Patents by Inventor Robert Frigg

Robert Frigg 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: 10363144
    Abstract: An expandable spinal implant assembly is configured to be inserted between two adjacent vertebral bodies. The expandable spinal implant assembly includes a substantially hollow first body with a first superior endplate with a first top inside face and a first inferior endplate with a first bottom inside face. The first superior endplate and the first inferior endplate are connected together by a lateral wall. At least one strut is arranged within said first body, connecting the first top inside face with the first bottom inside face, said strut including a first threaded through bore. The assembly further includes a substantially hollow second body with a second superior endplate and a second inferior endplate, said second body inserted within said first body. A central screw with a first end including a ball-head and a drive, said central screw further having a threaded shaft is engaged within said first threaded through bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: 41MEDICAL AG
    Inventors: Tom Overes, Robert Frigg
  • Patent number: 10335214
    Abstract: A bone fixation element comprises a shaft extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the fixation element in combination with a head including a plurality of fixation element openings distributed about a perimeter thereof. Each of the fixation element openings extends through the head from a proximal surface thereof to a distal surface of the head. Each of the fixation element openings extends through the head along an opening axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Appenzeller, Tom Overes, Robert Frigg, Nicolas Bouduban, Silas Zurschmiede, Simon Stucki
  • Publication number: 20190183544
    Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Yvonne SCHUMACHER, Robert FRIGG, Alfred NIEDERBERGER, Daniel FLURI, Andreas APPENZELLER, Beat SPÖRRI
  • Patent number: 10251682
    Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yvonne Schumacher, Robert Frigg, Alfred Niederberger, Daniel Fluri, Andreas Appenzeller, Beat Spörri
  • Publication number: 20190099277
    Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis or disk prosthesis comprising a front side, a rear side, an upper side which can be placed on the base plate of vertebral body, a lower side which can be placed on the base plate of a vertebral body, a right side, a left side, a cavity which can receive a fluid hydraulic osteocementum, an opening in the cavity and several outlets out from the cavity. The total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SV on the front side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SH on the rear side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SR on the right side and the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets on the left side satisfy the following conditions: SL>SR or SR>SL or SH>SV or SV>SH.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Beat Lechmann, Robert Frigg, Roger Buerki
  • Patent number: 10194969
    Abstract: The present application relates to a torque limiter (1) comprising a handle (2) with a mono-block cylindrical handle-body. The cylindrical handle-body includes a central through bore (3) having an axis (B) at a right angle to a longitudinal axis (A) of the cylindrical handle-body as well as a first pocket (4) and a second pocket (5). The first pocket (4) is arranged on a first side and the second pocket (5) is arranged on a second side of said cylindrical handle-body opposite of said first side. The first pocket (4) and the second pocket (5) are arranged along said longitudinal axis (A) and intersect each other in the area of said central through bore (3), each of said first pocket (4) and said second pocket (5) comprising at least one magnet (6a, 6b, 7a, 7b; 35). Further, the torque limiter (1) comprises a mono-block shaft (20) having a central shaft (21) removably arranged in said central through bore (3), said central shaft (21) having a drive (23) arranged at a first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: 41medical AG
    Inventors: Tom Overes, Robert Frigg
  • Publication number: 20190029741
    Abstract: A device for bone fixation comprising: a bone plate (1) which has a plate hole (2) suitable for receiving a bone screw (20), the plate hole (2) having an inner wall (4) made of a material which has a hardness Hp; and a hollow cylinder- or hollow cone-shaped insert which is mounted in the plate hole (2), at least partially abuts the inner wall (4) and is suitable for accommodating the head (21) of a bone screw (20), the insert (10) being arranged in the plate hole (2) such that it is secured against rotation and consisting of a material that has a hardness HE<Hp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Robert FRIGG, Patrick BURKI, Daniel FLURI
  • Patent number: 10182924
    Abstract: The prosthetic joint has at least two members having each a cooperating articulating surface layer on a substrate material. At least one of said articulating surface layers comprises amorphous diamond-like carbon; or Titanium Nitrate (TiN) on a bonding layer bonded to the substrate material. The prosthetic joint provides a reduction of the number of wear debris and shows enhanced dry run properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Beat Lechmann, Thomas Küenzi, Robert Frigg, Andreas Appenzeller
  • Patent number: 10130404
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a bone fixation plate has first and second ends spaced apart along a first direction so as to define a length, and third and fourth ends spaced apart along a second direction so as to define a height that is less than the length. The plate has an inner and outer surface spaced apart along a third direction so as to define a thickness that is less than both the height and length. Openings extend from the inner surface to the outer surface along the third direction and are spaced apart along the first direction. Further, the plate has tangs that are offset from the openings with respect to the second direction, and extend out with respect to the outer surface along the third direction. The tangs are spaced apart from one another along the first direction, and are configured to receive a securement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Frigg, Jens Richter, Samuel Leuenberger, Carl Peter Cornelius, Ross Jonathan Hamel
  • Patent number: 10092302
    Abstract: The present application relates to a coupling device for a handle (3) of a medical tool (1) or medical power-tool chuck (30). The coupling device comprises a coupling-body (2) including a bore (6), a working axis (X) extending along said bore (6) and a seat (4) arranged at a first end (8) of said bore for receiving a tool-insert (10) with a central axis (Y) at an angle in reference to the working axis (X). The coupling-body (2) further comprises a protrusion (7) arranged within said bore (6), said protrusion (7) being configured to engage a groove (13) of the tool-insert (10) upon alignment of the central axis (Y) with the working axis (X). The engagement of the protrusion (7) with said groove (13) locks the tool-insert (10) within said coupling body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: 41 medical AG
    Inventors: Tom Overes, Robert Frigg
  • Patent number: 10085851
    Abstract: An intervertebral prosthesis or disk prosthesis comprising a front side, a rear side, an upper side which can be placed on the base plate of vertebral body, a lower side which can be placed on the base plate of a vertebral body, a right side, a left side, a cavity which can receive a fluid hydraulic osteocementum, an opening in the cavity and several outlets out from the cavity. The total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SV on the front side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SH on the rear side, the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets SR on the right side and the total of the transversal surfaces of the outlets on the left side satisfy the following conditions: SL>SR or SR>SL or SH>SV or SV>SH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Beat Lechmann, Robert Frigg, Roger Buerki
  • Publication number: 20180271567
    Abstract: A system for treating a bone fracture includes an intramedullary nail sized and shaped to be inserted through a medullary canal of a bone to extend across a fracture site of the bone, the intramedullary device extending from a first end to a second end and including a plurality of openings extending laterally therethrough, the openings sized and shaped to receive bone fixation elements therethrough, and an insertion device including a base portion and a handle portion extending therefrom, the base portion integrally formed with the intramedullary nail and connected thereto via a plurality of connection points which, when a force is exerted thereon, break to disconnect the insertion device from the intramedullary nail, the base portion including a plurality of guide channels extending therethrough, each of the guide channels being aligned with a corresponding one of the openings of the intramedullary nail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Yvonne SCHUMACHER, Robert FRIGG, Alfred NIEDERBERGER, Daniel FLURI, Andreas APPENZELLER, Beat SPÖRRI
  • Patent number: 10048330
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Frigg, Stuart Weikel, Stefan Schwer, Geoffrey Flexner, Ross Jonathan Hamel
  • Publication number: 20180203079
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Robert FRIGG, Stuart WEIKEL, Stefan SCHWER, Geoffrey FLEXNER, Ross Jonathan HAMEL
  • Patent number: 10022228
    Abstract: An implant system includes a fixation device that, in turn can include an expandable implant alone or in combination with an auxiliary implant. The expandable implant includes an expandable implant body that is made from an expandable material. The expandable material includes a polymer matrix and an expandable gas source contained within at least a portion of the polymer matrix. The implant system can further include an energy source configured to heat the polymer matrix to a temperature above its glass transition temperature, thereby causing the gas source to expand inside the polymer matrix. The fixation device can further include an insertion instrument configured to implant the fixation device into an anatomical cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Baumgartner, Robert Frigg, Cyril Voisard, Reto Nardini, Dieter Schmidli, Christian Brunner, Stefan Saladin
  • Publication number: 20180168816
    Abstract: An expandable implant includes an implant body defining an internal void, the implant body including a plurality of interconnected linkages. A first plurality of the linkages has an expansion characteristic that is different from a second plurality of the linkages. An expandable bladder is sized to be disposed in the internal void. The bladder defines a bore configured to receive an expansion material, such that the expansion material applies an expansion force against the bladder, which thereby applies the expansion force against the implant body so as to cause the first linkage to expand greater than the second linkage. The expandable implant can be placed in a fracture location so as to restore height to a fractured target bone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Konrad Schaller, Beat Lechmann, Robert Frigg
  • Patent number: 9999513
    Abstract: The present application concerns a shoulder prosthesis assembly. The shoulder prosthesis assembly comprises a humeral stem including a first articulating coupling means, a base portion of a substantially disc shaped geometry including a second articulating coupling means. Said first articulating coupling means and said second articulating coupling means connect the stem to the base portion. The ratio between the circumference of the disc shaped base portion and the peripheral thickness of the disc shaped base portion is at least 18:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: 41HEMIVERSE AG
    Inventors: Tom Overes, Robert Frigg
  • Publication number: 20180116808
    Abstract: An artificial joint implant (1) comprising a first element (2) with a socket (4) and a second element (3) with a ball head (5), wherein said ball head (5) is insertable in said socket (4) such as to form a ball-and-socket connection between said first element (2) and said second element (3), and the movement of said ball head (5) in said socket (4) is restricted by means of a protrusion (6.1; 6.2) engaged in a groove (7), whereby said protrusion (6.1; 6.2) has a central axis A2 and is protruding from the surface of said socket (4) and said groove (7) is provided on the surface of said ball head (5) or vice versa; —said groove (7) is positioned along a great circle of said ball head (5) or of said socket (4), —said protrusion (6.1; 6.2) has a shape allowing rotation of the protrusion around its central axis A2 when received in the groove (7); and —the surface roughness of the protrusion (6.1; 6.2) and/or of the groove (7) is at most 25 micrometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Tom OVERES, Robert FRIGG
  • Patent number: 9956014
    Abstract: A method for joining two or more segments of a bone implant comprises the steps of placing a plurality of thin layers of an intermetallic material between first and second segments of the bone implant and applying a mechanical load to the plurality of layers. In a subsequent step, the plurality of layers are ignited by applying an external activation energy thereto, the ignition heating the plurality of layers to a reaction temperature and causing the segments to become affixed to one another after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: DEPUY SYNTHES PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Cyril Voisard, Robert Frigg, Goetz Thorwarth
  • Patent number: 9944020
    Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for fabricating multimaterial bodies in a layer-wise fashion, which bodies may be used bone-stabilizing implants. The multimaterial bodies include rigid and flexible portions that are integrally formed with one another. The multimaterial bodies may be softened or stiffened in specific areas to match the biological or anatomical features of a bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Beat Lechmann, Dieter Schmidli, Robert Frigg, Reto Nardini