Patents Examined by Michael A. Brown
  • Inflatable cervical collar
    Patent number: 9289320
    Abstract: A cervical collar having a body with an anterior side, a posterior side, an upper portion and a lower portion is provided. The cervical collar may include a chin support that is formed at the upper portion of the anterior side of the body. The present invention may further include an inflatable pocket formed on the posterior and lateral sides of the body. The cervical collar may be wrapped around a neck of a user so that the chin support aligns and supports the chin of the user. The inflatable pocket may be inflated with a gas or a liquid to further support the neck of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Inventor: Megan Hollern
  • Foot brace and method of making the same
    Patent number: 9283104
    Abstract: A foot brace is configured to be worn beneath a patient's ankle while meeting therapeutic goals of the patient. The foot brace includes a supportive shell made to a model of a patient's foot and possessing a medial counter, a lateral counter and an Achilles groove, which are formed to place pressure on sides of a patient's foot to meet the therapeutic goals of the patient. The shell is attached to a lining, a portion of which is mechanically coupled to a midfoot instep closure. The midfoot instep closure can place pressure on the foot of a patient to meet the therapeutic goals of a patient. The shell is attached to a rearfoot extrinsic post. The heel post pressure on the heel of a patient to meet the therapeutic goals of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Jason Burke Wilson, Jeremy J. Janisse, Sean Eric Wilson, Dennis Jay Janisse, Erick Joseph Janisse
  • Compression sleeve augmenting calf muscle pump
    Patent number: 9283135
    Abstract: A method of selecting and using a compression garment is disclosed. The method may include selecting a garment comprising a compression sleeve including a proximal end and a distal end. The compression sleeve may comprise material having one of short-stretch function and inelastic function. The method may include donning the garment by inserting a limb of an animal or human through an opening in the proximal end and positioning the compression sleeve such that the material extends over at least a portion of a muscle mass of the limb. When the muscle mass is activated, the compression sleeve may augment the venous muscle return produced by the muscle mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: FARROW INNOVATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Wade P. Farrow
  • Mouth guard
    Patent number: 9278274
    Abstract: An improved mouth guard for use in contact sports comprises a substantially curved portion for protecting the teeth of a user, the curved portion including an inner wall and an outer wall, the inner wall including a palate member extending therefrom defining a cutaway portion adapted to engage a structural member of a face mask, face shield or article of clothing for convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: James M. O'Donoghue
  • Orthopedic device
    Patent number: 9271860
    Abstract: An orthopedic device has first and second elongate struts each having a strap coupling member, and a flexible strap securing to the first and second struts by the strap coupling members. A semi-rigid and resiliently bendable expander is connected to and spans a predetermined length between the struts. The expander provides two main configurations for the orthopedic device including maintaining the first and second struts in a generally flat configuration relative to one another and a curved configuration upon application of a load on the first and second struts. The expander reverts to a flat configuration upon removal of a load or from the first and second struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: OSSUR HF
    Inventor: Harry Duane Romo
  • Variable modulus body brace and body brace system
    Patent number: 9271858
    Abstract: A brace for a part of a body includes a first conductive fiber associated with a first polarity, and a second conductive fiber associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity. The second fiber is woven together with the first fiber and insulated from the first fiber. The brace also includes a selectively electrically activated cross-linking agent between the first and second fibers. The agent is constructed to cross-link in a first active mode when the first and second fibers are electrified and is constructed to not cross-link in a second inactive mode when the first and second fibers are not electrified. The brace surrounds a body part, such as a knee or neck. The agent can include an ER fluid and/or EAP. A brace system includes a selectively electrically activated brace for the part of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: SOFTARMOUR LLC
    Inventors: David Amos Ben-Meir, Allan Sanford, Christen Egan, Gibran Esquenazi, Richard Hutchison, Nathaniel Mowell, Russell Scott Miller
  • Medical articles and methods of making using immiscible material
    Patent number: 9273233
    Abstract: Provided are medical articles (e.g., wound dressings) that include a pressure sensitive adhesive layer and methods of making the medical articles using immiscible materials that increase moisture vapor transmission rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: David R. Holm, Dong-Wei Zhu
  • Bladder device and brace apparatuses comprising the bladder device
    Patent number: 9265643
    Abstract: Bladder devices and various brace apparatuses are used for providing added support to joint regions of a user. Use of the bladder devices enable a user to control the amount of pressure and resulting support to be supplied to selected portions of the joint regions. The bladder devices are able to be inserted into existing brace apparatuses. In addition, cold/hot packs are also insertable into the brace apparatus along with the bladder devices separately or integrally combined therewith, as needed to provide additional comfort and care to the joint region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Air Britt LLC
    Inventor: Vernon Britt
  • Dynamic load bearing shock absorbing exoskeletal knee brace
    Patent number: 9265647
    Abstract: The exoskeletal dynamic load bearing shock absorbing knee brace makes use of the energy absorbing characteristics of specifically designed industrial shock absorbers which are held precisely in place by an articulated dynamic exoskeletal structure that is to be secured to the lower limbs of the individual with the injured knee. The exoskeletal structure is designed using the principles of the overcenter linkage to translate and transfer to the shock absorbers a representative fraction of the normal and extra normal ambulatory movements of the lower limbs of the user which makes possible for these shock absorbers to absorb a corresponding amount of energy and provide an alternate load bearing structure parallel to the knees thus introducing a desirable degree of protection for the injured knee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Inventor: Egas Jose-Joaquim Desousa
  • Pronation/supination orthosis and method
    Patent number: 9259344
    Abstract: An orthosis for supination and/or pronation of a forearm of a wearer, the orthosis including a base, an upper arm support coupled to the base and configured to secure an upper arm of the wearer, a rotation assembly coupled to the base and including an output member rotatable relative to the base within a rotation plane, and a forearm support member coupled to the output member of the rotation assembly and configured to releasably engage a wrist and the forearm of the wearer, wherein the forearm support member is contoured to receive a thumb of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Bonutti Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter M. Bonutti, Boris P. Bonutti, Kevin R. Ruholl, Glen A. Phillips
  • Vascular plug
    Patent number: 9259227
    Abstract: A vascular plug for implantation into a patient's vessel includes an inflatable balloon and a flow accelerator. The flow accelerator includes a conical portion and a tubular coupling element which couples the conical portion to an aperture to the interior of the inflatable balloon. The flow accelerator will concentrate and therefore accelerate fluid flow into the inflatable balloon. Flow accelerator will increase the pressure of fluid thereby to cause the inflatable balloon to inflate even within a pressurised blood vessel. The plug may include a sleeve which provides a chamber between the flow accelerator and the balloon, into which blood may pass from the inflatable balloon or the flow accelerator to create additional blood statis and as a result thrombosis and a second occlusive barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: COOK MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Tue Thuren Bodewadt, Christina Rauff Hansen
  • Personal protective equipment strap retaining devices
    Patent number: 9259058
    Abstract: A strap retaining device having an actuation arm that may engage a retaining tab is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the strap retaining device includes a frame, a retention tab pivotally connected to the frame, and an actuation arm connected to the frame and having a first actuation element movable towards the retention tab from a neutral position to an actuated. The first actuation ramp is movable in a first plane to cause the retention tab to move in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brace, William A. Mittelstadt, David M. Blomberg
  • Device for mitigating plantar fasciitis
    Patent number: 9259343
    Abstract: A device for mitigating plantar fasciitis that includes a truss structure, an upper anchor, and an actuator. The upper anchor is proximally located from the truss structure and the actuator couples a posterior portion of the truss structure to a posterior portion of the upper anchor. The actuator is designed to provide assistive force to urge heel lift during ambulation such that the tension in the plantar fascia is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Newman Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Bradley R. Newman
  • Knee brace
    Patent number: 9254215
    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: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Mueller
  • Permeable pressure sensitive adhesive
    Patent number: 9249343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pressure sensitive, hot melt processable adhesive composition comprising a polar plasticizing oil, a polar polyethylene copolymer and polyisobutylene and a layered adhesive construction and a medical device comprising the adhesive composition according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Coloplast A/S
    Inventors: Hasse Buus, Mads Lykke, Tom Kongebo
  • Elbow orthosis
    Patent number: 9248041
    Abstract: An orthosis includes a first arm cuff for attachment to a first body portion, a first arm member, a first extension member, a second cuff for attachment to a second body portion, a second arm member, and a second extension member. The orthosis can also include a drive assembly comprising a knob and a shaft. The first cuff and the second cuff may each include at least one cuff strap and at least one loop connector for receiving the at least one cuff strap. A method of using the orthosis includes coupling a first cuff to a first body portion, coupling a second cuff to a second body portion, wherein the second cuff is coupled to the first cuff, and rotating the first and second cuff from a first position to a second position, relative to the second cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Bonutti Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris P. Bonutti, Peter M. Bonutti, Kevin R. Ruholl, Glen A. Phillips
  • Personal protective equipment strap retaining devices
    Patent number: 9247788
    Abstract: A strap retaining device having an actuation arm that may engage a retaining tab is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the strap retaining device includes a frame, a retention tab pivotally connected to the frame, and an actuation arm connected to the frame and having a first actuation element movable towards the retention tab from a neutral position to an actuated. The first actuation ramp is movable in a first plane to cause the retention tab to move in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Thomas J. Brace, William A. Mittelstadt, David M. Blomberg
  • Motorized tensioning system for medical braces and devices
    Patent number: 9248040
    Abstract: A tensioning system for medical braces and devices is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening, and full loosening of the tensioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Soderberg, Jimmy Capra, Cody Henderson, Tiffany Beers, Andy Owings, Daniel Hipwood
  • Portable spinal decompression device
    Patent number: 9241861
    Abstract: The present invention is a portable device for administering spinal decompression therapy. The device features a compact size and an innovative tension control mechanism to facilitate, in particular, a therapy for imbibition. The use of fabric for a sling and a platform adds comfort features while reducing weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Inventors: Charles Richard Bissell, Gregory Brian Perkins, John Stump
  • Rapid extrication device
    Patent number: 9237963
    Abstract: A light-weight rigid extrication board having an elongated central section and in-turned sidewalls including one or more planar sections, extending from both sides of the central section, having a plurality of openings formed along the length of both sidewalls, that include an upper opening at the top end of the board, a bottom opening at the bottom end of the board, and an intermediate opening. Straps are secured to each of the openings in the sidewalls, each strap having a fastening buckle at the end of the strap for temporary fastening to one of the other straps. A hoop-shaped halo extends from a top end of the board. The extrication board is slipped behind the driver and the straps secure the extrication board to the back of the driver while seated. Tape can be used to temporarily secure the driver's helmet to the halo during extrication and transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Inventor: Allen Carrier