Patents Examined by Keri J Nelson
  • External structural brace apparatus
    Patent number: 11135124
    Abstract: An external structural brace apparatus for supporting a user in a semi standing position on a surface includes first and second support extension beams that to attach to the surface, also included is a channel having a base with first and second legs, wherein the first and second legs extend in the same direction from opposing sides of the base, the first leg is affixed to the first support structure and the second leg is affixed to the second support structure, the channel can be lockably positioned along the first and second beams. In addition, a saddle seat with a midpoint extension portion, the saddle is attached between the first and second legs and positioned such that the midpoint extension extends opposite of the base, wherein operationally the user partially rests their buttocks on the saddle and leans their back against the base to assume a semi supported standing posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Inventor: John Threlfall
  • Oral appliances and methods of use
    Patent number: 11129745
    Abstract: Oral appliances, and systems and methods, which include oral appliances are described herein. An example oral appliance device for treatment of a sleep disorder or condition in a subject can include an upper portion configured to receive at least one maxillary tooth of the subject, and a lower portion configured to receive at least one mandibular tooth of the subject. The upper and lower portions are engageable such that the portions maintain a restricted orientation relative to each other when engaged, and the engaged restricted orientation is configured to maintain the mandible of the subject in a predetermined clinically beneficial orientation relative to the maxilla.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: ZST Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: John Remmers, Shouresh Charkhandeh, Peter Santosham, Terry Macartney, Sabina Bruehlmann
  • Shape-retaining filtering mask
    Patent number: 11116999
    Abstract: An air-filtering mask including a piece of air-filter material. A set of mask-retention tension members, are attached at the right and left sides of this material for fixing the mask about the head in a preferred position wherein the air-filter material top extends across the face at a level coincident with the bridge of the nose of the face. Further, a shape-preserving tension member is attached at a left attachment point at the left side of the material and extends to and is attached to a right attachment point, and is retained at the top-center of the material, the shape-preserving tension member being shorter than the extent of the material between the attachment points, so that the material is loose between the attachment points and is not pulled taut, thereby facilitating conformance of the top of the air filter material to the contours of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Novosel
  • Compression garment for provision of an adjustable pressure
    Patent number: 11116671
    Abstract: A compression garment for providing an adjustable pressure towards a body part is disclosed. The compression garment comprises a unitary single sheet of elastic material arranged to encircle the full circumference of a body part, such as a limb or the head. The sheet is folded or arranged to be folded in at least one predefined way, so that the folding forms one or more defined overlap(s) forming at least two overlaying layers of the sheet encircling the full circumference of a part of the body part. Hereby, the pressure profile of the garment can easily be adjusted by making use of the garment in different folded configurations. Markings may further be provided to provide guidance towards the predefined ways of folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: PRESSCISE AB
    Inventors: Torbjörn Lundh, Jonatan Vasilis, Josefin Damm
  • Dynamic taping method for inhibition and elicitation of skeletal muscle tone
    Patent number: 11103384
    Abstract: Is a taping method that follows a specific set of rules based on anatomical and physiological patterns in humans. This taping method causes a change in skeletal muscle tone in the human body, when tape is directly applied to the skin of the human body over targeted tendons and surrounding structures going over joints. This taping method will inhibit the muscle tone in the antagonist muscle of the opposing side of the joint where the tape is applied, while simultaneously eliciting the agonist of the muscle that are attached by the tendon of the joint where the tape is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventor: Charise Vacca
  • Tissue retention devices and systems and methods for implanting and using them
    Patent number: 11096820
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for treating snoring or sleep apnea of a patient that include an implantable device and a retainer. The device includes an elongate filament sized for introduction into or through a patient's tongue and including a distal end and a proximal end, a connection member on the proximal end, and one or more securing elements on or adjacent the distal end. The retainer includes a body configured to be removably engaged with one or more teeth within a patient's mouth, and a connector port for removably engaging the connection member to support the patient's tongue relative to the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Paul Thompson, D. Russell Pflueger
  • Surgical drape with canopy
    Patent number: 11076928
    Abstract: A surgical drape is configured for covering a patient and an ultrasonography probe during surgical treatment of the patient. The surgical drape may comprise a first portion that comprises a canopy portion. The canopy portion can be sized and shaped to at least partially cover a mechanical arm coupled to the ultrasonography probe and a proximal portion of the ultrasonography probe, and the canopy portion can be configured to move with the proximal portion of the ultrasonography probe when the ultrasonography probe is supported by the mechanical arm. A second portion can be coupled to the first portion, in which the second portion is sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of a torso of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: PROCEPT BioRobotics Corporation
    Inventors: Nikolai Aljuri, Surag Mantri, Matt Sprinkel, James Badia, Nishey Wanchoo, Mark Baerenrodt, Kevin Staid
  • Assembly for positioning a sterile surgical drape relative to optical position sensors
    Patent number: 11071603
    Abstract: A camera and drape assembly for use with tracking elements of a surgical system includes a camera unit and a drape covering the camera unit. The camera unit includes a casing presenting a face for facing the tracking elements. Optical sensors are supported by the casing and are exposed through the casing for detecting the tracking elements. The drape covers the camera unit such that light signals from the tracking elements can be received by the optical sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Donald W. Malackowski, José Luis Moctezuma de la Barrera, Helmut Rohs, Norbert Riedlinger
  • Disposable medical drape
    Patent number: 11065073
    Abstract: Drape systems, apparatuses and methods are provided. In some aspects a drape may create an impervious barrier for preventing medical contaminants from contaminating a medical table and/or a medical table base. One drape embodiment includes a central portion, a first end cover and a second end cover, and first and second side portions having fold portions for forming troughs. A drape embodiment may include an absorbent surface having a discontinuous section and in inner perimeter for forming a barrier about a medical table base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Protection Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Wayne Hale
  • Urinary incontinence prevention clip for men
    Patent number: 11058528
    Abstract: A urinary incontinence prevention clip for men includes: a clip body having an upper frame positioned so as to correspond to the upper part of male genitalia, a lower frame positioned so as to correspond to the lower part of the male genitalia, and a connection part connected to one side of the upper frame and the lower frame and providing elastic force in a direction, in which the upper frame and the lower frame are spread; cushion parts respectively provided on the inside of the upper frame and the inside of the lower frame; and locking parts formed at both ends of the clip body so as to be fastened to each other, wherein the upper frame is formed so as not to press the blood vessels of the male genitalia and the lower frame is formed so as to press the urethras of the male genitalia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventor: Myung Sook Kim
  • Knee brace
    Patent number: 11058568
    Abstract: A knee brace for use by athletes or others requiring protection and support of the knee. The knee brace includes a base and a spider member. The base is comprised of elastic material and configured to closely fit around portions of the knee and adjacent leg portions. A spider member having upper and lower pairs of tensioning straps is fastened to the interior surface of the base, with the tensioning straps extending through upper and lower apertures in the base for detachable attachment to the exterior surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Mueller, Zhaodong Max Li, Keith Kusmirek
  • Surgical draping system and method
    Patent number: 11051899
    Abstract: A surgical drape includes a seal connectable with a selected surface of a body to define a sterile region that includes access to at least two surgical approaches. A sleeve is connected with the seal and a draping is disposed with the body. The sleeve defines a cavity in communication with the region. Surgical instruments, systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas V. McGahan, Roy K. Lim
  • Respirator negative pressure fit check devices and methods
    Patent number: 11052268
    Abstract: A respiratory mask body defining a breathable air zone for a wearer and having a shut-off valve is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the mask body includes one or more inlet ports configured to receive one or more breathing air source components. The shut-off valve is operable between a closed position and an open position, and when in a closed position the shut-off valve prevents fluid communication between the one or more inlet ports and the breathable air zone and the shut-off valve returns to an open position in the absence of an applied force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: William A. Mittelstadt, Carl W. Raines, III, David R. Stein, Nathan A. Abel, David M. Blomberg, Michael J. Cowell, Gary E. Dwyer, Thomas I. Insley, Michael J. Svendsen, Dylan T. Cosgrove, Kent E. Lageson, Chaodi Li
  • Knit hemostatic bandage
    Patent number: 11051986
    Abstract: A knit hemostatic bandage provided herein can include a continuous rayon fiber and a continuous glass fiber. The knit hemostatic bandage can have a gauge of between 10 and 30 stitches per inch. The knit hemostatic bandage can have a Young's modulus of elasticity of less than 50 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Beeken Biomedical LLC
    Inventor: Richard Kendall
  • Mandibular reposition device and coupling therefor
    Patent number: 11051910
    Abstract: An adjustable mandibular repositioning appliance including first and second connecting members and a link arm which is pivotable about an axis wherein protrusive positioning of the mandible is provided by relative positioning of the link arm along aid axis, to kits and couplings for making a readily adjustable mandibular appliance, to a system for providing a readily adjustable mandibular repositioning appliance and methods of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Geoffrey James Lambert, Leanne Joy Lambert
  • Portable apparatus for decompressing lumbar spine with localized traction
    Patent number: 11045380
    Abstract: A lightweight and portable apparatus that decompresses lumbar spine with localized traction is provided. The apparatus includes a base frame. A rest support shaft has first and second ends. The rest support shaft is coupled to the base frame by the first end. A stability shaft for providing rigidity to the apparatus is coupled to the rest support shaft and the base frame. First and second leg rests are supported by the second end of the rest support shaft. The first and second leg rests are supported such that the height of the leg rests can be adjustable. A plurality of feet are coupled to the base frame. The plurality of feet support the base frame by three points of contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Inventors: Christine Keena, Kenan Wollborg
  • Back support device
    Patent number: 11033416
    Abstract: A back support device includes a plurality of durable and semi-rigid layers. One of the layers is capable of conforming to the contours of a body part of user. At least one clip enables the device to be supported on a lower garment worn by the user. The back support device more specifically includes a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, an insert disposed between the second layer and the third layer, a pair of slits disposed on the first layer, on the second layer, and on the third layer, and a pair of clips respectively inserted through each the pair of slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventor: Ray H. Smith, III
  • Ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and method of making the same
    Patent number: 11026827
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a custom or pre-fabricated ankle foot orthosis providing tri-planar control of the ankle foot structure. The ankle foot orthosis comprises a brace body composed of reinforcement strips and a closure mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Bracemasters International, LLC
    Inventors: Davin T. Heyd, William D. Falcon
  • Anti-snoring system
    Patent number: 11020266
    Abstract: An anti-snoring system that promotes an individual's prolonged sleep. The anti-snoring system is comprised of a vibrating device that is placed on an anti-slip mat that is in turn placed on a position of a bed that will prevent a side sleeper from resting on his or her back. The anti-snoring system promotes side sleeping, a position that maximizes an individual's air intake while sleeping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Jose B Molina
  • Dynamically reactive spinal support system
    Patent number: 11013631
    Abstract: A brace device for the support of a wearer. The brace device comprises a flexible smart fabric, operable to partially or substantially enclose and/or lie adjacent to one or more portions of the thoracic, lumbar and/or cervical portions of the spine of the wearer. Fabric hardening means are provided, operable to partially or substantially harden one or more regions of the smart fabric upon application of an activating stimulus, thereby to prohibit, restrict and/or resist movement of one or more portions of the spine of the wearer. One or more predetermined regions of the smart fabric are in a substantially flexible configuration when the fabric hardening means are not activated, facilitating positioning, fitment and/or adjustment of the device around the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: Arthur L. Jenkins, III