Patents by Inventor Robert W. Schaefer

Robert W. Schaefer 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: 20080300467
    Abstract: A sleeve-type wound retractor has at least two pieces: a reusable ring and a single-use sleeve. The reusable ring is sterilized before surgery in a conventional fashion. Before surgery and in a sterile environment, such as the operating room, the ring is fasted to one end of the sleeve to form a wound retractor. The other end of the sleeve has another ring which may be permanently attached to the sleeve or which may also be attached to the sleeve in the sterile environment. The completed wound retractor, comprising the two rings and the sleeve, functions as the conventional incremental wound retractor by winding the sleeve around the outer ring during use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventor: Robert W. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5908379
    Abstract: A urethral cap is provided for alleviating urinary incontinence when attached to the body of the user. The cap has at least a partially deformable cap body with a hand gripping portion and a body contacting encircling surface. The body defines a chamber so as to allow for a vacuum seal when applied to the body so that there is an atmospheric air pressure seal between the urethral cap and the body to prevent urinary flow beyond the urethral cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignees: Insight Medical Corporation, NEBL, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Schaefer, Sergei Bogojavlensky, Robert Schlesinger
  • Patent number: 5437646
    Abstract: A laparoscopy cannula reducer has at its proximal end a resilient end seal carrying a resilient tri-cuspid valve; the valve is passive, yet allows sealing of a body cavity in surgical procedures to prevent fluid flow between the atmosphere and the body cavity, both when an instrument is carried within the cannula and when the cannula is not being used for passage of an instrument to the body and the reducer has handgripping portions for applying and disengaging the reducer over a laparoscopy cannula.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Apple Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Hunt, Robert W. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 5273545
    Abstract: A laparoscopic cannula having at its proximal end a resilient end seal carrying a resilient tri-cuspid valve. The valve is passive, yet allows sealing of a body cavity in surgical procedures to prevent fluid flow between the atmosphere and the body cavity, both when an instrument is carried within the cannula and when the cannula is not being used for passage of an instrument to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Apple Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Hunt, Robert W. Schaefer
  • Patent number: D445495
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Apple Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Schaefer, John C. Pulford
  • Patent number: D396284
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Insight Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Robert W. Schaefer