Patents Examined by Marcia Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8696764
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved system for use in rehabilitation and/or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease to the lower limbs or extremities. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any inclined or declined surface without overbalancing. The system is mechanically passive in that it does not utilize motors, force generating devices, batteries, or powered sources that may add undesirable weight or mass and that may require recharging. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography. An additional advantage of the improvement is that the system can be light and may also be simple to manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Eric A. Nickel
  • Patent number: 8690952
    Abstract: A shoulder prosthesis comprising a socket and a condyle that cooperates with the socket. The condyle also cooperates with a base plate facing the scapula similar to a clamping connection. The condyle is plugged onto the base plate by means of a receptacle that is embodied on the condyle. The base plate can be anchored to the glenoid fossa of the scapula with the aid of two peg-type protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mathys AG Bettlach
    Inventor: Frank Dallmann
  • Patent number: 8690962
    Abstract: This invention provides new above knee (AK) and below the knee (BK) prosthetic sockets and implements specific manufacturing processes for the production of prosthetic sockets through the automated, computer controlled bi-axial and tri-axial braiding of sockets, over a mold or mandrel made of carved foam, plaster material or wax that is a replica of the patient's truncated limb, and is created by a Computer Aided Design (CAD) file controlling a Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine tool. This method of manufacture using aerospace fibers such as graphite or Kevlar, and high performance resins, is used to create a socket which is stronger and lighter weight than conventionally manufactured sockets. Braiding also allows incorporation of woven cloth, tapes and other reinforcements into the braiding process for added strength at selected areas. The method dramatically decreases the production time and cost of the prosthetic relative to conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Mentis Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Dignam, Bradley J. Mate, Christopher S. Anderson, Patrick P. McDermott
  • Patent number: 8690951
    Abstract: The invention relates to a base platform (11) for an artificial joint, in particular for an artificial shoulder joint, wherein the platform can be anchored on the bone and serves as a support for an artificial joint component (15, 17) that can be provided both in the form of a shell component (15) for an anatomical configuration and also in the form of a ball component (17) for an inverse configuration, and wherein different joint components can be mounted on the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Zimmer, GmbH
    Inventors: Ines Baum, Markus Rauscher, Peter Wendt
  • Patent number: 8685109
    Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a foot member, a heel member operatively coupled to the foot member. At least one of the heel member and foot member define an arch portion that faces a support surface that the prosthetic foot contacts during use. An insole member contacts said arch portion, the insole member configured to facilitate a rollover of the prosthetic foot in at least one of a lateral-medial and a medial-lateral direction during ambulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Össur hf
    Inventors: Arinbjörn Viggo Clausen, Grimur Jonsson, Christophe Lecomte
  • Patent number: 8657858
    Abstract: A spine screw assembly is adapted to be loaded from a bottom of a receiver member. The spine screw assembly includes a bone fastener with a head having a groove that removably accepts a clip. The clip acts to retain the head of the bone fastener in the receiver member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Alphatec Spine, Inc.
    Inventors: Laszlo Garamszegi, Kelvin Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8641780
    Abstract: An hydraulic heel-height adjustment device for a lower limb prosthesis has a foot-mounting component (18) for detachably mounting a prosthetic foot and a shin component pivotally connected to the foot-mounting component allowing angular adjustment of the foot-mounting component relative to the shin component about a heel-height adjustment axis. The relative angular position is set by an hydraulic piston (42) and cylinder assembly which has a chamber (40) in the shin component containing a piston (42) arranged to execute a translational movement in the chamber when adjustment is required. A bypass passage interconnects parts of the chamber on opposite sides of the piston, this passage containing a manually operable valve which is spring-biased towards a closed position. The piston has a piston rod pivotally connected to the foot-mounting component by a pivot joint defining a medial-lateral axis parallel to and spaced from the heel-height adjustment axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Blatchford Products Limited
    Inventors: Fadi Abimosleh, Graham Harris, Stephen Terry Lang, Mir Saeed Zahedi
  • Patent number: 8632584
    Abstract: A medical implant, having a proximal and a distal end, that is preformed to assume a superimposed structure at an implantation site but can be made to take on a volume-reduced form making it possible to introduce it by means of a micro-catheter and a guide wire arranged at the proximal end, with the implant in its superimposed structure assuming the form of a longitudinally open tube and having a mesh structure of interconnected strings or filaments. The implant has a tapering structure at its proximal end where the strings or filaments converge at a connection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Dendron GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Henkes, Achim Flesser, Ronald Kontek, Jürgen Speder, Ralph Bodenburg
  • Patent number: 8608805
    Abstract: An insert (11) of a joint ball receptacle of a prosthetic shoulder joint according to the invention has a first side (I) with a depression (15) for receiving a joint ball, and a second side (II) which is provided and formed for being received in a shell (13) of the joint ball receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Zimmer GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Forrer, Nicole Gronau, Stefan Boss, Ines Baum
  • Patent number: 8597369
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for use in rehabilitation and/or physical therapy for the treatment of injury or disease. The system can enable an amputee to proceed over any surface without overbalancing. In particular the system is self-adapting to adjust the torque moment depending upon the motion, the extent of inclination, and the surface topography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Northwestern University, The Department of Veteran Affairs, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
    Inventors: Andrew H. Hansen, Steven A. Gard, Dudley S. Childress, Brian Ruhe, Ryan Williams
  • Patent number: 8597368
    Abstract: A tubular liner has an open proximal end and a closed-end distal area, and a fabric layer continuously defining an exterior surface of the liner without interruption. A polymeric layer having first and second surfaces is bonded to an interior surface of the fabric layer. A seam is formed by opposed sides of the fabric layer joined together and forming an excess portion directed toward the cavity of the liner. The excess portion is embedded in the polymeric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ossur HF
    Inventors: Asmundur Bergmann Bjarnason, Sigurdur Asgeirsson
  • Patent number: 8591593
    Abstract: A tibial component for use with a resected tibia can include a medial tray portion adapted to engage a portion of the resected tibia and a lateral tray portion adapted to engage a portion of the resected tibia. A linkage can couple the medial tray portion to the lateral tray portion such that at least one of the medial tray portion and the lateral tray portion is pivotable relative to the other of the medial tray portion and the lateral tray portion to position the medial tray portion and the lateral tray portion at separate angles with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Biomet Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Metzger
  • Patent number: 8591581
    Abstract: Methods of using cartilage implant devices are provided. The methods include locating articular cartilage having a lesion, and utilizing an implant having dimensions compatible with the lesion. The method further includes forming a cavity in the articular cartilage, subchondral bone, and cancellous bond, and engaging the implant with the cavity so that the lower face of the articular end of the implant abuts against the subchondral bone, and the stem of the implant abuts against the cancellous bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Moirai Orthopedics, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Strzepa, Stephen D. Cook
  • Patent number: 8591592
    Abstract: A humeral prosthesis includes a stem component and a partial humeral head component. The partial humeral head component has a configuration that is similar to the curvature of the humeral head to allow the head to reconstruct the anatomy of the damaged humerus. The stem component is threaded and cannulated and engages the partial humeral head component. The stem component is configured to be inserted within the humeral diaphyseal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Arthrex, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Dreyfuss
  • Patent number: 8591596
    Abstract: A semi-constrained ankle prosthesis includes a tibial component configured to be coupled to a surgically-prepared surface of the distal end of a tibia, and a bearing insert locked to the tibial component. The bearing insert is rotative relative to the tibial component and has an articular surface formed in an inferior surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, LLC
    Inventor: Jack F. Long
  • Patent number: 8585775
    Abstract: The present invention provides a higher-performance assist device which is safer by using a wireless charging technique. The assist device includes a detecting portion and an assist device driving portion. The detecting portion includes a sensor, a first transmitting/receiving circuit, a first data processing circuit, a first charging circuit, and a first battery. The assist device driving portion includes a driving portion, a second data processing circuit, a second transmitting/receiving circuit, a second charging circuit, and a second battery. Electromagnetic waves are transmitted from the second transmitting/receiving circuit provided in the assist device driving portion, and the first transmitting/receiving circuit provided in the detecting portion receives the electromagnetic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hirota, Mayumi Yamaguchi, Konami Izumi
  • Patent number: 8579991
    Abstract: A hand prosthesis includes a chassis to which at least one finger prosthesis is articulated. The finger prosthesis is swivelable about at least one swiveling axis by a drive that is connected to the finger prosthesis via a force transmission device. The force transmission device does not yield to tension and is flexible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Puchhammer
  • Patent number: 8574302
    Abstract: A bone augmentation device includes at least one axial member defining a longitudinal axis and a plurality of transverse members. Each transverse member extends from a first end, removably connected to the at least one axial member to a second end configured for fixation with bone. The transverse members are spaced apart and disposed along the longitudinal axis. The at least one axial member and the transverse members are disposed in a configuration to define a bone graft cavity. Methods of use are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. McKay
  • Patent number: 8568489
    Abstract: The present invention in one embodiment is a vacuum pump including a compressible elastomeric member with an internal reservoir enclosing a volume of fluid, an outlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid sink, and an inlet port providing fluid communication between the internal reservoir and a fluid source. The pump further includes first and second pressure elements coupled to the elastomeric member on opposing sides. At least one of the first and second pressure elements is adapted to apply a longitudinal force along, and a rotational force about, an axis extending through the compressible elastomeric member. Upon the application of a longitudinal compression force to the compressible elastomeric member, fluid flows from the internal reservoir to the fluid sink and upon the application of a longitudinal expansion force, fluid flows from the fluid source to the internal reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Otto Bock Healthcare LP
    Inventors: Robert Edward Finlinson, Douglas E. Rush, Lüder Mosler
  • Patent number: 8562620
    Abstract: Systems, bone cements and methods for treating vertebral compression fractures can utilize a bone cement comprising of a mixable liquid monomer component and a non-liquid component including polymer particles, wherein the non-liquid component is configured for controlled exposure to the liquid monomer over a setting interval of the bone cement. In a method of use, liquid and non-liquid components are mixed, and the bone cement is injected into bone wherein a lengthened setting interval is provided in which the mixture is configured for a flowability that prevents unwanted extravasation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Dfine, Inc.
    Inventors: Csaba Truckai, Andrew Kohm, John Shadduck