Patents by Inventor Larry O. Blankenship

Larry O. Blankenship 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).

  • Publication number: 20220211249
    Abstract: A single-use electronic endoscope has a hub, a shaft extending from the hub, flexible or rigid as desired, and an expandable distal tip extending from the shaft. Within the distal tip, an image sensor provides a field of view external from the endoscope. Illuminating elements or light guides within the distal tip emit light to illuminate the field of view. The distal tip also has a variable profile working channel that permits tools to be passed from the hub and into the field of view. The expandable working channel changes cross-sectional shape from a generally noncircular shape to a shape to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of the tool when expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Robert C. Kucharski, Paul I. Bloom, Giacomo Basadonna, Larry O. Blankenship, Laura E. Bucknam
  • Patent number: 11141045
    Abstract: A single-use electronic endoscope has a hub, a shaft extending from the hub, flexible or rigid as desired, and an expandable distal tip extending from the shaft. Within the distal tip, an image sensor provides a field of view external from the endoscope. Illuminating elements or light guides within the distal tip emit light to illuminate the field of view. The distal tip also has a variable profile working channel that permits tools to be passed from the hub and into the field of view. The expandable working channel changes cross-sectional shape from a generally noncircular shape to a shape to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of the tool when expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: EnlightenVue LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Kucharski, Paul I. Bloom, Giacomo Basadonna, Larry O. Blankenship, Laura E. Bucknam
  • Patent number: 10639079
    Abstract: An alignment device for aligning an orthopedic plate with a bone attachment site includes one or more one light sources that are secured to an orthopedic plate holder with a mounting interface and in a location spaced from the orthopedic plate that is releasably secured to the distal end of the plate holder. The light sources are configured to project an illuminated indication pattern of variable intensity onto the plane the orthopedic plate and aligned with the primary axis of interest of the orthopedic plate, and which indication pattern extends a sufficient lateral distance away from the plate holder to allow the medical professional to align the axis of interest of the orthopedic plate with an out-of-view bone attachment site using at least one superficial anatomic landmark on the exterior of the patient and remote from the bone attachment site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Straight Shot, LLC
    Inventors: Scott K. Dhupar, Larry O. Blankenship, Christopher M. Sprague, Kirk W. Cook
  • Publication number: 20190117276
    Abstract: An alignment device for aligning an orthopedic plate with a bone attachment site includes one or more one light sources that are secured to an orthopedic plate holder with a mounting interface and in a location spaced from the orthopedic plate that is releasably secured to the distal end of the plate holder. The light sources are configured to project an illuminated indication pattern of variable intensity onto the plane the orthopedic plate and aligned with the primary axis of interest of the orthopedic plate, and which indication pattern extends a sufficient lateral distance away from the plate holder to allow the medical professional to align the axis of interest of the orthopedic plate with an out-of-view bone attachment site using at least one superficial anatomic landmark on the exterior of the patient and remote from the bone attachment site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Scott K. Dhupar, Larry O. Blankenship, Christopher M. Sprague, Kirk W. Cook
  • Publication number: 20180249888
    Abstract: A single-use electronic endoscope has a hub, a shaft extending from the hub, flexible or rigid as desired, and an expandable distal tip extending from the shaft. Within the distal tip, an image sensor provides a field of view external from the endoscope. Illuminating elements or light guides within the distal tip emit light to illuminate the field of view. The distal tip also has a variable profile working channel that permits tools to be passed from the hub and into the field of view. The expandable working channel changes cross-sectional shape from a generally noncircular shape to a shape to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of the tool when expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Robert C. Kucharski, Paul I. Bloom, Giacomo Basadonna, Larry O. Blankenship, Laura E. Bucknam
  • Patent number: 9913570
    Abstract: A single-use electronic endoscope has a hub, a shaft extending from the hub, flexible or rigid as desired, and an expandable distal tip extending from the shaft. Within the distal tip, an image sensor provides a field of view external from the endoscope. Illuminating elements or light guides within the distal tip emit light to illuminate the field of view. The distal tip also has a variable profile working channel that permits tools to be passed from the hub and into the field of view. The expandable working channel changes cross-sectional shape from a generally noncircular shape to a shape to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of the tool when expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ENLIGHTENVUE LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Kucharski, Paul I. Bloom, Giacomo Basadonna, Larry O. Blankenship, Laura E. Bucknam
  • Publication number: 20170035277
    Abstract: A single-use electronic endoscope has a hub, a shaft extending from the hub, flexible or rigid as desired, and an expandable distal tip extending from the shaft. Within the distal tip, an image sensor provides a field of view external from the endoscope. Illuminating elements or light guides within the distal tip emit light to illuminate the field of view. The distal tip also has a variable profile working channel that permits tools to be passed from the hub and into the field of view. The expandable working channel changes cross-sectional shape from a generally noncircular shape to a shape to accommodate the cross-sectional shape of the tool when expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Robert C. Kucharski, Paul I. Bloom, Giacomo Basadonna, Larry O. Blankenship, Laura E. Bucknam