Patents by Inventor Nicholas Zalinski
Nicholas Zalinski 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: 11850176Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Nicholas Zalinski, James Campbell
-
Publication number: 20220339018Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Applicant: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Nicholas Zalinski, James Campbell
-
Patent number: 11395753Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 2017Date of Patent: July 26, 2022Assignee: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Nicholas Zalinski, James Campbell
-
Patent number: 10874539Abstract: Configurable orthoses having a high degree of independent adjustability of various parameters are provided. In the example of a rehabilitation-evaluation ankle-foot orthosis (REAFO), these parameters may include calf band anteroposterior, height, width, sagittal tilt, coronal tilt, and mediolateral displacement adjustments; mediolateral displacement adjustments of a supramalleolar support; heel width/stirrup separation adjustment; and sagittal active joint resistance and neutral angle adjustments. Calf band mediolateral displacement adjustment may be provided by a lockable four-bar pivoting frame linkage of the REAFO. In one aspect, the configurable orthosis is used in conjunction with a plastically deformable precursor member to facilitate the design and manufacture of a definitive orthosis customized for a particular patient.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Beatrice Janka, Alec Bashore, Nicholas Zalinski, Rodger Broick, James Campbell
-
Patent number: 10814571Abstract: The application discloses a conformable support structure for use in fiber composite precursor; a resin impregnated conformable fiber composite precursor, which may surround the support structure, for being manually manipulated and plastically deformed into a desired shape before being cured into a final product having the desired shape; the corresponding final product, which may be an orthosis or other product; and methods of making the final product or orthosis. The support structure is typically plastically deformable by hand to form the desired shape, may be substantially planar and may have various voids to promote controlled plastic deformation of the frame in one or more desired directions. The core may comprise a wire or tube and may include packing or filler material. The precursor includes a fiber layer impregnated with a thermoset resin and includes a compressor around the fiber layer. The fiber layer is supported internally or externally by the conformable support member.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Alec Bashore, Nicholas Zalinski, Rodger Broick, James Campbell
-
Patent number: 10500081Abstract: In one aspect, an improved ankle joint device provides two stages of dorsiflexion resistance biasing a first splint member (or other attachment member that follows the angular displacement of a wearer's lower leg or foot) against dorsiflexion movement within an active angular range of dorsiflexion, corresponding to second and third rocker phases of a wearer's gait; in addition to a phase of plantarflexion resistance biasing the first splint/attachment member against plantarflexion movement within an active angular range of plantarflexion, corresponding to a first rocker phase. In another aspect, an equilibrium or neutral angle between a wearer's foot and tibia at which the device applies no biasing forces is adjustable by adjusting the angle at which a second splint/attachment member is fixed relative to a joint body. Typically, the second splint member is secured to a wearer's lower leg, and the first splint member is secured to a wearer's foot.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: James Campbell, Nicholas LeCursi, Nicholas Zalinski
-
Publication number: 20180318122Abstract: Configurable orthoses having a high degree of independent adjustability of various parameters are provided. In the example of a rehabilitation-evaluation ankle-foot orthosis (REAFO), these parameters may include calf band anteroposterior, height, width, sagittal tilt, coronal tilt, and mediolateral displacement adjustments; mediolateral displacement adjustments of a supramalleolar support; heel width/stirrup separation adjustment; and sagittal active joint resistance and neutral angle adjustments. Calf band mediolateral displacement adjustment may be provided by a lockable four-bar pivoting frame linkage of the REAFO. In one aspect, the configurable orthosis is used in conjunction with a plastically deformable precursor member to facilitate the design and manufacture of a definitive orthosis customized for a particular patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: November 8, 2018Inventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Beatrice Janka, Alec Bashore, Nicholas Zalinski, Rodger Broick, James Campbell
-
Publication number: 20170297278Abstract: The application discloses a conformable support structure for use in fiber composite precursor; a resin impregnated conformable fiber composite precursor, which may surround the support structure, for being manually manipulated and plastically deformed into a desired shape before being cured into a final product having the desired shape; the corresponding final product, which may be an orthosis or other product; and methods of making the final product or orthosis. The support structure is typically plastically deformable by hand to form the desired shape, may be substantially planar and may have various voids to promote controlled plastic deformation of the frame in one or more desired directions. The core may comprise a wire or tube and may include packing or filler material. The precursor includes a fiber layer impregnated with a thermoset resin and includes a compressor around the fiber layer. The fiber layer is supported internally or externally by the conformable support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Applicant: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Alec Bashore, Nicholas Zalinski, Rodger Broick, James Campbell
-
Publication number: 20170231797Abstract: Various orthotic joint devices, components, and methods are provided. These include orthotic joint alignment devices for adjusting a neutral or fixed angle of an orthotic joint device independently of other parameters, orthotic joint devices providing staged resistance through staged recruitment of separate springs or initiation of staged spring-rate behavior of a single spring retained in a joint body, adapters for converting non-staged resistance orthotic joint devices into orthotic joint devices, and low-noise orthotic joint devices with intermittent normal force-transmitting contact associated with resistive or assistive forces provided by the devices, and methods of using the devices and components.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: Nicholas LeCursi, Nicholas Zalinski, James Campbell
-
Publication number: 20160361189Abstract: An improved ankle joint device is provided. In one aspect, the device provides two stages of dorsiflexion resistance biasing a first splint member (or other attachment member that follows the angular displacement of a wearer's lower leg or foot) against dorsiflexion movement within an active angular range of dorsiflexion, corresponding to second and third rocker phases of a wearer's gait; in addition to a phase of plantarflexion resistance biasing the first splint/attachment member against plantarflexion movement within an active angular range of plantarflexion, corresponding to a first rocker phase. In another aspect, an equilibrium or neutral angle between a wearer's foot and tibia at which the device applies no biasing forces is adjustable by adjusting the angle at which a second splint/attachment member is fixed relative to a joint body. Typically, the second splint member is secured to a wearer's lower leg, and the first splint member is secured to a wearer's foot.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2015Publication date: December 15, 2016Applicant: BECKER ORTHOPEDIC APPLIANCE COMPANYInventors: James Campbell, Nicholas LeCursi, Nicholas Zalinski
-
Patent number: 7410471Abstract: A selectively lockable orthotic joint is provided in which a pressure sensor having a thin layer of variably resistive material generates a control signal when an actuation force is applied to the sensor. An electronic circuit operatively connects the sensor to a mechanical orthotic joint that can be selectively locked and unlocked in response to the control signal. The control signal may be uniform in strength selectively locking and unlocking the joint. The control signal may also be variable in strength wherein the orthotic joint provides increasing or decreasing resistance to motion responsive to a corresponding increase or decrease in control signal strength. The device is suitable for use as a foot/ankle/leg orthotic having a foot sensor which selectively operates a mechanical knee joint.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2003Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: Becker Orthopedic Appliance CompanyInventors: James H. Campbell, Nicholas Zalinski, Jonathan M. Naft, Wyatt S. Newman