Patents Examined by Bruce E Snow
  • Patent number: 12678303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prosthetic foot comprising a main body (10), a proximal connection device (15) for connecting the prosthetic foot (1) to a further prosthesis component, and a foot-front component (12) which is pivotally mounted on the main body (10) and which is associated with a resistance device (20), which resistance device retards plantar flexion of the foot-front component (12), wherein the foot-front component (12) is mounted on the main body (10) via at least one resilient component (30, 31, 32) which moves the foot-front component (12) back into a starting position after a deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Sven Kaltenborn, Martin Pusch, Georg Gehrmann
  • Patent number: 12673192
    Abstract: A dilation device for an intra-body lumen, for example, a urethra partially occluded by an enlarged prostate in the form of a resilient curved body configured to be implanted in a cut around the lumen, and a method for dilating such a lumen by implanting a dilation device in a cut around the outside of the lumen. Also, a deployment system including a delivery device for the implant, and a device for dilating the lumen before and while the cut is being made, and a method of using the implant and the deployment system. The implant may be formed of a strip or a coiled wire. The cut may be performed in part by the implant. The cut may be performed by a sharp edge, and/or by application of electrical current to the area being cut, or by a piezoelectric transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2026
    Assignee: ProArc Medical Ltd.
    Inventors: Raz Bar-On, Roni Shabat, Shai Golan, Yoav Lengel, Yair Feld
  • Patent number: 12661244
    Abstract: The invention relates to an orthopedic joint device having an upper part and a lower part which is hinged about a pivot axis to said upper part, having a flexion moment-controlled retainer device that is positioned between the upper part and the lower part, blocks a flexion and releases the flexion when a predefined flexion moment is exceeded, wherein a control element is associated with the retainer device and is coupled to a delaying element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2026
    Assignee: OTTOBOCK SE & CO KGAA
    Inventor: Martin Pusch
  • Patent number: 12653701
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for orthotics or prosthetics, comprising a control element with a housing, in which a cylinder is arranged, in which a piston is mounted so as to be movable and divides the cylinder into a flexion chamber and an extension chamber, a fluidic connection is arranged between the flexion chamber and the extension chamber, and in each of said chambers there is arranged a control valve for influencing the extension movement or flexion movement, a motorised pump being arranged in the fluidic connection, with the hydraulic fluid being conducted from one chamber to the pump through at least one control valve in an intake-side connection line, and a check valve being arranged in a delivery-side connection line from the pump to the other chamber and blocking a return flow of the pumped medium from this chamber to the pump against the conveying direction of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2026
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventor: Florian Eder
  • Patent number: 12642644
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a flexible scaffold implant comprising a plurality of layered structures, the plurality of layered structures comprising: a first layered structure having a three-dimensional (3D) shape and formed from a bioresorbable material, and a second layered structure conforming to the corresponding 3D shape of the first layered structure and formed from the bioresorbable material. The first layered structure is arranged in proximity to the second layered structure. The first layered structure is configured to dissolve for resorption at a different rate than the second layered structure based on design elements of the first layered structure and the second layered structure. The plurality of layered structures are flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2026
    Assignee: Materialise N.V.
    Inventors: Pieter Slagmolen, Inge Famaey, Durva Gajjar, Giulia Rosellini, Dries Vandecruys
  • Patent number: 12636144
    Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve can include a frame defining a central longitudinal axis and a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet can include: a leaflet free edge, a first leaflet side forming a first leaflet side line of attachment along the frame, a second leaflet side forming a second leaflet side line of attachment along the frame, and a leaflet base forming a leaflet base line of attachment along the frame from an end of the first leaflet side line of attachment to an end of the second leaflet side line of attachment. The first leaflet side line of attachment can form a continuous attachment of the first leaflet side to the frame along an entire extent of the first leaflet side. The second leaflet side line of attachment can form a continuous attachment of the second leaflet side to the frame along an entire extent of the second leaflet side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2026
    Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Bruchman, Cody L. Hartman
  • Patent number: 12616591
    Abstract: An illustrative prosthesis and orthosis testing system includes a platform that receives a prosthesis or orthosis. A motor or a weight are configured to apply a load to the prosthesis or orthosis, and one or more load cells are configured to measure a magnitude of the load on the prosthesis or orthosis. The system also includes one or more encoders configured to measure one or more positions and one or more orientations of the prosthesis or orthosis in response to the applied load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignees: Northwestern University, U.S. Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Human Motion Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Justin Major, Josh Caputo, Tianyao Chen
  • Patent number: 12605259
    Abstract: A prosthetic system with a prosthesis, which has two prosthetic parts that are pivotally connected together about a joint axis via a prosthetic joint with a joint upper part and with a joint lower part, and a cover element, which at least partly covers a gap between the two prosthetic parts or between one prosthetic part and the joint lower part. The cover element is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis on one prosthetic part, a component of a cosmetic prosthetic element, said component being secured to one prosthetic part or one joint part or the prosthetic joint and is coupled to the joint upper part of the prosthetic joint via at least one coupling element in a form- and/or force-fitting manner such that a pivotal movement of the prosthetic parts about the joint axis leads to a simultaneous pivotal movement of the cover element about the pivot axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Marton Balint, Johannes Bischof, Walter Lunzer, Thomas Ecker-Wessely, Alice Scherb, Sonja Wagner
  • Patent number: 12605261
    Abstract: Embodiments include a prosthetic thumb device that includes a track configured to attach to a prosthetic socket, a carriage, and a locking mechanism. The carriage can include a first component that couples to the track such that the carriage is operable to move along the track, and a second component that is configured to couple with a prosthetic digit and operable to rotate with respect to the first component. The locking mechanism can be coupled to the carriage and configured such that, in a first state, it prevents the carriage from moving along the track in a first direction and, in a second state, it allows the carriage to move along the track in the first direction. Embodiments can also include the track having a curved profile, and the carriage is operable to move along the curved profile of the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2026
    Assignee: POINT DESIGNS, INC
    Inventors: Ben Pulver, Serena Kishek, Levin Sliker, Stephen Huddle, Richard Weir, Jacob Segil
  • Patent number: 12594156
    Abstract: The invention relates to prosthesis for treating pulmonary fibrosis, in particular, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), and a method for treating pulmonary fibrosis, in particular, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2026
    Assignee: National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing
    Inventors: Nan Tang, Huijuan Wu, Jiao Li
  • Patent number: 12589011
    Abstract: A prosthetic hand with a chassis (20) and at least one base element (10) for fastening a prosthetic finger to the chassis (20), wherein a longitudinal guide for the base element (10) is arranged or formed on the chassis (20), the base element (10) being mounted in said longitudinal guide, wherein the longitudinal guide blocks two translational degrees of freedom and a clamping element (30) is assigned to the longitudinal guide, said clamping element being displaceably mounted in or on the chassis (20) or the base element (10) between a locking position and an unlocking position and effecting a blocking of the third translational degree of freedom in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: OTTO BOCK HEALTHCARE PRODUCTS GMBH
    Inventors: Christoph Ledinger, Luis Sagmeister
  • Patent number: 12575936
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an ankle prosthesis containing zirconium-niobium alloy on oxidation layer and a preparation method thereof, the preparation method comprises: using zirconium-niobium alloy powder as a raw material, conducting a 3D printing for one-piece molding to obtain an intermediate products of the talus part and tibial part, and performing Sinter-HIP, cryogenic cooling and surface oxidation to obtain talus part and tibial part. The talus part is connected with the tibial part in a sliding mode; a bone trabeculae is respectively arranged on the lower surface of the talus body and the outer surfaces of the two first fixations, and on the upper surface of the tibial body and the outer surfaces of the two second fixations as well, so as to improve bone ingrowth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Just Medical Devices (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaojing Zhu, Jieru Huang, Ping Ye, Jing Zhao, Lu Liu
  • Patent number: 12575948
    Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a spring component and a sole component. The spring component comprises two or more stacked beam elements, each beam element including, along the length of the respective beam element, a first portion and a second portion, and the second portion of the beam element includes an extent with a length-varying width. The respective beam elements are fixed to each other and to the sole component proximate the heel portion of the sole component or the toe portion of the sole component at the first portions of the respective beam elements to form a fixed end of a cantilevered composite beam. The second portions of the respective beam elements are laterally movable with respect to each other when the spring component deflects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: Little Room Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Harrison Logan Bartlett, Brian Edward Lawson, Lowell D. Jones, Michael Goldfarb
  • Patent number: 12575951
    Abstract: A prosthetic liner includes a textile cover having at least first and second regions having different elongation from one another. The first region is in a prestretched configuration in at least one orientation relative to an axis of the prosthetic liner and locked in the prestretched configuration according to a layer of elastomeric material located along a surface of the textile cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2026
    Assignee: OSSUR ICELAND EHF
    Inventors: Sigurdur Asgeirsson, Larus Sigfusson, Linda Ros Birgisdottir
  • Patent number: 12569358
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for using machine learning methods to predict user preferences with respect to robotic assistive prostheses and/or custom tune the robotic assistive prostheses for individual users based on the predicted user preferences. A training biomechanical dataset, including historical biomechanical sensor data for a robotic assistive prosthetic device operating using a plurality of tuning settings at a plurality of speeds, and a training user preference dataset including historical user tuning preference data for the robotic assistive prosthetic device for each respective tuning setting and speed, are generated. A machine learning model is trained using the training biomechanical dataset and the training user preference dataset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Inventors: Elliott J. Rouse, Ung Hee Lee, Varun Shetty
  • Patent number: 12564501
    Abstract: A prosthetic device and approach for amputee remediation addresses partial or complete replacement of digits, and leverages the use of the remaining functional digits for directing operation of the prosthetic digits. A complete prosthetic digit replaces an amputated digit from actuated movement driven by an adjacent functional digit. A partial amputation leverages residual movement from the remaining digit portion as input to an actuator for amplifying the intent of the input through a motorized actuator to impart movement to the prosthetic digit. A wrist harness supports the apparatus of partial and complete prosthetic digits as a single appliance. A variable compression feature augments tension on the wrist harness to tightly engage the prosthetic appliance to the wrist to offset a gripping load on the prosthetic digits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Marko B. Popovic, Andrew Strauss, Mia Buccowich, Brian Fay
  • Patent number: 12564502
    Abstract: A prosthetic foot that includes a foot plate having a toe portion and a heel portion, a shank plate bonded to the foot plate along a seam that extends from the toe portion rearward toward the heel portion to terminate at an end, the shank plate separated from the foot plate forming a gap between the foot plate and shank plate extending rearward from the end of the seam; and an attachment structure attaching the foot plate to the shank plate, wherein the attachment structure includes fibers extending continuously through the shank plate, the gap, and the foot plate. In embodiments, the foot plate and shank plate are made of composite material and the attachment structure alternately extends through the seam and through a flexible material between the shank plate and the foot plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2026
    Assignee: WILLOWWOOD GLOBAL LLC
    Inventors: James M. Colvin, Matthew M. Wernke, Evandro M. Ficanha
  • Patent number: 12551352
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes devices, apparatuses, kits, and methods for replacing a nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc with an implantable nuclear prosthesis filled with a curable silicone material in situ. Configurations of the present spinal implant devices include a flexible body defining an outer fillable enclosure that defines an outer chamber, an inner fillable enclosure that defines an inner chamber, and a proximal plug configured to be coupled to the inner fillable enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2026
    Assignee: SPINAL STABILIZATION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: W. Loren Francis, Mark A. Novotny, Cory R. A. Hallam, Jake Ganem
  • Patent number: 12527674
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to prosthetic limb sockets that couple prosthetic limbs to residual limbs. The sockets include a conical cup sized to engage and couple to the residual limb, and a base to secure the socket to the prosthetic limb. The sockets are direct heat-formable onto the residual limb, such that they can be heated and formed as they are secured to the residual limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: WILLOWWOOD XTREMITY ACQUISITION HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Mark Joseph
  • Patent number: 12527672
    Abstract: Features for prosthetic digits and actuation systems including transmission features for a worm wheel rotation by a lead screw. A keyed member such as a central axle is spring-biased and transmits rotation from the worm wheel to the digit while allowing for manual rotation of the digit without damaging the worm wheel or other components. In some embodiments, the digit may include a link having flexibility to cause rotation of the digit segments while absorbing shock or otherwise high rotational loads. The digit may include a single-sided drive mechanism, where the opposite side provides support in case of high lateral loads. The digit may include a motor and gearbox in parallel and connected mechanically via a transfer gearbox. The digit may include a variable speed and variable torque gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2026
    Assignee: Touch Bionics Limited
    Inventor: Matthew James Benning