Patents by Inventor Bruce M. Frankel
Bruce M. Frankel 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).
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Patent number: 10786283Abstract: A skeletal fixation apparatus may include two or more bodies that are attached to two or more screws that have been inserted into vertebral bodies associated with a patient. The apparatus may also include two or more cylindrical members that are attached to the bodies to control the movement or alignment of the bodies when the skeletal fixation apparatus is being installed in the patient. The apparatus may further include a rod that includes a first curvature and a second curvature. The first curvature may be different than the second curvature and may be based on a medical diagnosis associated with stabilizing the vertebral bodies. The second curvature may enable the bodies to be immovably fastened to the rod in a manner that precludes the cylindrical members from contacting each other or causing a false torque condition to exist when the skeletal fixation apparatus is installed in the patient.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: MUSC Foundation for Research DevelopmentInventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Mark Evald Semler
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Patent number: 10117564Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to equipment and procedures in the field of surgery and/or diagnostics and, more particularly, to instruments, assemblies and methods for undertaking surgical and/or diagnostic procedures that involve and/or are in proximity to the brain (e.g., cranial procedures and/or surgery). The disclosed assemblies generally include a handle member and an elongated probe that includes an ultrasound transducer. The assemblies may be used in conjunction with K-wires/guidewires, tubular members (e.g., EVD catheters and/or ventricular drains), endoscopes/cameras, and accessory items such as curettes, probes, knives, suction devices, scissors, cautery units, forceps, grasping devices and the like. Advantageous medical diagnostic and surgical instruments, assemblies and methods are provided for use during a broad variety of clinical applications and procedures (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: Hitachi Healthcare Americas CorporationInventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Randall R. Baraso, Thomas P. Oko
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Publication number: 20150342647Abstract: A skeletal fixation apparatus may include two or more bodies that are attached to two or more screws that have been inserted into vertebral bodies associated with a patient. The apparatus may also include two or more cylindrical members that are attached to the bodies to control the movement or alignment of the bodies when the skeletal fixation apparatus is being installed in the patient. The apparatus may further include a rod that includes a first curvature and a second curvature. The first curvature may be different than the second curvature and may be based on a medical diagnosis associated with stabilizing the vertebral bodies. The second curvature may enable the bodies to be immovably fastened to the rod in a manner that precludes the cylindrical members from contacting each other or causing a false torque condition to exist when the skeletal fixation apparatus is installed in the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2015Publication date: December 3, 2015Applicant: MUSC Foundation For Research DevelopmentInventors: Bruce M. FRANKEL, Mark Evald SEMLER
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Publication number: 20150230690Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to equipment and procedures in the field of surgery and/or diagnostics and, more particularly, to instruments, assemblies and methods for undertaking surgical and/or diagnostic procedures that involve and/or are in proximity to the brain (e.g., cranial procedures and/or surgery). The disclosed assemblies generally include a handle member and an elongated probe that includes an ultrasound transducer. The assemblies may be used in conjunction with K-wires/guidewires, tubular members (e.g., EVD catheters and/or ventricular drains), endoscopes/cameras, and accessory items such as curettes, probes, knives, suction devices, scissors, cautery units, forceps, grasping devices and the like. Advantageous medical diagnostic and surgical instruments, assemblies and methods are provided for use during a broad variety of clinical applications and procedures (e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Applicant: HITACHI ALOKA MEDICAL, INC.Inventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Randall R. Baraso, Thomas P. Oko
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Publication number: 20150039034Abstract: A skeletal fixation apparatus may include two or more bodies that are attached to two or more screws that have been inserted into vertebral bodies associated with a patient. The apparatus may also include two or more cylindrical members that are attached to the bodies to control the movement or alignment of the bodies when the skeletal fixation apparatus is being installed in the patient. The apparatus may further include a rod that includes a first curvature and a second curvature. The first curvature may be different than the second curvature and may be based on a medical diagnosis associated with stabilizing the vertebral bodies. The second curvature may enable the bodies to be immovably fastened to the rod in a manner that precludes the cylindrical members from contacting each other or causing a false torque condition to exist when the skeletal fixation apparatus is installed in the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: MUSC Foundation for Research DevelopmentInventors: Bruce M. FRANKEL, Mark Evald SEMLER
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Patent number: 8343056Abstract: Medical diagnostic instruments and systems are provided that include (i) a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; (ii) an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and (iii) a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip (e.g., a ball tip) defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe. Advantageous methods for use of the disclosed instruments and systems are also provided, e.g.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.Inventors: Randall R. Baraso, Bruce M. Frankel, Kazutoshi Tsuchida, Hiroaki Wakabayashi
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Patent number: 8303598Abstract: A bone tap may be used to deliver and/or aspirate fluid to and/or from a bone. The bone tap may include a passage. A distal portion of the bone tap may be threaded. In some embodiments, openings in a distal portion of the bone tap may communicate with the passage. The bone tap may be driven into bone, and material may enter or exit the bone through the openings and passage.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Scott D. Koysh, Natalie S. Hunter
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Patent number: 8206306Abstract: Medical diagnostic instruments/systems are provided that include (i) a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; (ii) an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements (iii) a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe; and (iv) at least one hollow receiver member mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe, the at least one hollow receiver member configured to receive a K-wire to permit the instrument to be slidably mounted thereto for purposes of guiding the ultrasound and tactile feeler probes axially relative to a desired anatomical location. Advantageous methods for use of the disclosed instruments/systems are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Hitachi Aloka Medical, Ltd.Inventors: Randall R. Baraso, Bruce M. Frankel, Kazutoshi Tsuchida, Hiroaki Wakabayashi
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Publication number: 20110313282Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to equipment and procedures in the field of surgery and/or diagnostics and, more particularly, to instruments, systems, and methods for undertaking surgical and/or diagnostic procedures that involve and/or are in proximity to the brain, e.g., cranial procedures and/or surgery. The disclosed devices generally include a handle member and an elongated probe that includes an ultrasound transducer. The devices may be used in conjunction with K-wires/guidewires, tubular members, e.g., EVD catheters and/or ventricular drains, endoscopes/cameras, and accessory items such as curettes, probes, knives, suction devices, scissors, cautery units, forceps, grasping devices and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2011Publication date: December 22, 2011Applicant: ALOKA COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Randall R. Baraso, Kazutoshi Tsuchida, Hiroaki Wakabayashi
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Publication number: 20110208062Abstract: Medical diagnostic instruments/systems are provided that include (i) a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; (ii) an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements (iii) a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe; and (iv) at least one hollow receiver member mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe, the at least one hollow receiver member configured to receive a K-wire to permit the instrument to be slidably mounted thereto for purposes of guiding the ultrasound and tactile feeler probes axially relative to a desired anatomical location. Advantageous methods for use of the disclosed instruments/systems are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: ALOKA COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Randall R. Baraso, Bruce M. Frankel, Kazutoshi Tsuchida, Hiroaki Wakabayashi
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Publication number: 20110077525Abstract: Medical diagnostic instruments and systems are provided that include (i) a proximal handle configured and dimensioned to permit an operator to manually grasp the instrument; (ii) an ultrasound probe including a longitudinal shaft extending distally from the handle and terminating in a distal end, and an ultrasound transducer mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft proximate the distal end thereof, the ultrasound transducer including an array of ultrasonic energy generation elements; and (iii) a tactile feeler probe mounted with respect to the ultrasound probe, the tactile feeler probe including a longitudinal shaft mounted with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the ultrasound probe and extending distally beyond the distal end thereof, and a feeler probe tip (e.g., a ball tip) defined at a distal end of the longitudinal shaft of the tactile feeler probe. Advantageous methods for use of the disclosed instruments and systems are also provided, e.g.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: ALOKA CO., LTD.Inventors: Randall R. Baraso, Bruce M. Frankel, Kazutoshi Tsuchida, Hiroaki Wakabayashi
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Patent number: 7699852Abstract: A bone tap may be used to deliver fluid into bone to stabilize and/or strengthen the bone. The bone tap may include a passage. A distal portion of the bone tap may be threaded. In some embodiments, openings in a distal portion of the bone tap may communicate with the passage. The bone tap may be driven into bone, and material may be introduced to the passage. Material introduced to the passage may enter the bone through the openings. Thread flights of the bone tap proximal to the openings may inhibit retrograde backflow of material during introduction of the material into the bone. Material deposited in the bone may strengthen a bone and/or augment fixation of a bone fastener in the bone.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc.Inventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Scott D. Koysh
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Patent number: D722698Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: MUSC Foundation For Research DevelopmentInventors: Bruce M. Frankel, Mark Evald Semler