Patents by Inventor Charles C. Heotis

Charles C. Heotis 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: 20230233232
    Abstract: An adjustment compliance device and systems and methods for use with an external fixator are disclosed. The adjustment compliance device can be attached to a strut of an external fixator and may include at least one indicator element to indicate adjustment parameters for an active step of an adjustment process for the external fixator. The adjustment parameters may include an active strut and/or a direction of adjustment for the strut. The adjustment compliance device may receive the adjustment parameters from a user device. The at least one indicator element may include a light element operative to emit light in a color corresponding to the active strut. The at least one indicator element may include a light element configured to indicate a direction of rotation of the active strut. As a result, a patient can more effectively comply with an adjustment prescription, thereby improving the likelihood of successful bone alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited
    Inventors: Brian Roberts, Johnny R. Mason, Paul Bell, Andrew P. Noblett, Haden Janda, Charles C. Heotis
  • Patent number: 9775649
    Abstract: A system (1010, 1110) for identifying a landmark is disclosed. The system includes a field generator (1016, 1116) for generating a magnetic field, an orthopedic implant (1030, 1130) located within the magnetic field, the implant having at least one landmark (1028, 1128), a removable probe (1029, 1129) with a first magnetic sensor (1026, 1126), a landmark identifier (1016, 1116) with a second magnetic sensor (1020, 1120) and a processor (1012, 1112) for comparing sensor data from the first and second sensor and using the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark. The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Rains, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Gene Edward Austin, Nathaniel Kelley Grusin, Sied W. Janna, Charles C. Heotis
  • Patent number: 9585722
    Abstract: A system for targeting landmarks on devices such as surgical implants is disclosed. The system can include a field generator for generating one or more magnetic fields, an orthopedic implant located within the magnetic fields, the implant having at least one landmark, a removable probe with a first magnetic sensor, a landmark identifier and a processor. The landmark identifier can contain a second sensor, or, alternatively, the field generator. The processor can utilize sensor data and, if desirable, field generator and other information, to generate and display the position and orientation of the sensor(s) in preferably six degrees of freedom, and thereby, to generate and display the position and orientation of the landmark(s). The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks. The landmark identifier, field generator and/or drill motor may be disposed in an autoclavable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Sied W. Janna, Hoa La Wilhelm, Charles C. Heotis
  • Patent number: 9220514
    Abstract: A system (1010, 1110) for identifying a landmark is disclosed. The system includes a field generator (1016, 1116) for generating a magnetic field, an orthopaedic implant (1030, 1130) located within the magnetic field, the implant having at least one landmark (1028, 1128), a removable probe (1029, 1129) with a first magnetic sensor (1026, 1126), a landmark identifier (1016, 1116) with a second magnetic sensor (1020, 1120) and a processor (1012, 1112) for comparing sensor data from the first and second sensor and using the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark. The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Rains, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Gene Edward Austin, Nathaniel Kelly Grusin, Sied W. Janna, Charles C. Heotis
  • Publication number: 20150238277
    Abstract: A system for targeting landmarks on devices such as surgical implants is disclosed. The system can include a field generator for generating one or more magnetic fields, an orthopaedic implant located within the magnetic fields, the implant having at least one landmark, a removable probe with a first magnetic sensor, a landmark identifier and a processor. The landmark identifier can contain a second sensor, or, alternatively, the field generator. The processor can utilize sensor data and, if desirable, field generator and other information, to generate and display the position and orientation of the sensor(s) in preferably six degrees of freedom, and thereby, to generate and display the position and orientation of the landmark(s). The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks. The landmark identifier, field generator and/or drill motor may be disposed in an autoclavable housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Sied W. Janna, Hoa La Wilhelm, Charles C. Heotis
  • Patent number: 9031637
    Abstract: A system for targeting landmarks on devices such as surgical implants is disclosed. The system can include a field generator for generating one or more magnetic fields, an orthopaedic implant located within the magnetic fields, the implant having at least one landmark, a removable probe with a first magnetic sensor, a landmark identifier and a processor. The landmark identifier can contain a second sensor, or, alternatively, the field generator. The processor can utilize sensor data and, if desirable, field generator and other information, to generate and display the position and orientation of the sensor(s) in preferably six degrees of freedom, and thereby, to generate and display the position and orientation of the landmark(s). The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks. The landmark identifier, field generator and/or drill motor may be disposed in an autoclavable housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Sied Janna, Charles C. Heotis, Hoa Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 8689801
    Abstract: Targeting sensors for use in targeting landmarks of orthopaedic devices. The sensors include a non-cylindrical mounting platform such as a printed circuit board and at least two mounted or printed sensor coils to provide a low profile sensor assembly which can be placed in a predetermined position and orientation on or in an orthopaedic device. The platform has a non-circular cross-section having an aspect ratio of greater than about 1.5:1. The non-circular cross-section of the platform enables the sensor to be placed in a known fixed position within the implant. The sensor coils may be partially or fully embedded in the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Smith & Nephew, Inc., Northern Digital, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Gene Edward Austin, Charles C. Heotis, Stefan R. Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20130218007
    Abstract: A device for targeting a landmark of an orthopaedic implant including a housing configured to engage a mating structure for attachment of the housing to the orthopaedic implant, and an electromagnetic sensor located at a known position within the housing, wherein, when the housing is engaged with the mating structure, the position of the sensor relative to a landmark of the orthopaedic implant is known for at least five degrees of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Petteys, Charles R. Baker, Charles C. Heotis
  • Publication number: 20120226094
    Abstract: Targeting sensors for use in targeting landmarks of orthopaedic devices. The sensors include a non-cylindrical mounting platform such as a printed circuit board and at least two mounted or printed sensor coils to provide a low profile sensor assembly which can be placed in a predetermined position and orientation on or in an orthopaedic device. The platform has a non-circular cross-section having an aspect ratio of greater than about 1.5:1. The non-circular cross-section of the platform enables the sensor to be placed in a known fixed position within the implant. The sensor coils may be partially or fully embedded in the platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicants: NORTHERN DIGITAL INC., SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Gene Edward Austin, Charles C. Heotis, Stefan R. Kirsch
  • Publication number: 20120101361
    Abstract: A system (1010, 1110) for identifying a landmark is disclosed. The system includes a field generator (1016, 1116) for generating a magnetic field, an orthopaedic implant (1030, 1130) located within the magnetic field, the implant having at least one landmark (1028, 1128), a removable probe (1029, 1129) with a first magnetic sensor (1026, 1126), a landmark identifier (1016, 1116) with a second magnetic sensor (1020, 1120) and a processor (1012, 1112) for comparing sensor data from the first and second sensor and using the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark. The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: James K. Rains, Nicholas S. Ritchey, Gene Edward Austin, Nathaniel Kelley Grusin, Sied W. Janna, Charles C. Heotis
  • Publication number: 20120035468
    Abstract: A system for targeting landmarks on devices such as surgical implants is disclosed. The system can include a field generator for generating one or more magnetic fields, an orthopaedic implant located within the magnetic fields, the implant having at least one landmark, a removable probe with a first magnetic sensor, a landmark identifier and a processor. The landmark identifier can contain a second sensor, or, alternatively, the field generator. The processor can utilize sensor data and, if desirable, field generator and other information, to generate and display the position and orientation of the sensor(s) in preferably six degrees of freedom, and thereby, to generate and display the position and orientation of the landmark(s). The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks. The landmark identifier, field generator and/or drill motor may be disposed in an autoclavable housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Sied W. Janna, Charles C. Heotis, Hoa La Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20110208037
    Abstract: A system (1010, 1110) for identifying a landmark is disclosed. The system includes a field generator (1016, 1116) for generating a magnetic field, an orthopaedic implant (1030, 1130) located within the magnetic field, the implant having at least one landmark (1028, 1128), a removable probe (1029, 1129) with a first magnetic sensor (1026, 1126), a landmark identifier (1016, 1116) with a second magnetic sensor (1020, 1120) and a processor (1012, 1112) for comparing sensor data from the first and second sensor and using the set distance to calculate the position of the landmark identifier relative to the at least one landmark. The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Smith & Nephew, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Rains, Nicholas S. Ritchey, William M. Ricci, Sied W. Janna, Nathaniel K. Grusin, Tobias Schwägli, Gene Edward Austin, Henry B. Faber, Charles C. Heotis
  • Publication number: 20100274121
    Abstract: A system for targeting landmarks on devices such as surgical implants is disclosed. The system can include a field generator for generating one or more magnetic fields, an orthopaedic implant located within the magnetic fields, the implant having at least one landmark, a removable probe with a first magnetic sensor, a landmark identifier and a processor. The landmark identifier can contain a second sensor, or, alternatively, the field generator. The processor can utilize sensor data and, if desirable, field generator and other information, to generate and display the position and orientation of the sensor(s) in preferably six degrees of freedom, and thereby, to generate and display the position and orientation of the landmark(s). The system allows for blind targeting of one or more landmarks. The landmark identifier, field generator and/or drill motor may be disposed in an autoclavable housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW, INC.
    Inventors: Nicholas S. Ritchey, Sied W. Janna, Charles C. Heotis, Hoa Wilhelm