Patents by Inventor Bernd Simon

Bernd Simon 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).

  • Publication number: 20250057572
    Abstract: A fracture fixation system includes a fixation element having a plate and a barrel. The plate has an outer surface and an inner surface for placement against an exterior surface of a bone, and the barrel extends along a barrel axis and has a peripheral wall protruding from the inner surface of the plate. The fixation element defines first and second passages through the plate and the barrel that each extend along the barrel axis. The fracture fixation system further includes a first lag screw extending from a proximal end to a distal end and configured to be inserted through the first passage defined by the plate and the barrel. The fracture fixation system further includes a second lag screw extending from a proximal end to a distal end and configured to be inserted through the second passaged defined by the plate and the barrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Bernd Simon, Lance N. Terrill, James Durham
  • Publication number: 20240285350
    Abstract: Surgical reference body, surgical guiding device, and surgical tracking system, and in particular to a surgical reference body, a surgical guiding device, and a surgical tracking system allowing an improved localization of surgical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Jakob Kemper, Lars Metz, Ulrich Hoffmann, Fabian Huegle, Bernd Simon
  • Publication number: 20240277444
    Abstract: Surgical guiding device, a surgical reference body and a surgical tracking system, and in particular to a surgical guiding device, a surgical reference body and a surgical tracking system allowing an improved localization of surgical components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 22, 2024
    Inventors: Jakob Kemper, Lars Metz, Ulrich Hoffmann, Bernd Simon
  • Publication number: 20240261003
    Abstract: A lag screw assembly includes a lag screw and a blade. The lag screw includes a shank extending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis, the shank having an outer surface, and the shank having a threaded portion at the distal end. The lag screw further includes a groove formed in the shank and open to the outer surface, the groove extending along the shank between the proximal and distal ends. At least a portion of the groove defines a path that extends around and along the longitudinal axis on the outer surface. The blade has a head and a leg extending therefrom for slidably engaging the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventor: Bernd Simon
  • Publication number: 20230255691
    Abstract: A method of treating a bone fracture includes taking a first 2D image of an implant and a reference body with an imaging device; creating a 3D orientation of the reference body and the implant based on the 2D image; determining an actual axis of delivery of a bone screw through an opening extending through the implant; determining an optimal axis of delivery of the bone screw through the opening such that the optimal axis of delivery guides the bone screw toward a medically optimal location; and moving the implant such that the optimal axis of delivery and the actual axis of delivery coincide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon, Lars Metz
  • Publication number: 20230218319
    Abstract: A surgical fastener includes a cannulated collapsible fastening body having a trailing end and a leading end and defining a passage extending from the trailing end to the leading end, and a pin having a non-threaded shaft at least partially disposed within the passage and an enlarged tip. A method of using the surgical fastener includes engaging an end of a driver with a recess in a head of the surgical fastener, including inserting an extension at the end of the driver into the passage, and inserting the fastener into a bore in a bone during which the extension of the driver abuts a trailing end of the shaft of the pin to prevent the pin from moving in a direction from the leading end to the trailing end relative to the fastening body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Nils Zander, Manfred Wieland, Bernd Simon
  • Patent number: 11666386
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a current state image and at least one reference image, taken from a similar angle range. The image and the at least one reference image are superimposed and a visual representation visualizing the relation between the image and the reference image is provided in order to track displacements of the bone during subsequent operation steps. A system is provided which can use the image data to track displacements and determine deviation from a current state of the elements in question to a target state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon
  • Patent number: 11642170
    Abstract: A computer program element and a device are provided for processing a 2D projection image generated during a procedure of fracture treatment of a bone. The computer program element comprises sets of instructions for detecting the reference body in the 2D projection image, detecting at least one element out of the group consisting of an instrument, an implant and an anatomical structure in the 2D projection image, and identifying a current state of the element, determining a state of progress of the procedure of fracture treatment, and providing information regarding steps to be performed next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon, Lars Metz
  • Publication number: 20230117546
    Abstract: An instrument for transmitting torque is described. The instrument comprises a torque receiving portion at a proximal end of the instrument, a torque delivering portion at a distal end of the instrument, and a flexible shaft extending between the torque receiving portion and the torque delivering portion. The flexible shaft comprises torque transmitting elements coupled in series along a longitudinal direction of the shaft. A female coupling feature of a torque transmitting element comprises a notch and a male coupling of an adjacent torque transmitting element comprises a protrusion sized to fit into the notch. The notch has a constant width or a narrowing width starting from an outer surface of the torque transmitting element comprising the notch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventor: Bernd Simon
  • Patent number: 11478207
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding system are provided. The method comprises steps of providing 2D images and subsequently detecting outlines of a primary structure in each of the images. A visual representation of the 2D images is generated and the 2D images are then arranged as 2D slices in a 3D visual representation. To this end, at least two of the 2D images are taken at different imaging angles. The method provides a 3D visual representation of a region of interest comprising a primary structure to support a spatial sense of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Simon, Arno Blau
  • Publication number: 20210186616
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a current state image and at least one reference image, taken from a similar angle range. The image and the at least one reference image are superimposed and a visual representation visualizing the relation between the image and the reference image is provided in order to track displacements of the bone during subsequent operation steps. A system is provided which can use the image data to track displacements and determine deviation from a current state of the elements in question to a target state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon
  • Publication number: 20210121147
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding system are provided. The method comprises steps of providing 2D images and subsequently detecting outlines of a primary structure in each of the images. A visual representation of the 2D images is generated and the 2D images are then arranged as 2D slices in a 3D visual representation. To this end, at least two of the 2D images are taken at different imaging angles. The method provides a 3D visual representation of a region of interest comprising a primary structure to support a spatial sense of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Bernd Simon, Arno Blau
  • Patent number: 10925674
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a current state image and at least one reference image, taken from a similar angle range. The image and the at least one reference image are superimposed and a visual representation visualizing the relation between the image and the reference image is provided in order to track displacements of the bone during subsequent operation steps. A system is provided which can use the image data to track displacements and determine deviation from a current state of the elements in question to a target state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Stryker European Operations Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon
  • Patent number: 10827998
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding system are provided. The method comprises steps of providing 2D images and subsequently detecting outlines of a primary structure in each of the images. A visual representation of the 2D images is generated and the 2D images are then arranged as 2D slices in a 3D visual representation. To this end, at least two of the 2D images are taken at different imaging angles. The method provides a 3D visual representation of a region of interest comprising a primary structure to support a spatial sense of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Inventors: Bernd Simon, Arno Blau
  • Patent number: 10588647
    Abstract: A computer assisted surgery system and a method for operating a computer assisted surgery system is described therein. The system and method includes providing a virtual representation of a medical device to provide an easier application of a medical device, such as an implant or the like. The described system and method allows for simple and fast positioning of a medical device to be applied, such as an implant, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon, Holger Müller-Daniels, Michael Kohnen
  • Patent number: 10499961
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding device is proposed, for determining a location on a bone surface and for performing a simulation of an insertion of an implant based on the determined location. The simulation may comprise the steps of identifying an implantation axis of the bone in the first image, and aligning a visualization of the implant with the implantation axis, with respect to the determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Bernd Simon, Arno Blau
  • Publication number: 20190290363
    Abstract: A method comprises providing a current state image and at least one reference image, taken from a similar angle range. The image and the at least one reference image are superimposed and a visual representation visualizing the relation between the image and the reference image is provided in order to track displacements of the bone during subsequent operation steps. A system is provided which can use the image data to track displacements and determine deviation from a current state of the elements in question to a target state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon
  • Publication number: 20190167221
    Abstract: A method and a corresponding system are provided. The method comprises steps of providing 2D images and subsequently detecting outlines of a primary structure in each of the images. A visual representation of the 2D images is generated and the 2D images are then arranged as 2D slices in a 3D visual representation. To this end, at least two of the 2D images are taken at different imaging angles. The method provides a 3D visual representation of a region of interest comprising a primary structure to support a spatial sense of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Bernd Simon, Arno Blau
  • Patent number: 10188463
    Abstract: A method and a device are provided, for measuring an actual length of a fractured bone based on 2D fluoroscopic images of proximal and distal sections of the bone, each of the images including a reference body. Based on the images, a spatial position of a first end point and a spatial position of a second end point are determined, taking into account dimensions taken from a bone model of a bone corresponding to the imaged bone and the spatial positions of the reference bodies. The actual length of the fractured bone is defined as the distance between the two end points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Stryker European Holdings I, LLC
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon, Lars Metz
  • Publication number: 20180318012
    Abstract: A computer program element and a device are provided for processing a 2D projection image generated during a procedure of fracture treatment of a bone. The computer program element comprises sets of instructions for detecting the reference body in the 2D projection image, detecting at least one element out of the group consisting of an instrument, an implant and an anatomical structure in the 2D projection image, and identifying a current state of the element, determining a state of progress of the procedure of fracture treatment, and providing information regarding steps to be performed next.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Arno Blau, Bernd Simon, Lars Metz