Patents by Inventor Uwe Steinhardt
Uwe Steinhardt 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: 20240164891Abstract: The invention proposes pre-load a ball joint (4) of an auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) with a disk-shaped pre-loading element (11) in a longitudinal direction of a shaft (7) of the auditory ossicle prosthesis (1), whereby an almost loss-free vibration transmission is achieved.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2022Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Clemens Kuen, Stefan Rainer, Lukas Mair, Jörg Hausch
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Publication number: 20230320843Abstract: The invention proposes forming an auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) in one piece from sheet metal, like pliers, with two congruent clamps (3), which can be opened and closed with a two-part head element (2), the head parts (4) of which act as pliers handles. The auditory ossicle prosthesis (1) can be clamped onto an auditory ossicle without exerting any force on the auditory ossicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Lukas Mair, Uwe Steinhardt, Clemens Kuen
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Publication number: 20230122887Abstract: A length-adjustable ossicular prosthesis, includes a cylindrical pin serving as a connecting element, which connects a foot element to a head element. The head element is intended to be disposed on an inside of an eardrum, and the foot element is intended to be attached to an anvil in a human ear. The head element is designed as an elliptical ring having an opening, which can be closed by closing a locking mechanism comprising a hook. Two guiding and clamping elements project inwardly from the ring, between which, in an open position, the connecting element is displaceably guided, and which secure the head element non-displaceably and non-rotatably on the connecting element when the ring is closed, and as a result the guiding and clamping elements are tensioned against the connecting element.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Uwe STEINHARDT, Jörg HAUSCH, Clemens KUEN, Lukas MAIR
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Publication number: 20210015674Abstract: An electrode guide device is described for inserting a cochlear implant electrode array into a scala tympany of a patient cochlea has an electrode guide tube and an end positioner at least partially contained within a cavity of the guide tube at the distal end and slidable within the cavity for adjustable extension beyond the distal end. The end positioner has a natural curvature that is constrained by the cavity of the guide tube for any portion contained within the cavity of the guide tube, and any portion of the end positioner extended beyond the distal end follows the natural curvature. The electrode array can be introduced through the groove of the guide tube along a first directional line towards an electrode opening in the patient cochlea, and then the distal end of electrode array emerging from the guide tube is redirected by the extension of the end positioner along a different second directional line through the electrode opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2019Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Max Frölich, Daniel Schurzig, Uwe Steinhardt
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Patent number: 10888418Abstract: A middle ear prosthesis is made of a stiff deformable material and includes a planar head end with a central portion having a central diameter. The head end is adapted for engagement with a tympanic membrane from the middle ear of an implanted patient. An opposing pair of U-shaped stapes engagement legs bend down from the central portion so that an end distance between ends of the engagement legs is less than the central diameter. The engagement legs are adapted for adjustable length engagement with the stapes in the middle ear of the implanted patient. The head end and the engagement legs are adapted to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the stapes for perception as sound by the implanted patient.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Clemens Kuen
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Publication number: 20190201189Abstract: A middle ear prosthesis is made of a stiff deformable material and includes a planar head end with a central portion having a central diameter. The head end is adapted for engagement with a tympanic membrane from the middle ear of an implanted patient. An opposing pair of U-shaped stapes engagement legs bend down from the central portion so that an end distance between ends of the engagement legs is less than the central diameter. The engagement legs are adapted for adjustable length engagement with the stapes in the middle ear of the implanted patient. The head end and the engagement legs are adapted to transmit vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the stapes for perception as sound by the implanted patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2017Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Clemens Kuen
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Patent number: 10278813Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has a head plate as a first fastening element, a second fastening element for the mechanical connection to the ossicular chain, or to the inner ear, and a connecting element. The head plate has a central coupling region and radially outward extending bridging elements which are connected to the coupling region via a radially inner end region and each transition into an outer free end section. The bridging elements are connected to the coupling region so that they fold together upon introduction of a force component parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein their end sections are pivoted radially closer to the longitudinal axis and thereby also execute an axial movement. The bridging elements, without this force, extend from the coupling region at a predefined, fixed angle. The prosthesis can be inserted into the middle ear of the patient more easily and through a much smaller artificial opening.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Karl-Bernd Huettenbrink, Axel Lang, Uwe Steinhardt, Markus Gaeckle
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Patent number: 10244335Abstract: A coupling device for a middle ear implant includes a transducer end configured to engage an implantable electromechanical transducer, a bone engagement end configured to engage a temporal bone surface of a recipient patient, a planar loading spring located between the transducer end and the bone engagement end and configured for compression by displacement of the transducer end and the bone engagement end in towards each other, and compression indicators configured to provide visual indication of a pre-load force created on the temporal bone surface by the compression of the loading spring.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: MED-EL Elektromedizinische Geraete GmbHInventors: Thomas Lenarz, Uwe Steinhardt, Daniel Schurzig, Max Frölich, Kathrin Sonntag
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Publication number: 20180104048Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis has a head plate as a first fastening element, a second fastening element for the mechanical connection to the ossicular chain, or to the inner ear, and a connecting element. The head plate has a central coupling region and radially outward extending bridging elements which are connected to the coupling region via a radially inner end region and each transition into an outer free end section. The bridging elements are connected to the coupling region so that they fold together upon introduction of a force component parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein their end sections are pivoted radially closer to the longitudinal axis and thereby also execute an axial movement. The bridging elements, without this force, extend from the coupling region at a predefined, fixed angle. The prosthesis can be inserted into the middle ear of the patient more easily and through a much smaller artificial opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2017Publication date: April 19, 2018Applicant: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Karl-Bernd HUETTENBRINK, Axel LANG, Uwe Steinhardt, Markus GAECKLE
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Patent number: 9895252Abstract: A rhinological implant for straightening the nasal septum is fastened on both sides of a septum (S), separating left and right sides of a nasal cavity of a human nose, on the outer surface of the septum (S), in the left and the right sides of the nasal cavity. Before implantation, the implant is folded up from an initially flat blank into an implantable three-dimensional shape. The implant has a central back section which in an implanted state wraps around the free lower edge of the septum. Two side sections are provided on either side of the central back section to extend symmetrically with respect to the central back section. In the implanted state, the two side sections bear via the entire surface against the two diametrically opposed outer surfaces of the septum (S).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Daniel Felix Àwengen, Uwe Steinhardt
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Publication number: 20170289713Abstract: A coupling device for a middle ear implant includes a transducer end configured to engage an implantable electromechanical transducer, a bone engagement end configured to engage a temporal bone surface of a recipient patient, a planar loading spring located between the transducer end and the bone engagement end and configured for compression by displacement of the transducer end and the bone engagement end in towards each other, and compression indicators configured to provide visual indication of a pre-load force created on the temporal bone surface by the compression of the loading spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Thomas Lenarz, Uwe Steinhardt, Daniel Schurzig, Max Frölich, Kathrin Sonntag
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Patent number: 9730789Abstract: A passive ossicular prosthesis has a sound-conducting prosthesis body with a first coupling element for mechanical connection to the incus, malleus, or an actuator end piece of an active hearing aid at one end. The bight is made of a strip-shaped metallic material, partially open toward the outside via a gap-type opening and is intraoperatively crimped in the middle ear for permanent attachment. There is a second coupling element at the other end of the prosthesis body for connection to a further component of the ossicular chain or directly to the inner ear. The bight includes elongated perforations with longitudinal axes extending, in the implanted state, along a curved trajectory at a right angle or slant relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (a) of the enclosed object to reduce spring action and stiffness and markedly reduce the force to be applied for the crimping.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Jack M. Kartush, Uwe Steinhardt, Heinz Kurz
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Publication number: 20170048628Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis includes a first fastening element formed as a perforated tympanic membrane top plate and a second fastening element for coupling to a stapes of an inner ear of a patient under treatment. The ossicular prosthesis includes a connecting element having an adjusting device for adjusting the axial length. The connecting element includes two partial branches that extend symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis, are extendable, compressible or both, can be permanently plastically deformed, and are folded in multiple loops. The loops are made from a material having a memory effect. Each of the loops of one of the partial branches has an activation tab that is thermally conductively attached to the most radially remote outer area, extends radially away from the loop, and has an activation surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The activation surfaces have a successively increasing radial distance in the axial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2016Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: John T. McElveen, Uwe Steinhardt
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Patent number: 9532790Abstract: A medical cutting device for producing thin cartilage disks has a device body with a first holding device with a first working section having a first recess disposed on a top side of the device body such that the first recess is entirely or partially enclosed by a first delimiting ridge and, a connecting section that is directly, rigidly adjoined by the first working section and a cover with a counterpart section to the connecting section that is directly, rigidly adjoined by a first pressure section, which comprises a central, first pressure plate that is resiliently held in the first pressure section and, in an operating state for producing thin cartilage disks, is disposed opposite the first recess, which is entirely or partially enclosed by the first delimiting ridge.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Heinz Kurz
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Publication number: 20160175093Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis comprising a sound-conducting prosthesis body formed with a first coupling element and a second coupling element. The second coupling element is designed as a clip or a slotted bell and has an access opening into a receiving space having an inner surface in the axial extension of the prosthesis body. The inner surface is bounded by a peripheral outer edge having multiple interruptions. The second coupling element has, on an outer edge of the inner surface of the receiving space, at least two spikes distributed around the periphery of the outer edge, extending in a direction parallel to the axial extension of the elongate prosthesis body. In an implanted state, the spikes engage into the head of the stapes to effectuate a secure hold of the second coupling element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2015Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventors: SEILESH BABU, UWE STEINHARDT
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Patent number: 9259311Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis formed as a sound-conducting, elongated prosthesis body has a first coupling element designed as a tympanic membrane top plate or a clip or a connecting piece to an actuator end piece of an active hearing implant and a second coupling element provided with an access opening into a receiving space designed as a bell or a clip for a mechanical connection of the prosthesis to the head of the stapes. The second coupling element has a backing section on an inner surface of the receiving space as an axial extension of the prosthesis body. The backing section protrudes from the prosthesis body into the receiving space. In an implanted state, the backing section bears against a head of the stapes and prevents a formation of a hollow space between the stapes and an inner surface of the receiving space in an axial extension of the elongated prosthesis body.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Seilesh Babu, Heinz Kurz
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Patent number: 9216081Abstract: A total prosthesis for the middle ear, with a prosthesis body, with a first coupling element for connection of the prosthesis to the tympanic membrane or for coupling to the manubrium, and with a second coupling element for connection to the footplate of the stirrup, which second coupling element has a receiving part, connected rigidly to the prosthesis body, and has an insert part with a plug element that can be inserted coaxially, and with a shoe that is connected rigidly to the plug element and that bears on the footplate of the stirrup, is characterized in that the receiving part has an elongate cavity as a receiving opening with a cylindrical bore which extends axially and encloses the full circumference of the plug element and whose inside diameter is greater than the maximum transverse extent of the plug element, which elongate cavity is closed at the end away from the insert part and acts as an end abutment for the plug element, and in that the second coupling element extends axially by at most a thirType: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: HEINZ KURZ GMBH MEDIZINTECHNIKInventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Heinz Kurz, Georg Schmid, Walter Heckmann
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Publication number: 20150272728Abstract: A passive ossicular prosthesis has a sound-conducting prosthesis body with a first coupling element for mechanical connection to the incus, malleus, or an actuator end piece of an active hearing aid at one end. The bight is made of a strip-shaped metallic material, partially open toward the outside via a gap-type opening and is intraoperatively crimped in the middle ear for permanent attachment. There is a second coupling element at the other end of the prosthesis body for connection to a further component of the ossicular chain or directly to the inner ear. The bight includes elongated perforations with longitudinal axes extending, in the implanted state, along a curved trajectory at a right angle or slant relative to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis (a) of the enclosed object to reduce spring action and stiffness and markedly reduce the force to be applied for the crimping.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Jack M. Kartush, UWE STEINHARDT, HEINZ KURZ
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Publication number: 20150045884Abstract: An ossicular prosthesis includes a sound-conducting prosthesis body with a first coupling element designed for the mechanical connection to the limb of incus (A) at one end and a second coupling element for the mechanical connection to parts of a component of the ossicular chain or directly to the inner ear, The first coupling element has a receiving part rigidly connected to the prosthesis body to accommodate the free end section of the limb of incus, including a U-shaped cliplock rotatably supported in the receiving part and swivellable over the free end section of the limb of incus in order to secure the limb of incus. The cliplock has at least one bulge directed toward the receiving part that protrudes from the cliplock so far that said bulge touches an outer surface of the receiving part when swivelled.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2014Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: ALBRECHT EIBER, UWE STEINHARDT, HEINZ KURZ
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Patent number: 8936637Abstract: A passive ossicular prosthesis includes a first and second fastening element for connection to the tympanic membrane. A connecting element connects the fastening elements in a sound-conducting manner. The connecting element includes a receiving part and an insertion part. The insertion part is inserted into a receiving opening of the receiving part. The receiving part encloses an end section of the insertion part in the manner of a clamp by way of two opposing, parallel legs disposed parallel to a shank axis of the connecting element. The legs have catch devices that fix the enclosed end section discrete spatial positions relative to the shank axis.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2012Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: Heinz Kurz GmbH MedizintechnikInventors: Uwe Steinhardt, Thomas Lenarz, Axel Lang, Heinz Kurz