Patents by Inventor Fridolin Schlapfer
Fridolin Schlapfer 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).
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Publication number: 20120059427Abstract: An intermediate element for a detachable, lockable, ball joint-like connection in a device for the dynamic fixation of bones has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall concentric with the longitudinal axis, and an inner wall forming a coaxial cavity. Either the outer wall or the inner wall comprises one of two contact zones that form the ball joint-like connection. The intermediate element is at least partly made of a super-elastic or visco-elastic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2011Publication date: March 8, 2012Applicant: Synthes USA, LLCInventor: Fridolin Schläpfer
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Patent number: 8075600Abstract: An intermediate element for a detachable, lockable, ball joint-like connection in a device for the dynamic fixation of bones has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall concentric with the longitudinal axis, and an inner wall forming a coaxial cavity. Either the outer wall or the inner wall comprises one of two contact zones that form the ball joint-like connection. The intermediate element is at least partly made of a super-elastic or visco-elastic material.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventor: Fridolin Schläpfer
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Patent number: 8012184Abstract: A device pivotally connects two stabilizing parts to a bone. The device comprises at least one bone fixing element with a central axis, an anchor part designed to be fixed in or onto the bone, and a head part that can be attached to both stabilizing parts. The two stabilizing parts are located axially one below the other. Each stabilizing part has a cavity there through running coaxially to the central axis. A clamping element, which can be elastically deformed transversely to the central axis, is rotatably mounted in each cavity. The clamping element has a central bore running coaxially to the central axis for receiving the head part. The device comprises at least one wedge or cone that can be axially clamped in the central bores, enabling the head part of the bone fixing element to be removably fixed in at least one of the stabilizing parts.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventors: Fridolin Schläpfer, Martin Hess
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Patent number: 7841798Abstract: A device for a ball-and-socket-type connection of two members includes a first member having a head and a second member having a cavity that receives the head. The cross-sectional surface of the cavity is tapered at the lower end of the second member as a result of a constriction. The head and/or cavity is configured spherically with a center of articulation (Z). The ball-and-socket-type connection between the two members can be detachably fixed by means of a clamping element that can be connected to the second member. The head has a recess in which the front end of the clamping element can rest. The recess and/or the front end has an at least partially spherical surface with a center (C). In the clamped position of the device, the center of articulation (Z) and the center (C) are identical.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2006Date of Patent: November 30, 2010Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Renzo Defranceschi
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Patent number: 7666207Abstract: A device for fixation of vertebral bodies including a longitudinal support with a central axis and two or more anchoring elements. Each anchoring element having a longitudinal axis, a front end, and a back end. The longitudinal axis of each anchoring element may be arranged at an angle of between 65 degrees and 115 degrees relative to the central axis of the longitudinal support, while the anchoring elements are designed to abut the back end. The anchoring elements may be shaped in the form of a blade toward the front end.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventors: Fridolin Schläpfer, Martin Hess, Konrad Tagwerker
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Publication number: 20100036428Abstract: A device pivotally connects two stabilizing parts to a bone. The device comprises at least one bone fixing element with a central axis, an anchor part designed to be fixed in or onto the bone, and a head part that can be attached to both stabilizing parts. The two stabilizing parts are located axially one below the other. Each stabilizing part has a cavity there through running coaxially to the central axis. A clamping element, which can be elastically deformed transversely to the central axis, is rotatably mounted in each cavity. The clamping element has a central bore running coaxially to the central axis for receiving the head part. The device comprises at least one wedge or cone that can be axially clamped in the central bores, enabling the head part of the bone fixing element to be removably fixed in at least one of the stabilizing parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2009Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventors: Fridolin Schläpfer, Martin Hess
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Patent number: 7621941Abstract: A device pivotally connects two stabilizing parts to a bone. The device comprises at least one bone fixing element with a central axis, an anchor part designed to be fixed in or onto the bone, and a head part that can be attached to both stabilizing parts. The two stabilizing parts are located axially one below the other. Each stabilizing part has a cavity there through running coaxially to the central axis. A clamping element, which can be elastically deformed transversely to the central axis, is rotatably mounted in each cavity. The clamping element has a central bore running coaxially to the central axis for receiving the head part. The device comprises at least one wedge or cone that can be axially clamped in the central bores, enabling the head part of the bone fixing element to be removably fixed in at least one of the stabilizing parts.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2005Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Synthes USA, LLCInventors: Fridolin Schläpfer, Martin Hess
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Publication number: 20070233087Abstract: An intermediate element for a detachable, lockable, ball joint-like connection in a device for the dynamic fixation of bones has a longitudinal axis, an outer wall concentric with the longitudinal axis, and an inner wall forming a coaxial cavity. Either the outer wall or the inner wall comprises one of two contact zones that form the ball joint-like connection. The intermediate element is at least partly made of a super-elastic or visco-elastic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2007Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventor: Fridolin Schlapfer
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Publication number: 20070123865Abstract: A device for the dynamic stabilization of bones or bone fragments, especially vertebral bodies, includes a longitudinal carrier having a longitudinal axis and at least two bone anchoring devices. Each bone anchoring device has an anchoring part that attaches to bone and a connecting part that detachably fastens the longitudinal carrier to the anchoring device. The longitudinal carrier has in the axial direction a number of n flexible segments where n?1. Each flexible segment has a cross-sectional surface orthogonal to the longitudinal axis that corresponds neither to a circle nor to a regular polygon. The longitudinal carrier also has a number of m essentially stiff segments where m=(n+1). The total number of flexible and stiff axial segments is ?(2n+1).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2006Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess
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Publication number: 20070032849Abstract: A device for a ball-and-socket-type connection of two members includes a first member having a head and a second member having a cavity that receives the head. The cross-sectional surface of the cavity is tapered at the lower end of the second member as a result of a constriction. The head and/or cavity is configured spherically with a center of articulation (Z). The ball-and-socket-type connection between the two members can be detachably fixed by means of a clamping element that can be connected to the second member. The head has a recess in which the front end of the clamping element can rest. The recess and/or the front end has an at least partially spherical surface with a center (C). In the clamped position of the device, the center of articulation (Z) and the center (C) are identical.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2006Publication date: February 8, 2007Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Renzo Defranceschi
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Publication number: 20060271053Abstract: A device for fixation of vertebral bodies including a longitudinal support with a central axis and n anchoring elements (2?i?n). Each anchoring element having a longitudinal axes, a front end, and a back end. The longitudinal axis of each anchoring elements may be arranged at an angle of between 65° and 115° relative to the central axis of the longitudinal support, while the anchoring elements are designed to abut the back end. The anchoring elements may be shaped in the form of a blade toward the front end.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2006Publication date: November 30, 2006Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess, Konrad Tagwerker
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Patent number: 7121755Abstract: A device for a ball-and-socket-type connection of two members includes a first member having a head and a second member having a cavity that receives the head. The cross-sectional surface of the cavity is tapered at the lower end of the second member as a result of a constriction. The head and/or cavity is configured spherically with a center of articulation (Z). The ball-and-socket-type connection between the two members can be detachably fixed by a clamping element that can be connected to the second member. The head has a recess in which the front end of the clamping element can rest. The recess and/or the front end has an at least partially spherical surface with a centre (C). In the clamped position of the device, the center of articulation (Z) and the centre (C) are identical.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Renzo Defranceschi
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Patent number: 7008432Abstract: The invention relates to a device for exerting axial forces on bone fragments or vertebral bodies. The inventive device comprises a first connecting element, a second longitudinal connecting element which is displaceable relative to the first connecting element and a longitudinal support with a longitudinal axis and a front end that can be linked with the first connecting element. A tubular sleeve is coaxial relative to the longitudinal axis in which the longitudinal support is displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis and comprises a front end that is directed against the first connecting element.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2002Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: SynthesInventors: Fridolin Schläpfer, Martin Hess
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Publication number: 20060025770Abstract: A device pivotally connects two stabilizing parts to a bone. The device comprises at least one bone fixing element with a central axis, an anchor part designed to be fixed in or onto the bone, and a head part that can be attached to both stabilizing parts. The two stabilizing parts are located axially one below the other. Each stabilizing part has a cavity there through running coaxially to the central axis. A clamping element, which can be elastically deformed transversely to the central axis, is rotatably mounted in each cavity. The clamping element has a central bore running coaxially to the central axis for receiving the head part. The device comprises at least one wedge or cone that can be axially clamped in the central bores, enabling the head part of the bone fixing element to be removably fixed in at least one of the stabilizing parts.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2005Publication date: February 2, 2006Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess
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Publication number: 20050209592Abstract: The present invention relates to a plug-type connection for releasably connecting two bodies wherein the first body includes a first connection zone having a plurality of coaxially aligned first connection segments and the second body includes a plurality of coaxially aligned second connection segments. The first connection segment includes at least one segment with a non-circular cross-section and at least one segment having an axially tapering cross-section. The second connection segment includes at least one segment with a non-circular cross section sized and configured for rotatively engaging the non-circular cross section of the first connection segment and at least one segment sized and configured to mate with the at least one tapering section, wherein the tapered section of the first connection segment and the mating section of the second connection segment form an axially non-positive engagement for guiding the first body into engagement with the second body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2005Publication date: September 22, 2005Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess, Robert Rauker, Charles Geltz
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Patent number: 6866664Abstract: A device for releasably clamping and connecting a longitudinal member within a surgical implant includes at least one yoke-like connecting body with a through-bore, coupling means arranged on the connecting body for fastening the connecting body to a further part of the implant, a yoke-like clamping body which can slide in the through-bore and has resilient side walls and a through-opening for receiving the longitudinal member, and fixation means. A wedging effect produced by elevations on side walls of the clamping body retains the longitudinal member in the through-opening.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: Manuel Schår, David Gerber, Fridolin Schlåpfer
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Publication number: 20050033436Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a ball-and-socket-type connection of two members.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2004Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Renzo Defranceschi
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Publication number: 20040068258Abstract: A device for fixation of vertebral bodies including a longitudinal support with a central axis and n anchoring elements (2≦i≦n). Each anchoring element having a longitudinal axes, a front end, and a back end. The longitudinal axis of each anchoring elements may be arranged at an angle of between 65° and 115° relative to the central axis of the longitudinal support, while the anchoring elements are designed to abut the back end. The anchoring elements may be shaped in the form of a blade toward the front end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2003Publication date: April 8, 2004Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess, Konrad Tagwerker
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Publication number: 20030187453Abstract: The invention relates to a device for exerting axial forces on bone fragments or vertebral bodies. The inventive device comprises a first connecting element, a second longitudinal connecting element which is displaceable relative to the first connecting element and a longitudinal support with a longitudinal axis and a front end that can be linked with the first connecting element. A tubular sleeve is coaxial relative to the longitudinal axis in which the longitudinal support is displaceable parallel to the longitudinal axis and comprises a front end that is directed against the first connecting element.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess
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Patent number: 6582436Abstract: A device for connecting a longitudinal support to a bone anchor having a rounded head includes a body defining a chamber for receiving the rounded head of the bone anchor and a first channel for receiving the longitudinal support. Further, a first sleeve is slidable over the body for compressing the chamber, a second sleeve is slidable over the body for biasing the longitudinal support against the first sleeve, and a fastener is operatively associated with the body for biasing the second sleeve toward the first sleeve. The forces exerted on the second sleeve by the fastener are transferred to the first sleeve in a plane perpendicular to the central axis. Preferably, the longitudinal support contacts the first sleeve at first and second contact points or zones and one of the sleeves includes at least one extended portion for contacting the other sleeve at at least one additional contact point or zone.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Synthes (U.S.A.)Inventors: Fridolin Schlapfer, Martin Hess