematics prior to committing to the use of the final tibial implant design. In one form, the evaluation bullet allows the tibial insert trial to move, such as rotate, thereon for checking a mobile bearing implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Mark A. Heldreth, Deborah S. German
  • Patent number: 6139581
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for replacing at least a portion of a proximal tibia. The tibial tray apparatus includes a posterior compensation element configured for extension across a resected surface of the tibia and formed to include a proximal surface, a distal surface, and a side wall and a stem extending from and being unitary with the distal surface. The side wall of the posterior compensation element includes an anterior region with an anterior height and a posterior region with a posterior height, the posterior height being greater than the anterior height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard A Engh, Deborah S German, Jeff R Webb