Patents by Inventor Charles E. Alexson

Charles E. Alexson 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).

  • Patent number: 5792573
    Abstract: A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey D. Smith, Charles E. Alexson
  • Patent number: 5553675
    Abstract: A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey D. Smith, Charles E. Alexson
  • Patent number: 5273802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to novel orthopedic casting materials having superior layer to layer lamination, and methods for preparing the same. The orthopedic casting materials comprise a resin-coated scrim having a plurality of projections along at least one surface thereof. Preferably, each projection comprises a bundle of at least about 8 filaments, and the scrim has from about 75 to about 1500 projections per gram of scrim. The projections serve to mechanically interact with adjacent layers of the material, thereby significantly enhancing the lamination properties of the resultant material and resisting delamination once the material has cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Matthew T. Scholz, Ralph A. Wilkens, Robert L. Assell, Charles E. Alexson
  • Patent number: 4872452
    Abstract: A rasp adapted for rasping generally hard tissue, such as bone, cartilage and associated tissue, and a method of forming such a rasp are disclosed. The rasp comprises a plate-like body having opposite generally parallel major surface portions, and may be detachably attached to a powered device for driving the rasp. A plurality of rasp portions are arranged along the rasp for substantially evenly rasping hard tissue. Each rasp portion has a center, and a plurality of slots through the body extending generally radially outwardly from the center of the portion to define a plurality of cantilever cutting members extending generally radially inwardly of the rasp portion generally toward the center of the rasp portion and separated from one another by the slots. The cutting members are bent to project outwardly from the major surface portions of the body with alternating members of each rasp portion being bent to project outwardly from alternating major surface portions of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Charles E. Alexson
  • Patent number: 4834092
    Abstract: An air motor driven device adapted for driving tools used during orthopedic surgery by rotating a driven shaft on the tool. The device has first and second spaced parallel output shafts driven at different speeds, at least one of which shafts can releasably engage the driven shaft of the tool. The second shaft has a through central opening accessible from its end opposite its output end so that the device can power pin or wire drivers or reamers guided on a guide wire. An attachment mechanism for releasably attaching a tool to the device is provided which receives an oval portion of the tool in a mating socket, and in addition to trigger operated valves for operating the air motor, provides a valve for shutting off or throttling the gas inlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Alexson, Heinz H. Guenther
  • Patent number: 4806730
    Abstract: An air motor driven device adapted for driving tools used during orthopedic surgery by rotating a driven shaft on the tool. The device has first and second spaced parallel output shafts driven at different speeds, at least one of which shafts can releasably engage the driven shaft of the tool. The second shaft has a through central opening accessible from its end opposite its output end so that the device can power pin or wire drivers or reamers guided on a guide wire. An attachment mechanism for releasably attaching a tool to the device is provided which receives an oval portion of the tool in a mating socket, and in addition to trigger operated valves for operating the air motor, provides a valve for shutting off or throttling the gas inlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Alexson, Heinz H. Guenther
  • Patent number: 4736742
    Abstract: An air motor driven device adapted for driving tools used during orthopedic surgery by rotating a driven shaft on the tool. The device has first and second spaced parallel output shafts driven at different speeds, at least one of which shafts can releasably engage the driven shaft of the tool. The second shaft has a through central opening accessible from its end opposite its output end so that the device can power pin or wire drivers or reamers guided on a guide wire. An attachment mechanism for releasably attaching a tool to the device is provided which receives an oval portion of the tool in a mating socket, and in addition to trigger operated valves for operating the air motor, provides a valve for shutting off or throttling the gas inlet line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Alexson, Heinz H. Guenther
  • Patent number: RE40681
    Abstract: A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing. A combination of a rechargeable, detachable battery system and a power tool. The battery slides onto the power tool through a complementary groove and flange structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Linvatec Corporation
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey D. Smith, Charles E. Alexson
  • Patent number: RE40848
    Abstract: A cordless drive assembly for driving various orthopedic surgical instruments is described. The drive assembly is battery powered and includes tracks in the handle portion of its housing for receiving the battery. A latch locks the battery to the housing. A combination of a rechargeable, detachable battery system and a power tool. The battery slides onto the power tool through a complementary groove and flange structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey D. Smith, Charles E. Alexson
  • Patent number: D364463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey D. Smith, Charles E. Alexson, Lawrence Fenske
  • Patent number: D379795
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James F. Pitzen, Jeffrey D. Smith, Charles E. Alexson, Lawrence J. Fenske