Patents by Inventor Yvo Dirix

Yvo Dirix 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: 8871131
    Abstract: Provided are processes comprising crosslinking polyethylene or using crosslinked polyethylene. Furthermore, the processes may include compacting and/or sintering the polyethylene. The polyethylene can comprise virgin ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene having a weight average molecular weight of at least 1,000,000 g/mol, to provide a compacted composition comprising virgin ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics AG
    Inventors: Hans Schmotzer, Yvo Dirix, Paul Smith, Theo Tervoort, Lorenz Brunner
  • Patent number: 8586667
    Abstract: The present invention relates to highly cross-linked UHMWPE, which is possessed of an improved oxidation resistance, as well as a method for making the same. The UHMWPE material of the current invention is combined with an anti-oxidant compound or a free-radical scavenger prior to formation. Once the UHMWPE with the added material has been formed and treated with gamma or electron bean irradiation, it shows an improved wear resistance and also a good resistance to oxidation. Such a material, is particularly interesting for the field of making replacement joint implants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG
    Inventors: Lorenz Brunner, Yvo Dirix, Hans Schmotzer
  • Patent number: 8546460
    Abstract: A prosthetic device may comprise an insert having a first surface configured to contact a first prosthetic component and a bearing surface configured to articulate against a second prosthetic component. The insert comprises an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E. The vitamin E may have a concentration in the range of 0.02 to 0.12 wt % first mixed with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and then molded with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at a temperature greater than the melting point of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E may be gamma irradiated with a dosage of radiation between 5 and 20 Mrad. The insert may be machined prior to gamma irradiating the insert in air such that the gamma irradiation, at suitably high dosages, may also sterilize the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Lorenz Brunner, Yvo Dirix, Hans Schmotzer, Shilesh C. Jani
  • Patent number: 8529937
    Abstract: A substance, which contains anti-inflammatory substances, anti-microbial substances, anti-tumor substances, anti-viral substances, and/or bone stimulating substances, as an additive, can be added to an UHMWPE material for the production of a medical implant for imparting benign body response properties to the medical implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew Orthopedics AG
    Inventors: Lorenz Brunner, Yvo Dirix, Shilesh C. Jani, Roberto Tommasini
  • Patent number: 8287784
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a composition of at least two components, comprising the steps of: providing at least one first fluid component; providing at least one second solid component and processing it so that the first component can diffuse into the second component; and diffusing the first component into the second component. A composition prepared by such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Smith and Nephew Orthopaedics AG
    Inventors: Yvo Dirix, Lorenz Brunner, Jonathan Sander
  • Publication number: 20120129948
    Abstract: A substance, which contains anti-inflammatory substances, anti-microbial substances, anti-tumor substances, anti-viral substances, and/or bone stimulating substances, as an additive, can be added to an UHMWPE material for the production of a medical implant for imparting benign body response properties to the medical implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG
    Inventors: Lorenz Brunner, Yvo Dirix, Shilesh C. Jani, Roberto Tommasini
  • Publication number: 20110180948
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a composition of at least two components, comprising the steps of: providing at least one first fluid component; providing at least one second solid component and processing it so that the first component can diffuse into the second component; and diffusing the first component into the second component. A composition prepared by such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG
    Inventors: Yvo Dirix, Lorenz Brunner, Jonathan Sander
  • Publication number: 20110116968
    Abstract: The present invention relates to highly cross-linked UHMWPE, which is possessed of an improved oxidation resistance, as well as a method for making the same. The UHMWPE material of the current invention is combined with an anti-oxidant compound or a free-radical scavenger prior to formation. Once the UHMWPE with the added material has been formed and treated with gamma or electron bean irradiation, it shows an improved wear resistance and also a good resistance to oxidation. Such a material, is particularly interesting for the field of making replacement joint implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG
    Inventors: Lorenz Brunner, Yvo Dirix, Hans Schmotzer
  • Publication number: 20110112646
    Abstract: A prosthetic device may comprise an insert having a first surface configured to contact a first prosthetic component and a bearing surface configured to articulate against a second prosthetic component. The insert comprises an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E. The vitamin E may have a concentration in the range of 0.02 to 0.12 wt % first mixed with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and then molded with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at a temperature greater than the melting point of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E may be gamma irradiated with a dosage of radiation between 5 and 20 Mrad. The insert may be machined prior to gamma irradiating the insert in air such that the gamma irradiation, at suitably high dosages, may also sterilize the insert.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Lorenz Brunner, Yvo Dirix, Hans Schmotzer, Shilesh C. Jani
  • Publication number: 20100144930
    Abstract: The present invention relates to highly cross-linked UHMWPE, which is possessed of an improved oxidation resistance, as well as a method for making the same. The UHMWPE material of the current invention is combined with an anti-oxidant compound or a free-radical scavenger prior to formation. Once the UHMWPE with the added material has been formed and treated with gamma or electron beam irradiation, it shows an improved wear resistance and also a good resistance to oxidation. Such a material, is particularly interesting for the field of making replacement joint implants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG
    Inventors: Yvo Dirix, Hans Schmotzer, Lorenz Brunner
  • Publication number: 20100069576
    Abstract: Provided are processes comprising crosslinking polyethylene or using crosslinked polyethylene. Furthermore, the processes may include compacting and/or sintering the polyethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW ORTHOPAEDICS AG
    Inventors: Hans Schmotzer, Yvo Dirix, Paul Smith, Theo Tervoort, Lorenz Brunner
  • Patent number: 7618550
    Abstract: The polymer compound contains a polymer matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix. The filler comprises two filler components with nonlinear current-voltage characteristics deviating from one another. By selection of suitable amounts of these filler components, a polymer compound with a predetermined nonlinear current-voltage characteristic deviating from these two characteristics can be formed in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Felix Greuter, Yvo Dirix, Petra Kluge-Weiss, Walter Schmidt, Reto Kessler
  • Publication number: 20080023678
    Abstract: The polymer compound contains a polymer matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix. The filler comprises two filler components with nonlinear current-voltage characteristics deviating from one another. By selection of suitable amounts of these filler components, a polymer compound with a predetermined nonlinear current-voltage characteristic deviating from these two characteristics can be formed in this way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Felix Greuter, Yvo Dirix, Petra Kluge-Weiss, Walter Schmidt, Reto Kessler
  • Patent number: 7320762
    Abstract: The polymer compound contains a polymer matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix. The filler comprises two filler components with nonlinear current-voltage characteristics deviating from one another. By selection of suitable amounts of these filler components, a polymer compound with a predetermined nonlinear current-voltage characteristic deviating from these two characteristics can be formed in this way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Felix Greuter, Yvo Dirix, Petra Kluge-Weiss, Walter Schmidt, Reto Kessler
  • Publication number: 20030010960
    Abstract: The polymer compound contains a polymer matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix. The filler comprises two filler components with nonlinear current-voltage characteristics deviating from one another. By selection of suitable amounts of these filler components, a polymer compound with a predetermined nonlinear current-voltage characteristic deviating from these two characteristics can be formed in this way.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventors: Felix Greuter, Yvo Dirix, Petra Kluge-Weiss, Walter Schmidt, Reto Kessler